Welcome to Whispers of Grace. As an artist and scholar of religion, I hope to bring something unique and worthwhile. These reflections, devotions, or whatever you choose to call them, are personal. These are my thoughts as I struggle to live in the same world and serve the same God as you. I pray that they bring value when you read them, as they do to me when I write them.
-Rondall Reynoso
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When Right Belief Isn’t Enough (Romans 12:2)
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 NRSVue
Reflection
I needed this verse today.
We live in an age that seems to be very broken. Even the church in this age seems to celebrate evil. These realizations have been weighing heavily on me.
During my decades in the church, I have heard a lot of talk about orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy (right practice), but a few years ago, I was introduced to the idea of orthopathy (right passions).
Orthopathy has become a very important spiritual concept for me. Especially now, at a time when many are focused so intently on theology and ensuring that they and others have the correct beliefs, even though they seem to have hearts that are far from God’s.
In the church, it seems that many profess the importance of sound doctrine yet embrace the spiteful spirit of this age. Despite their doctrine, they have unwittingly conformed to this age.
The Biblical language for orthopathy is terminology such as God creating in us a “clean heart”, or in this verse, our being “transformed by the renewing of the mind.” The idea of orthopathy is that we develop the same passions as Christ. We need to love what Christ loves and grieve what He grieves.
Only when our passions are in line with Christ’s are we able to correctly discern His will and do what is acceptable and perfect. The word "perfect" here is telios, a Greek term meaning something that has reached its intended purpose. It is not through theology or orthodoxy that we reach Christ’s intended purpose and become spiritually mature. It is, instead, through the renewing of our minds, through orthopathy, the development of passions in line with Christ’s.
The “Theo Bro” who is eager to make theological battle but lacks grace, humility, and love has not renewed his mind. The politician who bows in prayer while passing laws that hurt God’s image bearers has not renewed her mind. The apologist who eagerly seeks the opportunity to humiliate his adversary rather than to show love to his neighbor has not renewed his mind.
Only when our passions align with God’s can we approach the telios He intends for us.
