What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. [James 2:14-17 (ESV)]
Jeopardy introduced me to the word “performative” but, in an article about how scandals are hurting organized religion, the New York Times introduced me to another new word, “orthopraxy.” While “orthodoxy” means correct belief, doctrine, or teaching, “orthopraxy” has to do with correct practice, behavior, or action. Orthodoxy says, “Hear my words!” but orthopraxy says, “Watch my behavior!” With the flood of scandals throughout the Christian church, it’s easy to point our fingers at the disgraced Christian celebrities, megachurch pastors, and Roman Catholic priests whose orthodoxy didn’t match their orthopraxy—people who espoused devotion to God and adherence to His word while disregarding it in their own lives. Let’s remember, however, that whenever we point a finger at someone, three other fingers point at us! Although the Times article was about the disconnect between orthodoxy and orthopraxy in the church at large, there’s often a disconnect between the two in our personal lives, as well.
As a Christ follower, correct doctrine or belief must come first; nevertheless, that doctrine should lead to correct behavior! In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul spends the first eleven chapters focusing on theology—the message of the Gospel. Paul, however, doesn’t stop at correct belief or orthodoxy. In chapter 12, he transitions to the application or orthopraxy of that belief or doctrine. Paul does the same thing in his letter to the Ephesians. The first three chapters highlight doctrine and emphasize that we are saved by God’s grace through our faith rather than works [2:8-9]. Then the Apostle continues by telling his readers how to put that doctrine into practice. He urges them to “lead a life worthy of your calling,” by being humble, gentle, united, patient with one another, making allowances for each other’s faults, and by binding themselves “together in peace.” [4:2-3]
Making it clear that orthodoxy and orthopraxy are two sides of the same coin, Paul told Titus to “insist on these teachings (orthodoxy) so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good (orthopraxy).” [3:8] James makes the same point when he asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” Just as a Christian’s belief or doctrine should lead to walking as did Christ, the believers’ actions or “works” are evidence of his belief in that doctrine!
While we tend to think of “works” as good deeds, orthopraxy is more than writing a check to a charity, teaching Sunday school, or helping at the food pantry. Our works are the way we conduct ourselves every moment of every day. It’s the way we demonstrate the integrity, goodness, honesty, truth, peace, love, patience, compassion, generosity, self-control, and forgiveness that should be the result of our faith or orthodoxy. Our secular behavior—the way we do our work, vote, compete, negotiate a contract, accept criticism, disagree, serve, talk with (or about) other people, spend our money, and use our leisure time is our orthopraxy. We can’t have one without the other!
For a Christian, correct belief must come first but, out of that belief, correct conduct must follow. Although we are saved by faith and not works, God’s purpose in saving us is so we’ll do good works. Our problem as Christians isn’t that we don’t know what to do—the problem is that we do know what to do but we often fail to do it!
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” [John 21:15 (ESV)]
If I were doing what accountants call a cost-benefit analysis of our living in Florida, the cost side would include venomous snakes, poisonous cane toads, hurricanes, alligators, sink holes, fire ants, and mosquitos along with humidity, allergies, high insurance, and seasonal traffic. On the other hand, the benefits would include never having to shovel snow, scrape sleet from a windshield, or drive on icy roads, along with the enjoyment of beaches, beautiful birds, colorful flowers, ocean breezes, “early-bird” specials, sunshine, no state income tax, and never-ending summer. While not one hundred times better, the pluses outweigh the negatives and make it worthwhile (at least for us)!
Back in in 1586, during the Eighty Years’ War, Sir Philip Sidney was fighting for the Protestant cause against the Spanish when he noticed another soldier was without leg armor. Believing that he shouldn’t be better protected than his men, Sidney gave the man his cuisses (armor that covered the thigh). During the Battle of Zutphen, Sidney was fatally wounded in his thigh during the final charge and, three weeks later, he died of gangrene from the injury. While heroic, his death was avoidable if the man had worn his complete set of armor!
As a young child, I loved singing “Onward, Christian Soldiers” in Sunday school. My enthusiasm for the hymn waned as I grew older and learned about the evil and horrors of the Crusades and the World, Korean, and Vietnam wars. With its mention of war, soldiers, mighty armies, battles, and foes, the hymn seemed to glorify war. Even though the martial imagery comes from Biblical texts, the hymn’s combination of soldiers marching into battle and Jesus (the Prince of Peace) has caused controversy and some denominations have eliminated it from their hymnals.
Described as a “preaching genius…like no other preacher you have ever heard,” the late Rev. Fred Craddock was well-known for including stories in his sermons. He told one that took place during the early 60s in a diner in the deep South. Although the white Craddock sat in a booth and was served with courtesy and consideration, he silently watched the diner’s manager treat a Black man at the counter with rudeness, disdain, and open contempt. Although offended by the man’s racist behavior, Craddock remained silent. It was when he walked out of the diner after finishing his meal that the preacher heard a rooster crow. A signal of his betrayal, the crowing told the preacher that, by ignoring one of the “least of these”, he’d ignored Jesus! His silence was as much a betrayal of the Lord as were Peter’s denials!
Devotions of the Heart 