Orthodoxy refers to having the right opinion or right thinking.
Growing up, I had orthodoxy heavily impressed upon me. One of the worst things a person could be was un-orthodox. Apparently the ones who were un-orthodox were this way because they had some secret sin they were wanting to continue enjoying. If they were to become orthodox then they would have to cease their hideous activity. Obviously, I did what anybody between the age of 15 and 25 would do. I spent a lot of time trying to understand what was orthodox. I searched for Orthodoxy in every realm: relationships, God, abortion, time, pop culture, and retribution. I mean I really tried to develop the right thinking. I did a great job. Even if I can’t see what is true in a situation, I am usually able to at least ask questions which will direct towards the truth.
Lately(over the last year) I have noticed a significant problem in my orthodoxy. The problem is that it isn’t on par with my orthopraxy. Orthopraxy is right practice or right living. This has bothered me on a few levels but the major one being that often times I feel like a hypocrite. I can tell people about how much God loves them and his master plan in saving the world. I can enthusiastically remind people that they are loved simply for who they are since that is what my orthodoxy tells me. I can happily remind people that Jesus defines them and not their hangups. I comfort people by referring them to the deeper desires we all have to love and be loved but there is one problem. Even though I know that to be orthodoxy I don’t know it to be orthopraxy for myself. If those two worlds would collide I could see the Lord doing some amazing things but in the mean time I do feel hypocritical. I want to love people naturally as a result of my orthodoxy and orthopraxy merging.
Something else that deserves mention here is that if my orthodoxy doesn’t infiltrate my orthopraxy then is my orthodoxy orthodox? Brian Mclaren said “you can’t get an A in orthodoxy but get a D in orthopraxy and still pass the class.”
Steve, it reminds me of Roman 7:15. It seems so easy to understand yet so difficult to manage. It doesn’t make my need to reach orthopraxy any less necessary but it does bring me some sort of twisted comfort to know that Paul had the same struggles.
That’s a good point Kim! Paul clearly states in that section that he is powerless to obey the law and is in need of help. It is hard for me to put that into perspective sometimes since I am a Christian and I am suppose to live according to the Spirit. But at the same time, in a way, that is a law for me, which I am powerless to keep on my own. So thank you for the reminder that orthodoxy is just one slice of the pie and also for the reminder that Jesus has taken care of our orthopraxy problems.
I’m glad you were able to follow my argument all the way through.
Steve,
I couldn’t agree more with your statement that others are stunned by your ability to understand truth. You’re also right on the money in your understanding of orthodoxy and praxy. I wasn’t aware of what these words meant before your blog but have since researched them and agree with your conclusion. Orthopraxy is definetely more important than doxy. Gandhi exemplified this principle better than any preacher I’ve met or seen on the tele.
Just another brick from the Walle
Great thoughts here.
I was thinking, can you have a seemingly perfect or accurate orthodoxy and have a nonexistent or shabby orthopraxy?
Can you have a orthopraxy like St. Francis or Mother Theresa and have the orthodoxy of Oprah or Larry King?
Which of those two scenarios would Jesus track with?
I am saddened by the amount of Christians that will leave a healthy giving vibrant community of friends and family because of their orthodoxy not aligning perfect. My feeling is the reason there are so many sects of Christianity is that orthodoxy is king not orthopraxy.
We can come to a unity of the faith when we focus on orthopraxy. Not to many people will argue that helping the poor, healing the brokenhearted , forgiving 70×7, love your enemies, serve others to serve God and the like are good solid doctrines from the mouth of Christ. We can unify on these practices even if we are at odds with an orthodoxy issue.
Orthodoxy driven people often use phrases like “you’re going down a dangerous path” or “that’s a slippery slope you’re on”. I like to ask “where is that path or slope going to take me?” They never answer. Maybe its orthodoxy that leads to the slippery slope.