Orthodoxy Vs. Orthopraxy: Understanding of God Leads to Holy Living

When sitting and talking with a good friend of mine, Daniel Fuentes, the topics of orthopraxy and orthodoxy came up. The question was, which is more important? This wasn‘t a heated debate or even a very lengthy conversation (it was actually a casual conversation that came up here and there over time). However, it has been great food-for-thought for me, for a little while now. I think the answer to the question is very important. Is having a right understanding and Biblical knowledge more important (orthodoxy)? Or is having right practice and Biblical application more important (orthopraxy)? I think my trustworthy friend and I end up in the same spot. You have to have good orthodoxy to have good orthopraxy, but you can’t separate the two. They are equally important, and one is meaningless without the other.

However, Daniel is much more passionate and concerned with orthopraxy (which there is nothing wrong with that, because I know he is passionate about the Word of God and knowledge of God). Me on the other hand, I am more passionate and concerned with orthodoxy. What’s interesting about this is that Daniel came to a point in our discussion where he said something along the lines of, “I know that you have to have good orthodoxy to have good orthopraxy, but it’s hard to overlook the importance of orthopraxy.” I couldn’t agree more. It is so important that we as Christians actually be the light of the world. That the love of Christ pours out of our lives into the lives of others. That we feed, care for, and provide for the needy and poor. It is of extreme importance and urgency that we fulfill these social justices. Honestly, I am not the greatest when it comes to orthopraxy. I struggle with it, and I struggle hard. But I can be comforted in this one thing: I am seeking the grace of God to be revealed and displayed in my life.

Proverbs 4:20-23
(20) My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. (21) Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; (22) for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. (23) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Interestingly enough, this passage has been very insightful and encouraging as I pray for application of the knowledge I receive from Bible study. The last verse here seems to be stripped out of context so much, that the way I present it may be foreign to some people. In context, however, this passage is claiming that at the core of our actions and the flow of our life is the heart. The author is claiming that this is a heart issue, and that we must guard our heart from corruption and sin to find true life. This is done through retaining wisdom and seeking knowledge from God (orthodoxy).

There is very interesting insight found here in Matthew 25:31-46 on the topics of orthopraxy and orthodoxy.

(31) "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (33) He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (34) "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (35) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, (36) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' (37) "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? (38)When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? (39) When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' (40) "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (41) "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (42) For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, (43) I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' (44) "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' (45) "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' (46) "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

This passage speaks of two groups of people. On the right, there are the sheep (believers in Christ). On the left, there are the goats (unbelievers). The believers, almost as if by instinct, were quick to care and provide for those in need. At the same time, the unbelievers failed to do those things. Do you see the connection? The believers who had came to knowledge, passion, and submission to God are the ones who involuntarily had good orthopraxy. It came through orthodoxy and as a direct fruit of the faith given to them from God. Orthopraxy is the fruit and evidence of orthodoxy, or more commonly known: works are evidence of faith (that comes about through God's grace in orthodoxy).
Take notice to verse 44 where it says "They ALSO will answer, 'Lord..." I think this says something very intriguing. These unbelievers also called out to Christ as "Lord," just as the believers did. They served with their lips, but failed to do so with their actions which was evidence that the truth is not in them (lacking in orthodoxy) (1 John 1:6).

So, what am I getting at? Well, it seems very common today for people to completely throw theology aside as if it is of no importance, while focusing on social justices such as feeding the hungry and providing for the poor. By no means do I think those social justices are unimportant. But let’s face the facts here.
1) Everyone has a theology- Theology is your view and understanding of who God is. Even an atheist has a view of God, being that they believe He doesn’t exist.
2) Your theology shapes the way you live your life.
3) The world can imitate providing for the hungry and poor, but they cannot provide the greatest need of all; that being Jesus Christ. For “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) Biblical sharing of Christ only comes with good orthodoxy and theology.

The fact is, theology is of extreme importance. Orthodoxy is essential to the Christian life, as is orthopraxy. Your life, as well as others, depend on them and you can’t have one without the other.

I say all this to prepare readers for my next series of notes where I will be presenting theology in the simplest form I possibly can, without compromising Biblical truth. I only ask that you prayerfully take my words into consideration. I pray that Biblical theology (understanding of God) will lead us to passionate holy living for His glory.

Romans 1:28
(28) Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.