What is Orthodoxy

Recently, I have been on a journey of discovery of sorts. As many of you may know, I have had a slight obsession with things "Orthodox" since I took a Church History course with Brian Hollon. Well I received an inspiration of sorts tonight and wanted to share it with you. It was based on a reading about what the Church is, and when the church was described as "the image of the Triune God" I could help to be inspired to write the next part of this message. So now that that (2x? oh well. . . I digress) is set up for you and you may understand the rest of this message. . . let's just read it shall we. . .

So what then is Orthodoxy? Let me tell you, it is possible to be Orthodox, yet be thoroughly evil. For even Satan is Orthodox in the sense that is being thought of here. Lucifer has been in the very presence of God Triune. Though he may try to persuade others otherwise, he has no choice to believe that God is in fact three unique persons existing perfectly as one united God. He has been witness to his own demise, the fullness of the word made flesh, who is Jesus: fully human and fully God. What I am trying to say here is this: Don't seek to be Orthodox, be Holy as God is Holy. For true Orthodoxy (or right belief) must also be right action, attitude, mindset, and thoughts.

How can we maintain this. . . Through the Holy Spirit. . . But more on this later. . . for the Holy Spirit is a Divine Mystery in it's own rite.

Basically what I am saying is this, we (I am speaking to myself here) can all be culpable to search after a Orthodoxy that is flawed all too often. Theology should not be a "study of God" as is the dictionary term. Our search for Orthodoxy (in whatever form we may seek it) cannot be should be the lifeblood of who we are becoming in Christ. The idea of the trinity should not just be some theological concept discussed in academia, but a living belief instilled in our actions and interactions with others.

So what then is Orthodoxy? Let me tell you, it is possible to be Orthodox, yet be thoroughly evil. For even Satan is Orthodox in the sense that is being thought of here. Lucifer has been in the very presence of God Triune. Though he may try to persuade others otherwise, he has no choice to believe that God is in fact three unique persons existing perfectly as one united God. He has been witness to his own demise, the fullness of the word made flesh, who is Jesus: fully human and fully God. What I am trying to say here is this: Don't seek to be Orthodox, be Holy as God is Holy. For true Orthodoxy (or right belief) must also be right action, attitude, mindset, and thoughts.

So then, how can one be made holy? How is it that a man who is thoroughly engrossed in sin can be also, in God's sight be clean and perfectly spotless? Through the Holy Spirit. . . I will post more the next post.

Ok two more quotes that I find interesting. . .

“Theology without action is the theology of demons.” - St. Maximos the Confessor

"they will know that we are Christians by our LOVE. . ." -a hymn.