Faith or Heritage? Why Being Armenian Isn't Enough

Deacon Garo Balian

We often say with pride, “We are the first Christian nation.”It’s true—Noah’s Ark rested on Mount Ararat, and Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew brought the Gospel to our land. We celebrate these stories as part of our national and spiritual identity. But here's a difficult question:

Can we be saved by the bravery and faith of our ancestors? The Bible boldly declares otherwise:

“Each of us must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17).

No one is saved by simply belonging to a nation. Faith is not inherited—it’s lived.

To be Armenian is a blessing. But to be Christian Armenian is a choice—one that must be made daily.

The story of Martha and Mary in the Gospel of Luke (10:38–42) offers us a powerful lesson, especially for us Armenians. In his book, theologian Vigen Guroian writes:

“Martha represents us—we’ve kept the feasts, repeated the ancient rituals, and celebrated our nation’s past glory. But without Mary, what is Martha? Without the living Word of God vibrating in our hearts…”

What he means is this: if we only mark the church holidays from occasion to occasion, without drawing closer to Christ, we are missing the heart of our faith.

In the Gospel story, Martha was busy preparing, while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening. Martha, overwhelmed by her tasks, asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus gently answered:

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. Only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10:41–42)

Jesus wasn’t criticizing Martha’s work—but He was pointing out her distraction. And this reflects many of us today. We’re preoccupied with what to wear, how to look at church, what restaurant we’ll go to after a baptism, which outfit is right for the next wedding, and so on. These are not bad in themselves, but they often distract us from the heart of the Church—Jesus Christ.

Thankfully, we still have a few Marthas and Marys among us:

• We have Marthas who serve in the church with genuine love for God.

• We have Marys who build Christian homes, small churches where Christ is welcomed daily.

• We have parents who bring their children to be baptized not as a custom, but because they believe in Jesus’ words:

“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

The story of Martha and Mary is not about choosing between service and worship—it’s about balance. We are called to be both:

• Martha, preparing our homes, our families, our churches.

• And Mary, sitting at the feet of Christ, seeking His Word, longing for His presence.

Let us ask ourselves honestly:

• Am I living like Martha—busy, distracted, yet forgetting to listen?

• Or like Mary—hungry for the Word, but perhaps forgetting to serve?

• Or am I willing to become both—a heart that prepares, and a soul that listens?

As Armenian Christians, our history is sacred—but our calling is now. This weekend, make time to sit at His feet, even for 10 minutes. Pray. Read His Word. Reflect. Let the story of Martha and Mary remind us that our faith must be both celebrated and lived. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:15)

Let us, as Armenians, not only remember that we were the first Christian nation, but strive to become a faithful Christian people—today, every day, in every choice we make.