Today’s Readings: Psalm 34:1-10, 22; Revelation 7:9-17; Matthew 5: 1-12; 1 John 3:1-13
In looking back on Christian history, an important change had taken place by the time we reached the 4th Century. The change that I’m talking about had to do with a change in emphasis: some leaders in the emerging Christian movement shifted from an emphasis on orthopraxis (which put an emphasis on right living) toward an emphasis on orthodoxy (which put an emphasis on right belief). This shift may have seemed subtle to some, but the effects of that shift were seismic and have been felt for generations. The shift made it easier for religious folks to feel their spiritual houses were in order as long as they spouted the popular beliefs of their day. Rarely were they asked to examine their day-to-day activities to see if their actions were in accord with Jesus’ values. Sadly, this shift from orthopraxis to orthodoxy caused many folks outside the faith to conclude that Christians were simply hypocrites who said one thing and did another. I can appreciate the words from today’s passage from 1 John because they were recorded in an attempt to fend off this shift. In placing his emphasis on orthopraxis rather than orthodoxy, the author observed: “So, my dear children, don’t let anyone divert you from the truth. It’s the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah” (1 John 3:7 from The Message). Of course it’s important to acknowledge that one’s actions are connected to one’s beliefs. All of this talk of orthopraxis vs. orthodoxy, however, really boils down to which of those you consider most important. As you consider what it is that makes a person faithful, I would ask you where you place your emphasis: do you consider a person to be a faithful Christian if he or she simply believes in the right things; or do you consider a person to be a faithful Christian if he or she does the right things? Til next time…
In looking back on Christian history, an important change had taken place by the time we reached the 4th Century. The change that I’m talking about had to do with a change in emphasis: some leaders in the emerging Christian movement shifted from an emphasis on orthopraxis (which put an emphasis on right living) toward an emphasis on orthodoxy (which put an emphasis on right belief). This shift may have seemed subtle to some, but the effects of that shift were seismic and have been felt for generations. The shift made it easier for religious folks to feel their spiritual houses were in order as long as they spouted the popular beliefs of their day. Rarely were they asked to examine their day-to-day activities to see if their actions were in accord with Jesus’ values. Sadly, this shift from orthopraxis to orthodoxy caused many folks outside the faith to conclude that Christians were simply hypocrites who said one thing and did another. I can appreciate the words from today’s passage from 1 John because they were recorded in an attempt to fend off this shift. In placing his emphasis on orthopraxis rather than orthodoxy, the author observed: “So, my dear children, don’t let anyone divert you from the truth. It’s the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah” (1 John 3:7 from The Message). Of course it’s important to acknowledge that one’s actions are connected to one’s beliefs. All of this talk of orthopraxis vs. orthodoxy, however, really boils down to which of those you consider most important. As you consider what it is that makes a person faithful, I would ask you where you place your emphasis: do you consider a person to be a faithful Christian if he or she simply believes in the right things; or do you consider a person to be a faithful Christian if he or she does the right things? Til next time…
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