On Corruption, Social Structure, and Faith

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches

Its name is corruption.
It began with the dawn of humankind; its existence recorded from the first moments of history.
It dwells in the hidden corners of human minds and souls. It knows how to disguise itself and emerges when the dominant ego feels the need to assert itself.
It spreads through society, hiding among people, especially since many have learned to market themselves as angels or saints.

Many know how to hide corruption well, projecting false impressions that are difficult to disprove.
The corrupt, the liar, the fraud, the traitor, all belong to the same semantic field revolving around corruption.
Corruption is a source of shame, and its derivatives are disgraceful. That’s why those who belong to it know how to hide it, though some have embraced it shamelessly, even proudly, dressing it up in all kinds of decorative, flattering labels.
Some call it "cleverness," others "savviness," and still others refer to it as "resourcefulness."

But all of them are justifying a terrifying and vile value: corruption, the cornerstone of betrayal.
The corrupt, the traitor, the deceiver is a being who would sell their honor, dignity, family, history, and even their children to achieve their goals.
The corrupt or the traitor is someone who does not know shame—because they do not know honor.
The corrupt is a cheap opportunist, the deceiver a fallen social climber, and the traitor worse than both. One action often leads to the other.

Everyone wants a better life, a higher social status.
We all live in a society striving for vertical mobility, trying to climb the social ladder.
But the end does not justify the means—and dishonorable methods dishonor the goal, no matter how noble.
It’s essential to study, to struggle, to work hard to succeed—but your goals should not be stained with blood or mud.

Our colleagues, sociologists in France, once coined the concept of "la chatâra libanaise"—“Lebanese cleverness.” But this concept carried many dishonorable elements.
Perhaps Lebanese cleverness, or “the Lebanese way,” is what led the country to its current state.
Cleverness in politics led to the Cairo Agreement, which helped destroy the country.
Cleverness in the economy created a fragile rentier system that destroyed agriculture and marginalized industry.
Cleverness in social relations produced a sick, sycophantic society behind a charming facade.
Cleverness in everything, eventually led to the collapse of society and the loss of the homeland.

Lebanon now ranks among the most corrupt countries in the world.
Corruption has trickled down from the political and economic elite to the majority of the population, breaking the value system and pushing people into moral emptiness.
Yet it must be said, and data supports it, that corruption is now a global phenomenon, varying in prevalence across societies.

As Christians, the salt of the earth, we look at the corruption of the world through our faith and doctrine.
We must draw inspiration from the incarnate Lord, who, during His earthly life, said it all.

In His Sermon on the Mount, He reminded Christians of their duty, saying:
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Because corruption often targets wealth and possessions, the incarnate Lord also said:
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

And knowing how hard the path of righteousness is, He said:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Because He deeply understood human nature and the hypocrisy it can harbor, He taught:
"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

O Redeeming Lord,
You who shed Your blood for a humanity that still continues in rebellion,
Stretch forth Your hand over this corrupt world, So loud in its corruption, so persistent in its betrayal, this humanity that has corrupted minds, values, nature, and human relationships.
Stir the conscience of those lost in their blindness, that perhaps they may return.

We remain faithful to Your command, to be salt of the earth and light of the world, trying, with all the strength we have, to protect humankind by living Your teachings.
And know, Lord, that You still overcome the world with Your inexhaustible love and with Your teachings, the everlasting constitution of life.