is it this or that?

There has been lots of conversation these days about what is important in ministry.  Do we spend too much time on programs or gathering together?  Do we spend too much time teaching and not enough on practice.

What is more important? Orthodoxy or orthopraxy?

There are videos like this one popping up all over:

Don’t get me wrong, I think that this type of thinking has value and is something we should wrestle with.

I just don’t get the whole concept that gathering is somehow wrong, or that othropraxy trumps orthodoxy.

Maybe we should look at what we do when we gather, or perhaps we need some bolstering in our understanding of  what worship is and isn’t.

I do think that the days of over-programming need to come to an end, but I don’t think that the pendulum needs to swing so far that we say gathering for worship and teaching is not a valid expression of our faith.

In my mind, orthodoxy and orthopraxy are intertwined.  They complement each other.  If you have one without you only have part.

So is it this or that?  My answer is yes.

(writer’s caveat: I have purposely left out what I think we should do when we gather…that is for another day my faithful 4 readers.)