Orthodoxy vs. Orthopraxis

I'm reading The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne right now. If you haven't read this yet--get a copy, read it and then pass it along so others can too.

In chapter six he refers to a paradigm enlargening that needs to happen--from orthodoxy (right thinking, right believing) to orthopraxis (right living, right practices). So often we are caught up in telling people what we believe but lack any discussion about how we live based on those beliefs.

I wrote these words a couple of months ago with hopes that I would be able to finish it with the same line of thinking that I began it with. I'll close similarily, but not quite in same rhythm...

Perhaps what we need is not a change from one thing to the other. I have a growing allergic reaction to the "reactionary" way in which young leaders so frequently choose to respond. It's as though we go through cycle after cycle of generations where the younger generation flips off the older generation and the older generation pegs the younger one as arrogant and care-free.

I had a conversation with a friend the other day. We were discussing how perhaps what the world needs is not another "flavor" or "style" or "brand" of "worship" but for the younger generation to see itself as a Joshua/Caleb and the older generation to see itself as a Moses. It is unlikely that Joshua and Caleb flipped off Moses and told him that he was doing everything wrong. Furthermore, it is unlikely that Moses wrote Joshua and Caleb off as arrogant and care-free. Instead and most likely, Joshua and Caleb sought to learn from Moses and Moses sought to learn from Joshua and Caleb.

We have got to stop swining from one side of the pendulum to the other. To give up orthodoxy for orthopraxis would be destructive. To hold on to orthodoxy with no orthopraxis would be legalistic. To ignore those that have gone before us would be so unwise. For them to peg us as arrogant and care-free would be counter-productive.

To learn from each other--to greet each other with a kiss--to serve each other--to forgive each other--to submit to one another--to bear each other's burdens--to listen to each other--to learn from each other--to love each other--to not react--but to really listen for the rhythm of Jesus. That may be the form that obedience takes right now.

Cosmetics and Preservatives

This post is random....

I was talking to a friend today and we were discussing what it would be like if we took Jesus literally when He said things like, "Lose your life." or "Sell everything." or "Take care of the hurting (orphans and widows)."

Today I question if that is even possible in the American suburb.
(I mean today literally because on most days, I have more hope. Today has been difficult.)

When did the "American Dream" become a better dream than God's? I italicized "better" because we live lives that make that question legitimate. We have chosen to let ourselves become deceived into believing that a way outside of the Father's is better. This means that we don't dream about people coming to know and follow Jesus at any price anymore, but instead dream of bigger homes, nicer cars, and if plastic surgery were an option--where we had have some work done. Instead of envisioning ourselves courageously and communally walking in obedience to the rhythm of Jesus, we dream of great vacations, the best clothes and the latest home theater systems. Instead of desiring to be a part of a community of people who care about what is happening in our world and being part of God's solution, we dream of owning condos in the mountains and cabins next to freshwater lakes where we can create our "safe havens" away from it all.

I'll admit, these are the frustrated musings of a man who has spent the last two weeks reading Scripture, the newspaper, and a great book occassionally interrupted by brief news updates on what is happening in our world (here and abroad). These are the frustrated musings of a man who spent part of his morning praying for God to intercede in Lebenon and talking with a community of friends about how we as the Church can respond to the violence and senseless death of countless people in Iraq, Palestine and Israel.

After that invigorating, life-giving, solution-based conversation where talk wasn't of writing a check, but of taking Jesus' words literally and living compassionately, with costly love, at any price for the sake of hurting--I went to a meeting where we talked about how we thought worship time went at a particular church.

Something doesn't sit right with me if church is all about performance and production and how we thought "worship" went. We seem to spend a lot more time talking about cosmetic enhancement and the preservation of the "church people" than we do what is happening in the world around us and what God might have us do or be a part of to bring healing.

Doesn't it seem ironic to you that the Church cries out for the U.N. to respond to those who are hurting?

I have a dream for the Church were we take Jesus' words literally--where we respond first.

Huh--maybe this isn't my dream--maybe it's God's....