FROM THE DAWGHOUSE…
AND WHY IS ORTHODOXY RELEVANT?
During our round-table discussion at Forge, our focus gravitated toward “orthodoxy” – what is it, and why should it be relevant to Christan believers today? Is it important to our ongoing faith and walk?
Without a doubt, orthodoxy seems to have fallen from favor among some otherwise fervent adherents of Christianity. Its critics associate orthodoxy with old-fashioned, unreasonable Christian beliefs from a bygone era. Moreover, its detractors often link orthodoxy with contemporary right-wing politics and social policies, which in turn is used as the justification, by those who disagree with these political and social opinions, to dismiss orthodoxy as irrelevant if not harmful to the church. The reasoning goes like this: If one adheres to Christian orthodoxy, one’s politics and social views must be old-fashioned and regressive, somewhere on a fast track back to the Dark Ages.
Yes, orthodoxy is old, as old as the Christian faith itself. It was alive and well during the Dark Ages but also in every era of the church. Indeed, Christian orthodoxy thrives today in many parts of the world. As in ages past, in historic creeds and confessions, Christian orthodoxy even now is capturing and conveying the very heart of the gospel message, and therefore it is probably important that we have a decent understanding of the subject.
So, what is orthodoxy? Merriam Webster defines it simply as “a belief or way of thinking that is accepted as true or correct.”
From a Christian perspective, this definition applies to central beliefs of the earliest Christian church, those which were finally synthesized into creeds and confessions that were formally adopted by the church. It was because of these convictions about the gospel that Christians of every era have gone to the trouble to pass their Christian faith on to others, including their own children, and eventually including the men of Forge who now also embrace the core doctrines the early Christians believed to be true and correct.
Although some would argue that Christian orthodoxy is an oppressive list of doctrines used to subjugate and control people, history will bear out that Christian orthodoxy is most often expressed in a stunningly short list of beliefs that affirm the Holy Trinity and salvation offered in Jesus Christ. Orthodoxy, at least as I understand it, does not force believers into a long inventory of theological, political, and social doctrines, but is made up of a relatively short list of core doctrines that have to do with the heart of the gospel. For example, orthodoxy is not even definitive on the nature of atonement. Although some false views of the atonement lie outside what would be considered orthodoxy, there is room enough within orthodox belief on the atonement to generate conversation among believers in the gospel about the nature of Christ’s death and how we then should live.
Contrary to the assertions that orthodoxy is regressive and backwards looking, a review of Christian history would indicate that orthodoxy has inspired some of the most forward-looking, prophetic movements in the life of the church. Giants of the faith (we all have our own lists) who have fervently upheld orthodox Christianity and changed not only the church but the world in commendable ways – triumphs of truth over corruption, the well-fought fights for good over evil and social progress over oppressive, status quo politics by Christians who held tenaciously to orthodoxy.
Yes, you can certainly find examples of doctrinally “orthodox” Christian leaders have used their positions and power to oppress others. But these political and social opinions and actions had nothing to do with these leaders’ “orthodoxy.” They simply failed to allow Jesus of the gospel to permeate and transform their status quo politics and social views.
Truth is, there has always been religion that serves the human status quo and religion that serves God’s purposes on earth. There has always been good theology and bad theology, just as there is good practice of medicine and bad practice of medicine. Faulty interpretation and bad practice do not mean the textbook, or the principles taught therein, are outdated or harmful. Oppressive politics and bad theology by self-avowed Christians do not mean that the orthodox Christian faith is wrong.
Orthodox belief for its supporters is an essential matter not only for this life, but for eternal life. Amid a world quickly fading away, it is the essence of what was, is, and will remain forever. The gospel truth expressed in orthodox Christianity is worth living for, worth giving away to one’s friends and enemies, and worth dying for. This is not just because it is orthodox, but fundamentally because it is true. Orthodoxy represents the message, identity, and mission of the Christian church through all ages. It is the heart of the gospel. It does not change with the seasons and cultures of humanity because it represents the core revelation of God in Jesus Christ in human history.
What’s right with Christian orthodoxy? Certainly not any given theology, politic, or social view.
What’s right with Christian orthodoxy is that it makes it possible for Christians to live in peace with one another and thereby to have a credible witness to the Prince of Peace. Most important, what is right about Christian orthodoxy is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ that it proclaims to us and to the whole world.
Blessings in unity.
Joe Bouch
