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The Practice of Being Christian: Orthopraxy Over Orthodoxy

The Practice of Being Christian: Orthopraxy Over Orthodoxy

Last updated on: August 13, 2024 at 4:19 pm by Matthew Distefano

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The Practice of Being Christian: Orthopraxy Over Orthodoxy 2024-08-13T16:19:00-06:00 Matthew Distefano

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As I reflected on the state of Christianity in the most recent episode of Heretic Happy Hour, I couldn’t help but feel that something crucial has been lost in translation. Too often, the emphasis in our faith is placed on what we believe rather than on how we live. This has led me to a deep conviction that what truly matters is not so much our orthodoxy—our correct beliefs—but our orthopraxy, the way we practice our faith in our daily lives.

Christian orthopraxy, as I see it, is about the tangible expression of faith. While traditional Christian teachings have long prioritized orthodoxy, I believe that what truly defines a follower of Jesus is not the creeds we recite or the doctrines we defend, but the way we treat others. In the New Testament, Jesus consistently places action over belief. Take the parable of the sheep and the goats, for instance. It’s not the sheep’s beliefs that make them righteous; it’s their actions—caring for the needy, the marginalized, and the oppressed. On the other hand, those who neglect these acts of love and service, despite their professed faith, are likened to goats.

I see a troubling trend in many churches today where doctrinal purity and personal piety are emphasized at the expense of compassion and justice. We’re often more concerned with avoiding sin and maintaining a “pure” lifestyle than with engaging in the hard work of loving our neighbors and fighting for justice. This inward focus, I believe, is not only a misreading of Jesus’ teachings but also a failure to live out the core message of the Gospel.

For me, the essence of Christian orthopraxy is living an “other-oriented” life. It’s about putting the needs of others, especially the oppressed and marginalized, above our own comfort and desires. It’s about rejecting the pursuit of power and dominance—something that, in my view, is completely contrary to the teachings of Jesus. Instead, we are called to serve, to lift others up, and to work tirelessly for the liberation of all people.

I also have strong feelings about the individualism that pervades much of modern Christianity. The question we often hear in churches—”How is your walk with the Lord?”—reflects a focus on personal spirituality that can overshadow the communal and social dimensions of faith. But to me, true Christianity is not about personal salvation or individual moral perfection. It’s about joining together in a collective effort to bring justice, peace, and liberation to the world.

Shifting our focus from orthodoxy to orthopraxy requires us to reimagine what it means to be Christian. It challenges us to move beyond mere belief and to embody our faith in actions that reflect the love and justice of God. The real question we should be asking ourselves is not “What do I believe?” but “What am I doing?”

In these challenging times, when the world is in desperate need of compassion, justice, and healing, I feel more strongly than ever that orthopraxy offers a vital and timely reminder that faith without works is, indeed, dead. We are called to reclaim the true essence of our faith by living it out in ways that make a tangible difference in the lives of others, especially those who are most in need.

Though I personally do not self-identify as a Christian, this is where I stand today. This is what I believe it would mean to be a Christian. Not in name, but in practice.

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About Matthew John Distefano

Matthew J. Distefano is an author, blogger, podcaster, and publisher. He lives in Northern California with his wife and daughter You can read more about the author here.

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