Updates
from Alathea Baptist

If We Had a Middle Name

Part 1

In my last blog I explained the rationale behind the “rebranding” that our church went through in 2020; specifically, the reason for choosing the name Alathea. Not only did I briefly review Western Civilization’s “truth journey,” I also took a moment to explain the relationship between orthodoxy and orthopraxy. I championed the church’s role in protecting and proclaiming truth, but then lamented the fact that churches and Christian families have not done well in this endeavor. Now I want to explain what is, I believe, the reason that well intentioned Christians have failed to pass God’s truth from generation to generation.

Various studies have been done that indicate that as many as eighty percent of young people who grow up in evangelical homes no longer attend church after they leave home. Why is this? We could argue whether or not the young people that make up that eighty percent are true believers or not, but in any case, they are not following God well if at all, because all God-lovers also love the brethren (1 Jn. 4:20), and do not make it a practice to forsake assembling with a local church (Heb. 10:24-25)

In seeking to address this problem, I want to go back to the orthodoxy and orthopraxy I spoke of in the last blog and add orthopathy to the mix. I contend that it is a lack in our understanding of this triad and how each element relates to the others that is the problem that results in failure to pass truth from generation to generation. I will be giving special attention to failure regarding orthopathy as the primary culprit, but the fact is, a lack in any one of these elements indicates a lack in the others. Therefore, it must be a problem with all three. To explain further, let me change the names of these elements and discuss what they do.

Let’s call orthodoxy (correct doctrine) truth. Let’s call orthopraxy (correct practice) works. And let’s call orthopathy (correct loves) Love. We could rightfully say that truth defines because the truth about anything gives it definition. We could also say that works lead. “Do as I say, not as I do,” is largely ineffective, but rather, example is followed more readily than instruction. And, finally, we can say that love secures. Indeed, it is when we know we are loved that we feel secure.

All of the above is true and not to be denied, but it is also legitimate to recognize that the roles of these elements can be switched around to a degree. I contend that truth also secures, that works define, and that love leads. Let me explain.

Without solid truth to stand on, no individual, organization, or civilization will have true lasting security. This is precisely why truth is so vitally important! But as we saw in my last blog, works define. In other words, our works give definition to our truth claims. This was illustrated by the policy changes of the Boy Scouts of America that give definition to what it means to them to “do one’s duty to God,” and to “keep oneself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” In light of the fact that what we do gives definition to what we’ve said, one of two things can happen. People may be doing what we’ve said as our actions have defined it (even when we think we’ve communicated something different with our words), or because there seems to be an inconsistency between what we’ve said and what we do, they learn to flippantly disregard us.

Finally, I believe it is true that people will always follow what they love over what they know. If there is one axiom you can take from this article, please take that last one. Indeed, love leads! (NOTE: I am aware that my comparison is not entirely parallel. It is others that are led by our works. It is we ourselves that are led by our loves. But I believe my point is valid nonetheless.)

As mentioned earlier, the problem lies with all three elements of the triad, yet I do believe the answer to the question we’re dealing with lies primarily in this last statement (love leads) which demonstrates why it is so important that as parents primarily, but also as churches, we guard and guide our children’s affections. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard parents of wayward children say, “that’s not the way I raised them!” What these parents mean is, “they are not living according to the information I gave them.”

The fact is, they’ve disregarded that information either because the parents’ works defined the information they gave in a different way than intended, or the affections of the children led them in a different direction altogether. Even if lack of parental authenticity played a part, it is always love for self that is the ultimate problem. Self-love can be disguised as love for peers, love for pleasure, love for prestige, love for pop culture, etc. It is this love that has led them astray. But they are not victims; they have followed their hearts (James 1:13-14)!

As mentioned, part of the failure on the part of parents may be a lack of authenticity. Children can smell hypocrisy from miles away! But I contend that a great share of parental failure is inadvertent. This is no excuse, but it happens in spite of good intentions. Parents are notorious for inadvertently giving the hearts of their children away. How this happens will be explored in the next blog, but for now let us agree on this much, that God places a premium on love. When asked, “which is the great command in the law?” Jesus replied in Matthew 22:37, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and then He affirmed, “this is the first and great commandment.”

This command stands supremely above all other commands. It seems that if this command is not obeyed, none of the rest will be genuinely obeyed. After affirming a second and similar command, that we love our neighbor as ourselves, Jesus said in Matthew 22:40, “On these two commandments hang all the
Law and the Prophets.”

We can’t possibly cover all the pertinent Scripture here, but it is clear what we are not supposed to love and what we are supposed to love. 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Colossians 3:2, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Matthew 6:19-20, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal:”

Obviously, these directives must be applied by each of us individually, but as parents we are given the responsibility of discipling our children. Pastors in our local churches are directed to shepherd the flock of God and to serve as overseers. Have we done well in these roles as it pertains to guarding and guiding the affections of our children and teens? This is vitally important!

If we had a middle name at Alathea, perhaps it would be Pathos. We considered this for our name, but the primary reason we decided against it is because the word itself can refer to either ordinate or inordinate affection; the context reveals the meaning. So, while Pathos may not have been a good option for our church name, ordinate affections are not optional for the believer.

The goal for my next blog is to offer help in the practice of guiding and guarding the affections of those under our spiritual care.

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