Recently, I came across an unfamiliar theological term. Naturally, the schoolteacher in me did what I used to tell my students to do when they encountered a new word – I looked it up!
I had heard the words ‘orthodoxy’ and ‘orthopraxy’. (Don’t let those words stop you from reading further. This is going to get better! I promise.) However, in Lisa Harper’s new book, A Jesus-Shaped Life, I discovered the word ‘orthopathy’. I had to practice saying it a few times until my tongue got used to all those t-h’s. The Greek word ‘pathos’ refers to feelings. (Now, what woman doesn’t like to get all touchy-feely?) This new word refers to having the right feelings based on what we believe to be true about God. We know we should never run solely on our feelings, but it sure is good to feel what we’re running on! Amen?
As beings created in the image of God, we each have a soul that contains the MIND, WILL, and EMOTIONS. We see all three of these in the life of Jesus. When these three parts are in sync, we display positive emotions (orthopathy) and demonstrate loving actions (orthopraxy) fueled by a firmly established belief system (orthodoxy) rooted in our identity in Christ.
If our MINDS become focused on ourselves and the cares of this life, it’s easy for Satan to pull up a chair and take a seat. He quietly whispers, “You can’t do it. You’re not good enough. You’re not worth their time. You can steer yourself out of this mess because you are the captain of your soul.” If we listen and believe the lies, our orthodoxy (what we think and believe to be true about God) becomes polluted and rooted in the world, instead of God. But there is hope for the soul!
“Letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” (Romans 8:6b NLT)
If our selfish WILL dominates our fleshly desires, it’s easy to become addicted to pleasure. We push back God’s boundaries and draw our own lines in the sand. We drink too much, eat too much, spend too much, or crave sex with the wrong people. This takes our eyes off what we believe to be true about God and what He wants for us. Soon, our orthopraxy (right actions) becomes polluted and rooted in the world, rather than in Jesus. But there is hope for the soul!
“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Psalms 37:3-5)
If negative EMOTIONS dominate us, we look around and become anxious. We pander to our fears and become overwhelmed. Or, we look too long within ourselves and become depressed. We keep an eternal flame lit under our kettle of hurtful memories so that our souls burn with fear, guilt, and shame. But there is hope for the soul!
This is the part my soul knows very well! The words below convicted me when the three parts of my soul got out of sync. I knew at that point I could not truthfully sing along with David, but I wanted to. I’m excited to say that if you’re near me now, you will hear me singing! If your soul feels tired, rest and let God sing over you. Soon, you’ll be able to sing along as well.
“Lord! I’m bursting with joy over what you’ve done for me! My lips are full of perpetual praise. I’m boasting of you and all your works, so let all who are discouraged take heart.
Join me, everyone! Let’s praise the Lord together. Let’s make him famous! Let’s make his name glorious to all.
Listen to my testimony: I cried to God in my distress, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears!
Gaze upon him, join your life with his, and joy will come. Your faces will glisten with glory. You’ll never wear that shame-face again. When I had nothing, desperate and defeated, I cried out to the Lord and he heard me, bringing his miracle-deliverance when I needed it most. The angel of Yahweh stooped down to listen as I prayed, encircling me, empowering me, and showing me how to escape. He will do this for everyone who fears God.
Drink deeply of the pleasures of this God. Experience for yourself the joyous mercies he gives to all who turn to hide themselves in him. Worship in awe and wonder, all you who’ve been made holy! For all who fear him will feast with plenty. Even the strong and the wealthy grow weak and hungry, but those who passionately pursue the Lord will never lack any good thing.
Come, children of God, and listen to me. I’ll share the lesson I’ve learned of fearing the Lord: Do you want to live a long, good life, enjoying the beauty that fills each day? Then never speak a lie or allow wicked words to come from your mouth. Keep turning your back on every sin, and make “peace” your life motto. Practice being at peace with everyone.
The Lord sees all we do; he watches over his friends day and night. His godly ones receive the answers they seek whenever they cry out to him. But the Lord has made up his mind to oppose evildoers and to wipe out even the memory of them from the face of the earth. Yet when holy lovers of God cry out to him with all their hearts, the Lord will hear them and come to rescue them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to all whose hearts are crushed by pain, and he is always ready to restore the repentant one. Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones, the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated by what they face.
God will be your bodyguard to protect you when trouble is near. Not one bone will be broken. Evil will cause the death of the wicked, for they hate and persecute the devoted lovers of God. Make no mistake about it: God will hold them guilty and punish them; they will pay the penalty! But the Lord has paid for the freedom of his servants, and he will freely pardon those who love him. He will declare them free and innocent when they turn to hide themselves in him.” (Psalms 34 TPT)
