There are two big words people use that explain how we minister. It doesn’t matter if we know what they mean, or even if we know them, but we must be aware that they shape our ministry. Those words are orthodoxy and orthopraxy.

Orthodoxy (not to be confused with Greek or Russian Orthodox churches) is correct belief or true theology, based on the revealed Word of God. It is right thinking about God and how He operates in the word.

Orthopraxy is correct action or practice. When it comes to shaping our ministry it is either one, or a strange mixture of both that drive how we operate.

Last year Waleed Aly, a Muslim thinker from Melbourne spoke to the Moore College faculty about Islam. He declared that Islam is controlled not by orthodoxy, as there is no single revealed theological system, but by orthopraxy. Muslims function by conforming to generally accepted ways of functioning.

This got me thinking about how Christians, and especially Christians in Sydney, operate.

Taking orthodoxy for granted

Sydney is known for its strong theology. It therefore has the danger that is so often told: that what is fought for in one generation is assumed in the next and lost in the following generation. I see that happening in me and around me. We assume our theology and orthodoxy and seldom give it a second thought, and so do not let it shape our practice. We lose it as the basis of our unity.

But we live in days where we pray for and desire for the name of Christ to be glorified everywhere. There are so many who have never heard of Him, and so we go looking for ways to have a greater impact on our world. We look around for the best practice. This then becomes our orthopraxy. As a result our ministry, our friends, our conversation partners are those who share our orthopraxy.

I am a great believer in great practice. When I find it, I want to share it with others. But we must be on our guard, for if we forget our orthodoxy, it will be inevitable that in time we will be led astray, because we must be led by the word of God that so often is in conflict with the world’s way of thinking and acting.

Our mental models

Why does this danger exist? It is because we so often operate in ways that are contrary to what we espouse. We have in our head, what some call ‘mental models’ of how to achieve outcomes which never get challenged even as what we believe is strengthened. In not being challenged, our mental models, which are often developed when we are young, drive our actions, which over time must have an affect on our orthodoxy.

A way forward?

How do we have a great orthopraxy based clearly on true orthodoxy? I am sure the way we must begin is to find ways of articulating our orthodoxy in everyday conversation as this will allow it to shape us. We must also develop means of disclosing our mental models. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves why I like this method, or what is drawing me to follow this path. In doing this we can then assess our practice in the light of Scripture.

And most importantly, we must pray that the life transforming message that saved us will shape our way of operating at its deepest levels. 

Photo credit: Flickr quinn.anya