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“To whom much has been given, much will be required; to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded." (Luke 12:48). Charles Malek, the Orthodox Christian philosopher, calls upon Divine Providence as his witness and wonders if his Maronite compatriots – who have received more than any other people in the East – are truly aware of the weight of this responsibility. And above all, will they be worthy of what has been entrusted to them?  

Born in 1906 in northern Lebanon, in Bterram (meaning "the elevated village" in Syriac), Charles Malek waged a cultural battle for Lebanon and human rights until his death in 1987. His philosophy was deeply rooted in the values and principles of Christianity, which served as the foundation for his contribution to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Philosophy

Malek studied philosophy under Martin Heidegger before leaving Germany, disillusioned by the rise of Nazism. He continued his education under Alfred North Whitehead at Harvard, where he later taught, and held positions at other American institutions. Additionally, he founded the departments of philosophy and cultural anthropology at the American University of Beirut.

This philosopher was a passionate advocate for ecumenism among the three branches of Christianity. As an Orthodox Christian, he held a deep interest for the Catholic Church, particularly its Maronite branch. He also gained recognition as a theologian within evangelical circles. In 1966, he was appointed Vice President of the United Bible Societies, and in 1967, he chaired the World Council for Christian Education. His involvement with Protestantism, along with his interest in the Syriac roots of the Maronites, led him to broaden his focus to include Judaism.

In 1945, he was appointed Ambassador of Lebanon to the United States and to the San Francisco Conference, where the United Nations was founded. The following year, he served as rapporteur for the UN Commission on Human Rights and contributed to the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights alongside Chairperson Eleanor Roosevelt, whom he would succeed in 1952.

Recognized as the "driving force" behind the drafting of this charter, Malek infused it with his Christian beliefs, profound faith and the values of the Bible, emphasizing various aspects of human dignity.

Political fight

In Lebanon, while serving as Minister of National Education (1956-1957) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1956-1958), he was elected to Parliament. However, it was during the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975 that he established himself as a key figure in the resistance within the Lebanese Front. Malek was the only Orthodox member among the Front's predominantly Maronite leaders and thinkers. Nonetheless, he was the one who explored, defined and conveyed the essence of Maronite identity and spirituality, making it the foundation for the concept of Lebanon.

To address the Maronites, he referenced Luke 12:48. Through this verse, he emphasized their responsibility for Lebanon, for its diverse Christian denominations, for each of its four communities, as well as for individual and collective freedom and human dignity.

More is required of you

“To whom much has been given, much will be required; to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded,” as stated in Luke 12:48. Malek emphasized that the ten gifts generously bestowed upon the Maronites should in no way lead to arrogance; rather, they require humility and a deep awareness of a challenging duty, a heavy responsibility and a significant debt. It was with this in mind that he titled his letter, which consists of eleven articles: More is required of you.

Throughout ten articles, Malek outlined and elaborated on each of the ten gifts that enable the Maronites to exist as a people, culture, history and nation. In the eleventh article, he placed upon them the responsibility for this unique privilege in the Levant, emphasizing the significance of what has been entrusted to them. However, rather than presenting these gifts apologetically, the philosopher framed his letter as a cautionary warning.

First and second gifts: Mount Lebanon

As their first gift, the Maronites were granted this great mountain, he wrote. “Its name is among the most revered in the Bible and in history.” It stands as an unassailable fortress and the safest haven in the East. No other population has been afforded such a natural advantage. He believed that disregarding this blessing – its perfection, natural beauty, coastal topography and harmonious balance – would, in his view, be an unforgivable crime.

Their second gift, he went on to say, is Lebanon itself. It was granted to them, along with its diverse peoples, their heritage and their values. This confers upon them the responsibility to safeguard individual freedoms, as well as the rights of each community and their cultural legacies. They are thus bound to uphold the principle of pluralism and to actively defend these values. Without individual freedoms, he warned, the existence of Lebanon – and their own – would lose all meaning.

Third gift: a free christianity

The Maronites were also given a pluralistic country where Christianity enjoys a level of religious freedom that is denied throughout much of the East. Therefore, they must cultivate this freedom, strengthen it, and make it more conscious and active. This freedom cannot be merely symbolic or superficial; it must not be lesser or different from what is found in Europe and America.

For Malek, Lebanon cannot – and should not – distinct itself from other countries in the region merely through displays of modernity, opulence and material prosperity. Its true distinctiveness and purpose lie in grappling with essential, existential questions.

Furthermore, he warned that the Maronites are responsible for this form of Christianity not only within Lebanon but far beyond. For if Lebanon were to fall, it would bring an end to this freedom, from the shores of Africa to the far reaches of Asia. At this point, the Orthodox philosopher invokes Divine Providence as his witness, questioning whether his Maronite compatriots fully grasp the gravity of this responsibility and whether they will be able to rise to such a challenge.

This question will be raised several times during the enumeration of the fourth to tenth gifts (in the following article). Charles Malek will then address the issues of Bkerke and Rome, liturgy, history, heritage, literary production and the political role of the Maronites. Will they live up to the responsibility entrusted to them?