A Quick Word on the Relationship Between Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy

An indicative statement is a statement of fact (e.g., “The dog is black.”); an imperative is a command (e.g., “Tell the dog to sit.”). Indicatives and imperatives are different ways of classifying sentences but they also have a relationship with one another. An imperative statement without a preceding indicative is meaningless.

For example, if I told my kids not to stick their hand in a snake pit (the imperative), they might heed my warning, but it doesn’t carry much meaning unless I tell them snakes are dangerous and could kill you (the indicative). They must learn about the nature of snakes.

Or, if Paul only said, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body” (the imperative in Romans 6:12) and never said you were “set free from sin” (the indicative in Romans 6:6), there wouldn’t be much meaning in ceasing to sin. We must learn what Jesus’ death on the cross does for and to us.

Indicatives have to be understood before imperatives can be presented. You must learn in order to behave rightly.

Fellow Christians have said to me before, “But I just want to know what to do. Just tell me the bottom line – what God wants.” Friends, you cannot appropriately apply the Bible without knowing – without learning – why certain commands are given. Orthodoxy always precedes orthopraxy.