Introduction – Definition of Words

Words have meanings and with what you begin is what you may end up with and as a result it may either lead you on the same path as I am or leave us both walking on different paths and though we may intersect haphazardly, the likelihood of both parties walking alongside and reaching more or less the same conclusion is perhaps implausible. Therefore, I must define Orthodoxy and Sin so that you and I can follow along this thought process. And hopefully I am able to with perspicuity communicate what I intend with conviction.

Here are the definitions I would like to consider –

Orthodoxy –

1) The generally accepted beliefs of a society at a particular time

2) The traditional beliefs of a religious group or political party.

3) The degree to which someone believes in traditional religious or political ideas.

4) The body of opinions, doctrines or beliefs held to be orthodox by a particular religion, society or group.

Sin –

1) To sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness

Here, I will be taking into consideration Orthodoxy in the context of all four connotations. And Sin, although “miss the way” is usually considered in Theology in order to imply a voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity, I will consider the meaning, “forfeit” to expound my thoughts on the topic.

And by forfeit, I mean to lose the right to something because of the neglect or violation of certain principles or guidelines that are absolute and transcendental.

Let me begin by focusing my attention on the word Sin and its meaning, forfeit. Although the aforementioned theological meaning of the word is usually applied in interpreting relevant passages of scriptures in The Bible, the word forfeit is very much a befitting expression of the word Sin.

When one carefully examines the departure of anything from a standard of ethics or operation, one is set to have not only missed the way, or to have gone wrong, or to have incurred guilt, but also very much in essence forfeited virtue, nobility, divinity, innocence, and supremacy among other exquisite traits.

And when something of such caliber is forfeited, in the sense of to have lost the right to these exemplary attributes, then it is only inevitable that something else which is contrary to everything transcendental is replaced with those things which are of disrepute, perfidious, uncharitable, mediocre, depraved, derogatory, and trivial. Consequently, there is an apparent state of ominous decline.

Let me illustrate. And please do forgive me if this seems rather harsh and insensitive an illustration, but this is to only magnify the effect of what comes later and you will see the relevance of it. When a person’s mental state is in a state of rapid decline to the point of admittance to a mental asylum, the manifestation of it stands in stark contrast to its host’s former state.

An individual once the glory of his family, neighbors, community, and quite evidently an image bearer of something divine is now decaying to a state of complete moral turpitude. And however reluctant one may be to express this, they are now considered to be unfit to operate in a society that is supposedly filled with fit and capable individuals. They are even though one would not want to admit, treated as anathema, hence, the need to seclude them from what appears to be normal.

Some of the common manifestations of the person whose mental state is in severe decline are:

• Symptoms such as belligerent defense of strongly held false beliefs leading to distortion of reality and Impairment in thinking and perception

• Profound sadness, hopelessness, and despair, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and fatigue

• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

• Manic episodes which may involve increased energy, rapid speech, reckless behavior, and poor judgment

• Individuals may have intense and irrational fears or suspicions about others, believing that they are being persecuted, spied on, or harmed in some way.

• Repetitive or purposeless movements or in some case complete immobility

• Disruptions in identity, or perception of reality

• Substance abuse and intoxication

I hope you now see why it was imperative for me to use this illustration to magnify the connotation of the word, “forfeit”.

It is this forfeiture that I want to focus on as the object of orthodoxy and how this is manifest in our culture today. There is a grievous enforcement of certain beliefs, principles, ideologies, and worldviews today by their patrons and ardent followers that seem to lead to its inevitable outcome, a state of abject decadence and hopelessness. And in a state of bewilderment allege the dereliction of responsibility of those who hold to the former supreme ideals that they forfeited in the first place.

Just to reiterate, the sin that is, “forfeit” is what I would want to focus on as a consequence and not as the beginning point of degeneration.

As for the beginning point of this degeneration and reprobation, we shall delve into the Orthodox of this particular forfeiture. Keep in mind, the purpose here is to briefly explore some of the inherent beliefs and dogmas that are prevalent in the cultures of the world today and understand its naturally resulting consequences.

Eph 5:10-11 – Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 

Pro 1:31 – Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

The Orthodoxies

To expound on Orthodoxy, I will first consider the definitions in points, 1, 2, & 4. I will expatiate on point 3 once we lay the ground work with these definitions to explore their enforcement in the world today.

