ORTHODOXY AND ORTHOPRAXY

From My Perspective - - - 

In a day of cultural demise, where is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ? How is the Gospel being validated in our day? What religion does the secular society speak of more than any other? Why has the Church of Jesus Christ allowed itself to become marginalized by the culture? Has the message of the Church become compromised by societal niceties and desire for community acceptance? During the Advent Season, how resounding is the message of the Church? Is the trumpet giving a clear and precise sound? As a retired Pastor, one of the areas that I miss most is preaching during Advent through the Lenten Season. Some of that which is deemed necessary and acceptable for observance of Advent in the churches entails decorating the Church; appropriate Choir Cantatas; and Children’s Programs and Plays. Many Churches include the Lighting of the Advent Wreath where they have different families within the Church do a Biblically based reading about the coming of Jesus Christ. The question is: How much of this is Orthodoxy versus Orthopraxy? Does it matter in terms of True Worship? Wikipedia states the distinction between these two areas: “In the study of religion, Orthopraxy is correct conduct, both ethical and liturgical, as opposed to faith or grace. This contrasts with Orthodoxy, which emphasizes correct belief, and ritualism, the use of rituals. The word is a classical compound ὀρθοπραξία (orthopraxia) meaning correct practice.” In a more simple way, Orthodoxy is what one believes and states. Orthopraxy is what one knows and does.

The Advent observance utilizes some of the historic Christmas Carols. One of the favorites was written by Charles Wesley, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Glory to the newborn King.” Linked closely with that is Adeste Fideles, written in 1744 by an English layman named John Wade. The Christian Broadcasting Network Devotional contains these thoughts by Kenneth W. Osbeck. “The original Latin text consisted of four stanzas. The first calls us to visualize anew the infant Jesus in Bethlehem's stable. O come, all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant; come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; come and behold Him, born the King of angels. The second stanza is usually omitted in most hymnals, but it reminds us that the Christ child is very God Himself: God of God and Light of Light begotten, Lo, He abhors not the Virgin's womb; Very God, begotten, not created-O come, let us adore Him. The next stanza pictures for us the exalted song of the angelic choir heard by the lowly shepherds. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; sing all ye bright hosts of heaven above; glory to God, all glory in the highest. Then the final verse offers praise and adoration to the Word, our Lord, who was with the Father from the beginning of time: Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. The Chorus for each stanza is: O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.”

How one practices the Worship of God is vital. At the very least, it would include the Words of the Lord recorded in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Jesus was abundantly clear regarding the necessity for True Worship when He said: “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). How much of what we do at and in the “Worship Service” is Orthodoxy? With the “Order of Worship” that is generally followed, does that represent Orthodoxy or Orthopraxy? 

There is an interesting discussion by Paul as he gives a sermon on Mars Hill and then debates some of the questions raised by those who heard the sermon. The words are recorded in Acts 17:29-31, “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." How did the people respond to this portion of the sermon? Were they in agreement with it? Their response is recorded in Acts 17:32-34, “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said: We shall hear you again concerning this. So Paul went out of their midst. But some men joined him and believed.” Orthopraxy by religious people brought sneers! Orthodoxy by some resulted in Belief. At the Christmas Season, do you spend more time in purchasing gifts than you do in worship of God Who so loved the world that He gave us His Son, that whoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life? O Come, let us adore Him - Christ, the Lord!  Consider these things with me!