The Church historically has not been perfect. Of course, by recognizing this imperfection we can say logically that not everything in the past or present state of the Orthodox Church is equal with the truth of God. Many things are obviously changeable; indeed, many things need improvement. The true Church is not yet the perfect Church. However, the approach of ecumenism is not the way to approach this perfection. There is no point in proclaiming unity today, if that unity is based on breaking faith with the cloud of witnesses from the past. Today's Ecumenism operates in space between churches across the globe. To be effective it must be accompanied by an ecumenism in time that remains faithful to the unbroken teaching of the undivided church. That unbroken teaching is found ONLY in the Orthodox faith. We need today, more than ever before, precisely a "band of spiritual firebrands" who can inflame minds and hearts with the fire of a loving knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. God calls us, in our generation, to be his witnesses and messengers. How can men believe if they do not hear the quickening word? Even if we are men of unclean lips, let us respond to the Divine call, and the fire of the Spirit will cleanse us for the ministry of the Word.