When one considers the word Orthodox or Orthodoxy, there is the immediate association with anything religious or dogmas inexorably tied to certain denominations within a religion which in this case would be Christianity. Though this may be superficially true, iconoclasts of anything religious deny any association with anything that resembles Orthodoxy or its connections to the foundation of a certain Orthodox. However, this is far from the truth.

Let me then say that to propagate the idea that any belief, faith, principles, or doctrines is simply a facet and a feature of a religious institution is patently false. For example, to say that science is true, God is immoral or that he does not exist, or one could identify themselves as whatever they choose to are not mere expressions of individuality operating in complete isolation but are inseparably rooted in certain beliefs, doctrines, principles, and values that are generally accepted by a particular group, society, or a political party.

Allow me to list some of the doctrines, beliefs, opinions, that are held to be Orthodox, in other words, true in accordance with what is generally accepted or authoritatively established in the world or the culture we live in today.

Let us delve into this in-exhaustive list of modern Orthodoxy.

1. Skepticism – Question everything including oneself. Question all traditional beliefs that laid the foundation for morality, ethics, flourishing of society, development of science, technology, and more and supplant it with modern traditions rooted heavily in doubt. 

This skepticism is not a virtue of intellectual perception of the world around you guided by rationality but an inheritance of a trait from the deceiver himself who said, “hath God said?” in Gen 3:1 and that trait is pride.

Skepticism is not inherently an evil trait but a useful one as we are encouraged to do so in Phil 4:8 and Rom 12:1-2.

But we must exercise caution as to the state of our own heart before we embark on this venture of skepticism (Jer 17:9). Also, this skepticism necessitates that you ought to stand on something to question a certain dogma, ideology, or worldview which in turn implies you must stand on a thing that you grant although not to its full extent its veracity in order to unleash your skepticism on the other.

What would be deleterious to a skeptic is in order to appeal to humility says that he is in full doubt of his own position yet questions the position of the other. With no framework for reason, the skeptic stands resolutely in mid-air to gun down his opponent on the ground. There is such a thing as recoil!

You see the devil in the Garden of Eden was not so much as interested in questioning whether God exists but to plant the seeds of doubt of what God says especially of himself. The conundrum with those that do not believe in the existence of God is not merely lack of evidence as such but with the idea of what God says of himself is true. In that to say, “Is he?” when God says, “I am”.

The skeptic here stands on the foundation of the very thing that ought to be questioned to question everything else and in the end having out questioned himself, he finally reaches a state of nirvana where he no longer wants to question but simply waft through life stumbling upon every philosophy that feeds on his pride falling right into the snare of relativism.

Pro 17:24 – Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 

Col 2:8 – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

2. Nothing is Absolute – This Orthodox is rather moronically ironic. 1+1 is not 2, a man is not a man, a woman is not a woman, a man can be a woman and a woman can be a man, marriage is not just union between a man and a woman, nothing is absolutely morally wrong or right, and nothing is absolutely true or false.

You simply need to grant full expression of all ideas, beliefs, ideologies, philosophies, and worldview, and thereby grant the existence and validity of multiple truths, multiple cultural practices, multiple beliefs, multiple ethics and standards of morality, myriad notions of justice, and also approve and ignore at the same time the vice of all sorts of lifestyle choices. Although it is mostly the approval of vice that is commonplace than its denigration.

To say that one way is absolutely right and the other absolutely wrong is absolutely antithetical to this orthodox. One must simply live their truth to its fullest. And none should inhibit the other from living their truth or even warn them of the dire consequences of their choices.

Any hindrance to live out one’s truth is an absolute treason and crime against relativism, against humanity itself even when they cannot comprehensively and objectively define what they mean by humanity or what it means to be human.

One must simply bow down at an altar of relativism and I use the indefinite article here for it can be anything or morph into something else at any given time.

Any idea or notion of absolutism is simply a social construct and therefore such ideas and people must be ostracized from the society. And before they are ostracized they must be given the full grand procession of shame as those in defiance are thrust out of the city gates.

