Orthopathy - is that even a thing?

 Orthopathy = Right Emotions

©timon burney

These ideas were sparked by Richard Beck's series on orthopathy. 

Not to be confused with the alternative-medicine religion that is also known as Natural Hygiene.  

Orthopathy in its modern Christian sense was probably coined by Wesley and is a counterpart of orthodoxy (right teachings). Briefly, it describes the ideal response to salvation, which is living a fruit of the Spirit life. 

Orthodoxy without Orthopathy is dead. 

James said it about faith and works. It is no less true of right teaching and right emotions. Our beliefs can be perfectly true, reasoned, referenced and logical yet they're utterly worthless if not accompanied by the actions that speak louder than words. These actions or virtues are what separate the saved from the self-righteous.

Jesus is very clear about what he values, even calling orthodoxists "workers of sin" because of the fruit they produced.

And, do you know what? A largely cognitive approach to faith, hope and love is almost certainly doomed. Spiritual formation will be stunted, external and open to challenge unless there is deep engagement of the heart, soul, strength and mind. Three of these are non-cognitive. Seventy-five percent of what Jesus asks of us is to do with what we feel, aspire to and actually do.

So what?

Well, at the very least don't privilege your orthodoxy over someone else's orthopathy. Because you'll be wrong.