The knowledge of God is very far from the love of God. Pascal
Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis are two distinct approaches to faith, life, and love. One is more popular and the other far more productive. Like all good paradigms, each has its own fancy Latin word.
- Orthodoxy, or right thought, assumes that thinking comes before action, and if you think the right thoughts, accept the correct precepts, then you’ll make the right choices and do what is right. The application within the church is – believe in Christ and you’ll act like Christ.
- Orthopraxis, or right practice, asserts that action precedes thinking, and if you do the right actions then you will think the right thoughts, and what’s more, you’ll become who you are trying to become. The application in the church is – act like Christ and not only will you believe, you will become Christ-like.
Which of the two, orthodoxy or orthopraxis, right thinking or right action, has greater results? Soren Kierkegaard shared his observation in the following story, which I’ve embellished. If you share it with a group, make sure and have them shout, “Amen!” where appropriate.
The First Marshland Church for Ducks was having its Easter service, and birds traveled from far away packing the sanctuary with wall to wall down. They sang their favorite hymns, “On the Wings of a Snow White Duck,” “For the Beauty of the Marsh,” and “Faith of Our Waddlers”
The duck preacher took his stand behind the podium. “My brother and sister ducks,” he began. “Look around you at those next to you. Look at yourself. God has given us beautiful feathers.”
“Amen!” the congregation quacked.
“God has given us beautiful feathers for a purpose.”
“Amen!”
“God has given us beautiful feathers so we could fly.”
“Amen!”
“God has given us beautiful feathers so we could sail high above the clouds.”
“Amen!”
“God has given us beautiful feathers so we could soar on wings like eagles.”
“Amen!”
The minister went on and on for a half an hour preaching about God’s gift of flight. Louder and louder the congregation shouted back “Amen!” after “Amen!” However, when the service was over, every one of those ducks waddled home.
Orthodoxy, right thought hoping for right action, is not only ineffective, it can turn even the most committed people into spectators, like the ducks in Kierkegaard’s story. However, orthopraxis, right action leading to right thinking can not only transform individuals but so much more. Praxis is the becoming way.
Psychologist William James called Praxis the “as if” principle. Shakespeare wrote about praxis when he penned, “Assume a virtue if you have it not.” Father Richard Rohr affirmed the power of praxis over orthodoxy when he observed, “We do not think ourselves into new ways of living. We live ourselves into new ways of thinking.”
Praxis is simply this, if you wish to possess a quality or an emotion, act “as if” you already had it, let it get hold of you, and it will. If you want to be patient, act like you are, and you will be. If you want to be kind, act like you are, and you will be. If you want to be compassionate, act like you are, and you will be. Enact a virtue to become the virtue. Twelve Step groups call this, “Faking it until you make it.” If you want to not drink, act like you don’t. If you want to become sober, act like you already are. Fake it long enough, and you’ll become what you enact as long as becoming is your goal. If your hope is to simply hide your secrets, hoping others will think differently of you, then it’s not praxis. Jesus referred to many of the religious in his day as “hypocrites,” a term which came from the theater meaning “actors.” These religious people, mostly leaders, were not enacting to become, they were simply acting as if they were already, but Jesus knew better.
Praxis can affect not just who you are becoming but how you feel. You can not only praxis your way into a virtue but the feelings that accompany it. Tony Campolo tells this story as an example. A man went to see a counselor about his marriage. “I’m not in love with my wife any longer. What can I do?”
The counselor replied, “First make a list of ten things you would do if you were in love. Second, do those things each day.” The man found that by acting like a lover, in time he felt like a lover and fell in love all over again with his wife. His actions affected his feelings.
In love and relationships, there are seldom quick fixes. That was true in this case. Acting like a lover, the man didn’t go straight home from work. He took a shower and put on a suit. He bought flowers. When he got home, he went to the front door and rang the doorbell, bouquet in hand. His wife opened the door and started crying. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’ve had a terrible day,” she said. “First, Jimmy broke his arm. Second, the car wouldn’t start. And now you come home drunk.”
For more about Praxis as a way of life, see: 
