Maintaining Orthodoxy

An article for my school's newspaper:

What does the word ‘orthodoxy’ mean? If you have been in any of Dr. John McMath’s classes, but particularly in Church History (which could be seen as a study of God’s preservation of orthodoxy from the beginning of the church till now), you have probably heard an explanation of the derivation of the word ‘orthodoxy.’ The word is derived from the Greek adjective orthos, meaning ‘upright’ or ‘correct,’ and the noun doxa, one of the meanings of which is ‘belief,’ or ‘tenet’ – though this particular denotation is not found in the New Testament (Kittel, 178). ‘Orthodoxy’ is usually used in reference to right doctrinal positions. The ‘orthodox’ are those that hold to such positions.

In the modern Western world of relativity and ‘tolerance,’ devotedly maintaining orthodoxy is certainly not often viewed with approval. As I read today’s edition of The Church of England Daily, I was struck by the content of the front-page article, “Anglo-Catholics Call for End to ‘Scapegoating.’” In sum, the article reported (with a seemingly positive voice) the pleas of some in the Anglican Communion for an end of placing blame for possible schism on TEC (The Episcopalian Church). The article says that, according to a Rev. Jonathan Clark (in reference to the forthcoming Feb. 14-19 summit of Anglican Primates in Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania), “were the Primates to create structures for the official recognition for an ‘orthodox’ body within TEC, ‘hundreds of clergy and thousands of lay people ... would feel that they were being judged, excluded, and condemned.’” Also in the article, a Rev. Richard Jenkins is recorded as having said, “the Anglican leadership isn’t doing enough to value those who in conscience feel that the Church should take a more open attitude to lesbians and gays. Staying together with integrity means learning to value all shades of opinion.”

It should be abundantly clear that the Western secular world’s value of ‘tolerance’ has had a significant influence on the thinking of no small number of leaders in parts of the Church. The disease of falsehood in doctrine, or heterodoxy, has been fought throughout the history of the Church, and is still being fought today. More and more, especially amongst certain parts of the Church there seems to be a far greater value placed on ‘tolerance’ and peace with the world than on orthodoxy or sound doctrine.

Yet the Scriptures make it very clear that sound doctrine, rather than peace with the world and universal ‘tolerance,’ is to be our goal. Romans 16.17 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them” (this could easily be directly applied to the liberals in TEC). Paul clearly states (1 Tim. 6.3-4), “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, (4) he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.” At the same time, 1 Timothy 1.10 demonstrates that homosexuality is “contrary to sound doctrine.” Titus is commanded to “teach that which accords sound doctrine” (Tit. 2.1). The Scriptural mandate is plainly to maintain orthodoxy, regardless of what the world thinks of us or of our ‘intolerant’ views. In fact, Christ clearly warns us that, “because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15.19). As followers of Christ, we must strive for sound doctrine, and joyfully (Jas. 1.2) bear the persecution that is bound to result (2 Tim. 3.12), glorifying God that we may suffer as Christians (1 Pet. 4.16).

Sources:

Kittel, Gerhard and Friedrich, Gerhard, editors, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985), abridged in one volume by Bromiley, W. Geoffrey.