Orthodox Faith and Biblical Practice

Understanding what it means to hold to orthodox beliefs within the Christian faith, and why remaining faithful to biblical truth matters in every generation.

The Foundation of Orthodox Belief

The term orthodox refers to that which is following the accepted and established doctrines of the Christian church, as grounded in the creeds and formulations of the early church. These foundational creeds — such as the Apostles' Creed, and the Nicene Creed — were carefully crafted to define and defend the core truths of the Christian faith against the errors and heresies that arose in the early centuries of the church's history (Jud 1:3). Orthodoxy, therefore, is not a matter of personal preference or denominational opinion; it is the faithful preservation of the apostolic teaching as delivered once for all to the saints.

Before accepting any teaching clarify it is scriptural

However, over time various doctrines, false teachings, traditions, philosophies and viewpoints which cannot be considered orthodox have subtly crept into much of Christianity. If these hold more authority than the Bible or contravene its standards they must be rejected (Act 17:11; Col 2:8,20-23; 2 Tim 3:14-17). We are instructed to watch our lifestyle and doctrine closely, for in today's world there are so many false teachings and New Age thought patterns that seek to captivate people's minds, turning them aside from the truth of Christ as contained in the Bible (Isa 53:6a; Eph 4:14; 1 Tim 4:16; Heb 13:9; 2 Pet 2:15). The call to orthodoxy is not a call to rigid traditionalism, but rather a call to remain anchored in the unchanging Word of God.

The Danger of Departure from Biblical Truth

The drift from orthodoxy rarely happens suddenly. Rather, it occurs through a gradual process of compromise, where small departures from biblical truth accumulate over time until what was once considered unorthodox becomes widely accepted. This is why Scripture repeatedly warns believers to guard the deposit of faith entrusted to them (2 Tim 1:13-14). The enemy of souls does not typically launch a frontal assault on core doctrine; instead, he introduces subtle distortions that appear plausible and even spiritually appealing (2 Cor 11:14-15). History demonstrates that entire denominations have drifted from biblical fidelity through a succession of seemingly minor concessions, each one paving the way for the next.

False teaching often enters subtly through tradition rather than overt denial

When human traditions are elevated to a position equal to or above Scripture, the result is inevitably a departure from the pure truth of God's Word. Jesus Himself strongly rebuked the religious leaders of His day for this very practice, saying, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions" (Mk 7:8). The danger is not tradition itself, but rather the authority that is ascribed to it when it supersedes or contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture. Traditions can serve as helpful expressions of faith when they remain subordinate to the Bible, but they become spiritually harmful when they are treated as binding upon the conscience of believers without scriptural warrant.

The Eastern Orthodox Church and Its Teachings

The Eastern Orthodox Church is a grouping of 13 self-governing churches, each typically called by the nation in which they are located (for example, the Russian Orthodox Church is in Russia). They hold similar views on doctrine, the sacraments (baptism, communion) and liturgy (prescribed words and set forms), with each country administering their own affairs under their own ruling figure. The Eastern Orthodox Church traces its origins to the early church and the Byzantine Empire, and it views itself as the unbroken continuation of the apostolic faith.

Tradition and Scripture are held as equal authorities in the Eastern Orthodox Church

Like Catholics and Protestants, they affirm the Trinity, the Bible as the Word of God, Jesus as God the Son and many other biblical doctrines to varying degrees, but overall have more in common with Catholics than Protestant Christians. Their traditions and the Bible are considered equal authorities, and consequently several of their doctrines are faulty, such as praying for the dead, the baptism of infants without any reference to individual responsibility and faith, and the possibility of receiving salvation after death. Justification by faith is virtually absent from their teachings. Although there are genuine Christians in the Orthodox Church, the organisation as a whole is not adhering faithfully to the truth of the Bible. The elevation of church tradition to a position of equal authority with Scripture has led to practices and beliefs that cannot be sustained by biblical exegesis alone.

Reflection and Application:

Examine every teaching you encounter against the standard of Scripture, just as the Bereans did (Act 17:11).
Be alert to the subtle ways that human tradition can gradually overshadow or contradict God's Word in your own life and church community.
Hold firmly to the core doctrines of the Christian faith as expressed in the early creeds, while remaining humble enough to be corrected by Scripture.
Pray for discernment to recognise false teaching, and for the courage to stand firm on biblical truth even when it is unpopular (1 Tim 4:16).