Part Two
The Social, Economic, Educational, and Humanitarian Responsibility of the Church
In Preserving Values and Virtues and Building the Human Person
Professor Michel Abs
The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
Economic Responsibility: Money in the Service of Humanity, Not Humanity in the Service of Money
The economic mission of the Church does not come from a desire to compete with the state or economic institutions, but from her moral responsibility toward humanity and society.
Economy is not merely numbers and profits; above all, it is a human concern. The human person must always remain the goal, and money must remain a means to serve the common good.
From a Christian perspective, money itself is not evil, but it becomes dangerous when it becomes a master that enslaves humanity. Therefore, Jesus says: “No one can serve two masters… God and money” (Matthew 6:24).
Thus, the Church is called to be an example in the management of her resources through transparency, integrity, and responsibility, because an institution that carries a spiritual mission must reflect in its administration the values it proclaims.
The Church must also encourage a culture of honest work and honor the dignity of the worker, because work is not only a means of livelihood; it is participation in the building of creation and the service of society.
Therefore, the Church defends workers’ rights, rejects exploitation, and affirms the right of every person to a fair wage and working conditions that preserve human dignity.
She also contributes to development by supporting small projects, cooperatives, and vocational education, helping families achieve independence and productive capacity.
The value that the Church safeguards here is:
justice, integrity, simplicity, and the dignity of work.
Educational Responsibility: Building Conscience and Forming the Human Person
Education is one of the greatest battles facing humanity today. The world is experiencing profound changes in the understanding of values, as media, digital platforms, and consumer culture influence the way new generations think.
In this reality, it is not enough for the Church to transmit religious information; she must educate the whole person and help people discover the meaning of life, distinguish good from evil, and recognize truth from falsehood.
Christian education is not only the teaching of doctrines; it is the formation of a person with a living conscience who makes the Gospel a way of life.
It is an education in honesty, love, respect, responsibility, tolerance, generosity, and service to others.
Families, schools, and parishes share this responsibility, because young people need not only words but also living examples in which they can see the beauty of faith and the power of values to transform life.
In a time when some celebrities and digital influencers have become models for younger generations, the Church is called to present authentic witnesses who have lived these values deeply, through the saints and all those who made their lives a testimony of love and truth.
The value that the Church safeguards here is:
forming a morally conscious person capable of choosing goodness.
Humanitarian Responsibility: The Human Person as the Image of God and the Center of the Mission
The humanitarian work of the Church begins from a fundamental truth: the human person is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, serving humanity is not an additional task; it is part of the essence of faith.
The Church sees the human person in his or her complete unity: body, soul, and spirit. Therefore, she cares for the sick, the elderly, the poor, the suffering, and all those who need mercy and compassion.
The Church’s service does not come only from human sympathy, but from the belief that Christ is present in every person in need. Therefore, the Lord says: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink…” (Matthew 25:35).
When the Church embraces a refugee, treats a sick person, or comforts someone with a broken heart, she is not merely providing a social service; she is revealing the merciful face of God in the world.
For this reason, the Church defends the sanctity of life, respect for every person, and the rejection of all forms of marginalization, violence, and discrimination.
The value that the Church safeguards here is:
the sanctity of life and human dignity.
Conclusion: The Church as Servant of Humanity and Guardian of Hope
The social, economic, educational, and humanitarian responsibilities of the Church are not separate fields; they are different expressions of one mission: serving humanity and glorifying God through love.
Faith cannot be separated from justice, worship cannot be separated from mercy, education cannot be separated from the formation of character, and the spiritual mission cannot be separated from caring for the daily needs of humanity.
The Church that preserves values is not merely the Church that speaks about them, but the Church that makes them a way of life. The world does not only need words about love; it needs witnesses who live love. It does not only need discussions about dignity; it needs institutions that respect human beings and protect their rights.
When the Church carries out this mission in the spirit of Christ, she truly becomes “a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden,” and a light that guides humanity toward hope.
May God grant us the grace to be a Church that does not merely carry the message of values, but becomes herself a living witness to them, so that people may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
Amen.