Orthodoxy v. Orthopraxy

Recently, I read a statement on social media claiming that Jesus spent his time teaching his followers how to behave, while later church leaders began teaching their members what to believe. Faith, to them, meant having a core set of beliefs, specifically about the nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If your view of God didn’t match the Creed, you were excommunicated, and sometimes put to death.

Can you imagine the audacity of finite humans attempting to discern the eternal? There’s no way to get it one hundred percent right, and if we’re honest, Jesus never expected it of us. What he demanded of us was to do God’s will, not discern God’s nature. His commands weren’t about orthodoxy (lit. “straight paths,” a system of belief),  but orthopraxy (lit. “straight practices,” a way of behaving).

Jesus’ teachings centered around how his followers were to behave. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven (Mt 7:21).” If this is true (and it is, of course!), we’d best concern ourselves with what doing the will of the Father looks like. According to 7:22-23, it’s not enough to prophesy, drive out unclean spirits, and perform miracles, even if it’s done in his name! If those things don’t bring us into the kingdom of heaven, what will?

The answer is not easy, but it is simple. Love God, and Serve People. Because that’s what Jesus did. He taught, yes, but he also led by example, showing compassion on people the religious elites would have shunned, while (sometimes harshly) chastening the ones doing the shunning. If we are to be followers of Jesus, we need to go and do likewise.

—Rick Rossing