Isa 5:20-21 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 

3. Evolution is True – It is rather unfortunate that I must post a disclaimer before I continue to expound on this briefly, but I must say that nobody denies small changes within the species that adapt to its surroundings like the finches which was unfortunately used as an example for one kind evolving into another.

Just by saying this alone would elicit the wrath of the Evolution god and its disciples chanting curses and expressing their indignation at your alleged stupidity and ignorance. They now brand you with that glorious label – “Science Denier”

This god has now replaced any iota of Christianity there was by simply giving it the boot for being archaic, unscientific, cultish, irrelevant, alleging it to be regressive by all standards. The most that the disciples of Evolution are able to do is acknowledge it superficially for its indelible mark on the history of philosophy, science, literature, art, ethics, government, education, literacy, critical thinking, and the pursuit of the divinity found only in Jesus Christ. For all intents and purposes, give it the Judas’ kiss.

Evolution now is simply the ubiquitous deity that one ought to affirm, bow down to, worship, adore, and even herald its gospel to the young, old, and the religiously infirm as it were to bring them out of darkness into light; the prophecy of Isaiah turned on its head when he said, the people which sat in darkness saw great light. And for those sitting in the region and shadow of death, light is sprung up; that light being Jesus Christ. Jesus, who from that time on began to preach saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 4: 14-17)

The god of Evolution now as it seems is here to bring you out of the land of the Christians into its “light” demanding that Christians now repent for the kingdom of chance and accident is at hand.

4. Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Is The Whole Of The Law – Though it may be incredibly hard to keep it pithy, I will do my best. This fruit of Marxist ideology whether classical or Neo, is one that is designed to proffer up its philosophy as the only sure way to eradicate oppression. How one conjures this one up when one believes that nothing is absolute is any fool’s guess!

Even if one were to disregard Evolution, one could not, should not, dare not, kick this to the sidelines or even ignore it by the slightest means at the risk of its self-righteous judgment. This deity among many others like the ensemble of Hindu gods is a very powerful quintessential deity that wields the ability to fire you or hire you, promote you or demote you, celebrate you or denounce you, reward you or castigate you.

And higher the levels of your perceived oppression, the more power you have to oppress even those that are subservient to the same deity. There is a caste system. The ones at the lower ranks are unworthy of those above and those that do not qualify for discipleship are simply worthy of extermination. There is no dialogue whatsoever. They have co-opted the phrase, “turn or burn”.

This Orthodox is very effective as it has many converts from the so called Christian community. This Orthodox also involves co-opting Christianity to propagate its own message to those who are convinced of their own oppression and segregation sans the evidence.

This also preys on those who end up in the fringes of Christian community neglected, ignored, ridiculed, judged, and misunderstood. Or, at least that is the allegation against Christian communities and no investigation is necessary. I would rank this the most powerful deity and Orthodox of our modern world. This has an immense ability to instill fear and insecurity even among the bravest regardless of their religion or political stance.

5. Nature Above All – Ah! Mother Nature! Another deity that is a derivative of the Evolution god where God is replaced with Creation giving creation itself the creative force to bring about everything from nothing through a mindless, purposeless, directionless process.

Since creation is all there is, where else can they go but to Mother Nature for counsel, wisdom, direction, and guidance. The Orthodox here is, Mother Nature is supreme and above all and it ought to be revered by doing everything and anything we can even if it is illegal, irrational, illogical, incoherent, delusional to protect the life of Mother Nature for she though omnipotent is incapable of keeping herself alive unless her children do what they can to keep her alive for their life source seems to be interminably tied to hers.

If Mother Nature dies, you die. And if it is dying, you are too. And if it is suffering, you are too. I believe you have caught on now to this Orthodox.

To go against this Orthodox is to risk receiving yet another label, “Climate Change Denier”. If your child is unable to do its homework, it is because you or your child or your neighbor has violated Mother Nature! And to protect Mother Nature, sacrifice is essential. Sacrifice of all kinds like food, transport, progress, comfort, people and civilization itself among a plethora of evolving sacrificial needs.

