WHAT IS ORTHODOXY?
A term that is often brought up in
discussions of worship and theology is orthodox.
Orthodoxy implies a sense of normality or a standard which is common across
denominational or religious lines. The problem with understanding the term,
however, is that most of us do not know what orthodoxy is. Largely, orthodoxy
refers to a pattern of conformity to what is generally or traditionally
accepted as right or true.[1] I
think this definition explains orthodoxy in its broadest sense. Regarding the
Christian faith, however, complications arise when determining what beliefs are
orthodox. Certainly, there are primary issues of the Christian faith which
believers of every tradition hold to. There are, nonetheless, beliefs that many
Christians might suppose are orthodox but are, in fact, not. The more I realize
the diversity of the church, the less orthodox elements I find, i.e. my eyes
are being opened to the reality that exact beliefs on secondary issues vary. In
that statement, I am, in no way, implying that orthodoxy does not exist, for it
unequivocally does. Knowing that then, I suggest that orthodox beliefs are
those which are related to primary issues. The problem therein lies in the
disparate ideas of what constitutes a primary issue. To answer the question of
what is implied by the term, orthodox,
there are two crucial questions to answer. In this commentary, I will answer
these questions.
What Are Primary
Issues?
First, it is vital to determine what
constitutes a primary issue. If I may give a personal (and I believe accurate)
personal constitution, primary issues are those theological issues which are
vital to salvation, i.e. they are salvific in nature. I should clarify that
most theological stances are secondary rather than primary. The implication
then is that primary issues are few. These are essential beliefs of the
Christian faith which are crucial to the church. An excellent summary of
primary beliefs is stated in the entirety of the Apostles Creed. Even churches
which do not utilize the Apostles Creed in worship practice hold to the beliefs
found in its text. It is difficult for me to believe that someone who rejects
Jesus Christ as God is a Christian since Jesus himself stated as much during
his earthly ministry; this then would be considered a primary issue. If there
is any ambiguity at all on an issue, even by the slightest amount, it is
probably not a primary issue. Understand, however, that explicitness is not
subjective; there are objective measures to determine primary issues. An issue
is not primary merely because one person or tradition considers it to be so,
for if there are other Christian traditions who rightly believe otherwise and
possess a biblical backing, it is likely not a primary issue. How explicitly is
the issue stated in Scripture? Did Christ rise from the dead? The answer should
be a resounding yes; it is clear in
the Bible with no ambiguity, and it is essential to believe for salvation.
Salvific issues, of which there are far fewer than non-salvific issues, are
primary and, thus, orthodox.
What Are Secondary
Issues?
If primary issues are salvific in
nature, secondary issues are not, i.e. there is room for disagreement in the
body of Christ. The term, secondary,
should not imply a lack of importance, for even secondary issues are crucial
because of their place in Scripture, but rather secondary issues are more ambiguous
and include subjectivity. There is a fine line here because we should not
suppose that secondary issues are not important or that they are overly
important. Issues such as immersion baptism, speaking in tongues, female
pastors, or transubstantiation are not salvific. A range of views may be held
on these issues. It is important for God’s people to know and understand these
issues but to do so with an open heart and mind and even to disagree in a
loving manner. The church is diverse so those issues which we may not
understand until we are with Christ should be considered secondary and not
orthodox.
An issue we find ourselves dealing
with often is elevating secondary issues to the level of primary; we must be
careful not to do this. Ask yourself the question, “Is this issue essential for
salvation?” Most of the time, we will find that it is not, which forces the
issue into the category of secondary. Important as it may be, we should not
quickly label someone a heretic because of a mere disagreement on a secondary
issue, which is done far too often. I’ll be as bold as to say that although I
strongly disagree with a gospel which promotes wealth, if those who hold to
that particular view confess Jesus as Lord and hold to primary beliefs, they
should be considered orthodox.
This is also not to say, however, that one cannot be
aboundingly incorrect about secondary issues. Wrongness on secondary issues
does not equal damnation though. Correction might need to occur; yet, we should
also examine how we approach correction and realize that disagreement is acceptable.
Those beliefs and issues which contain natural room for disagreement and are
non-salvific are secondary and, thus, not orthodox.
How Is Orthodoxy
Defined from Primary Issues?
How then should we define orthodoxy?
By stating that primary issues are salvific, I am saying that they are also
orthodox, i.e. orthodoxy is common and right belief on primary issues. Beyond
that, theological issues are complicated and diverse. We should understand that
what we often think of as orthodoxy may not be orthodoxy at all. Even on
secondary issues, there might be common general stances, but the fact that an issue
is secondary presupposes there is likely not an orthodox belief. For secondary
issues then, we should not presume that commonality is synonymous with
orthodoxy; for primary issues though, it absolutely is. Beyond cohesion, we
must realize that orthodoxy deals with necessity, i.e. essential beliefs of the
church are orthodox in nature. While it may be true that churches are more
commonly turning away from historic and truly orthodox teachings, there are
still most professing believers and churches who hold to essential truth.
Despite disparate approaches to secondary issues, people of God are unified in
orthodox teachings. We, therefore, should cling to our common faith in Christ
and never waver from what is truly orthodox.
[1] “Orthodoxy,” Google definition search, accessed
October 12, 2017,
https://www.google.com/search?q=orthodox+meaning&ie=&oe
