The Orthodox Christian Church remains faithful to the teachings of Christ as given by Him to His apostles. The Orthodox Christian Church is universal and Orthodox Christians have the faith and doctrine of Jesus Christ Our Lord as the Head of the Church. To this day, the teachings of the Orthodox Church promote the central role of youth and children in the mission of the Church. Being an Orthodox Christian is a lifelong calling for anyone baptized and confirmed in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. From childhood, we, as Orthodox children, share the holy mysteries of faith. The Holy Liturgies and prayers highlight the mystical transformation of the child to put on Christ and follow Christ forever. My obligation as a young man is to preserve, protect and promote this Orthodoxy through my daily activities and by bearing witness to the faith by reflecting the true image of Christ. Acclimating to school as Orthodox Christians is difficult for many of us. I attend a public high school and I have noticed that public school offers a variety of activities such as sports and extracurricular activities and it is easy for faith to be forgotten or simply put aside, along with the media and social world that surrounds us such as celebrities, tabloids, tv, Facebook and many other forms of social media.St. Paul teaches us that: You have been called to enjoy freedom, only do not let freedom be an Opportunity for the flesh: instead serve one another through Love. Because the entire law is gathered into this one statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13-4) “Thyself – Love” should therefore symbolize or represent the True Faith of which you as the True Temple of God must bear witness before the world. Let your light be… in the center of the card… illuminated by our non-participation in those things the world deems “cultural,” “progressive,” “amoral,” and “contemporary.” The Church of Christ provides us with our light and vision. And our light and vision see and detect evil and sin that the outside world considers harmless. My Orthodox community helps me feel close to home as their values relate to mine. What I do in the world is just as important as what I do in my church. Christ's style of self-giving love is the example I am invited to follow throughout my life. Orthodoxy offers me a way to approach daily life with a clearer, calmer point of view and increases my feeling of hope for the best. I do everything with all my heart and wherever I am in life my faith and God are always there beside me, faith has helped me see the world as God sees the world and brought me as close to seeing God as possible.
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