by Raimer Rojas
Discipleship • Holistic Discipleship
How Right Belief Affects The Other Three • How Right Emotion Affects The Other Three • How Right Motivation Affects The Other Three
At the intersection of orthopraxis (right action) with orthodoxy (right belief), orthopróthesis (right motivation), and orthopathos (right feeling/emotion), we see that faith is fully realized not just in what we know, desire, or feel, but in how we live. Right action serves as the visible manifestation of an integrated faith, demonstrating that true discipleship is not passive but actively engaged in love, justice, and obedience to God. The following phrases represent the union of each pair:
Incarnate Truth (Orthopraxis + Orthodoxy) – This union is best described by the phrase "incarnate truth," highlighting that right belief is incomplete unless it is lived out. Scripture teaches that faith without works is dead (James 2:26), underscoring that genuine orthodoxy must result in tangible obedience. When orthopraxis and orthodoxy unite, truth is no longer abstract but embodied—faith takes on flesh in daily life, reflecting Christ, who is Himself the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
Faithful Stewardship (Orthopraxis + Orthopróthesis) – The intersection of right action and right motivation is captured in the phrase "faithful stewardship." This phrase conveys that obedience is not about performance or self-righteousness but about rightly handling what has been entrusted to us. When motivations are pure, actions become an expression of worship rather than duty, ensuring that we serve God and others with integrity. As Jesus taught in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), true disciples are those who actively steward their lives in faithful service to the King.
Love in Action (Orthopraxis + Orthopathos) – When right action and right emotion intersect, "love in action" captures this reality. This phrase reflects that emotions such as compassion, joy, and mercy must translate into deeds. Jesus, moved by compassion, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and welcomed the outcast. Likewise, when our emotions align with God’s heart, they lead us to act—serving the poor, pursuing justice, and living out the love of Christ. As 1 John 3:18 exhorts, “Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
Each of these combinations highlights that right action is the outworking of true faith. A discipleship that lacks orthopraxis risks becoming intellectual without transformation, emotional without substance, or well-intended without impact. But when our actions are shaped by truth, motivation, and godly emotion, our faith becomes incarnational—visible, active, and transformative in the world, reflecting Christ in both word and deed.