Rom 1:18-20 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  

6. Women Above All – This is very much linked to the previous Orthodox for we dare not call Nature, Father Nature, do we? Women are simply the most noblest of all creatures who have been subjugated to “patriarchy” ever since they were glorified apes by other glorified male apes. The Orthodox is to therefore, prop up all women as semi-gods that seemingly are endowed with all virtue and nobility that man must quietly give way to them to change the course of humanity for the better.

This takes me back to the Garden of Eden. Adam simply acquiesced to his wife bringing about his own degradation in the process which more importantly replaced God with Satan, replaced Man with Nature accommodating just one more category and that is woman.

Children are just optional or just unnecessary. If they are conceived, then they are offered as sacrifice at the altar of Divine Feminine so that everything that can stop them from being truly women is eliminated.

Also, this Orthodox dictates that all accusations against men, systems that are designed by men, world that is built by men, and so on are taken at face value without question. Men are simply born guilty and women are not. Women are just tripped into feeling guilty by, you guessed it, “patriarchy”.

This Orthodox demands that women not only wear the pants, but also the royal robe of a King, his crown, wield his scepter, and also seat on his throne. The counselors, legal advice, and all those at the upper echelon of her kingdom ought to be women for most part for she must show that she is reasonable by granting a few pitiful positions for the detestable male.

The rest are essential only so far as everything is designed, built, and sustained by men for her ease and comfort. Yet she ought to be allowed to bicker and endlessly complain about her perpetual oppression.

No woman or man who does not belong to this religion can speak against this deity of Divine Feminine unless they are willing to bear the burn of the fire breathing dragon that she is.

This Orthodox also dictates that all men by myriad means are emasculated and effeminized lest their true God given gift as a man should make known its ugly face and God and children should be introduced back into the equation.

And those women that do not ascribe to this religion are constantly bombarded with convictions of oppression and how it is they have been brainwashed by “patriarchy”.  Women forbid that she should choose family and children over Divine Feminine.

A quote from feminist activist Simone de Beauvoir, “”No woman should be authorized to stay at home to raise her children. Society should be totally different. Women should not have that choice, precisely because if there is such a choice, too many women will make that one.”

Titus 2:3-5 – The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

7. Human Is Transcendent – This is perhaps the pinnacle of all the Orthodoxies mentioned here. At the crux of all the Orthodoxies whether Evolution or Relativism, is the pride of human intellect, reasoning, self sufficiency, wisdom, experience, feelings, need for self preservation, and most contemptible of all, pride.

The primacy of this orthodox is based on the premise, ‘to make a name for ourselves’ (Gen 11:4). It is this idea that whatever humans do it ought to elevate human character, capacity, knowledge, ambition, success, drive, exploration, discovery, invention, flourishing, culture, thought, idea, technology, forethought, vision, absolution, ingenuity, valor, faith, truth, principles, values, beliefs, and so much more to that of God’s and by all means above his.

The Orthodox here is the polemic belief in the self in that it is able to transcend beyond God though through evolution but incessantly and interminably evolving beyond the idea of God. This Orthodox is the doctrine of supremacy and primacy of man from which everything is derived – meaning of life, morality, ethics, and government.

Though I gave granted diversity, equity, and inclusion the most powerful deity of the modern world, this is perhaps the transcendent of all deities for this is ancient and has survived eras of human history and is today very much alive and perhaps even more potent than its former state in some capacity. And there is a reason for that for the very source of its power and influence is sourced from Satan himself who in his heart said, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…” (Isa 14:13)

This Orthodox that Human is transcendent is taught in the doctrines of Humanism; although not explicitly but implicitly. It is inward looking for love, charity, prudence, wisdom, ethics, morality, fortitude, and justice.

It is the belief that humans have inbuilt virtue to deal with evil in the world. That they are somehow endowed with eternal gifts of insight into the heart of human will and desire to always bring about the best in oneself and in others without the aid of its creator, thereby relegating the creator to non-existence and exerting self reliance.

This Orthodox is extremely potent and effective as it appeals to the pride of an individual. Also, this is brought to fruition through virtuous traits such as discipline, determination, endurance, hard work, toil, sacrifice, patience, perseverance, and sacrifice, even selflessness among many other traits giving it a facade of good and righteous.

This Orthodox is deceptive and captivating and it has captivated the hearts and imaginations of a great many intelligent and outspoken individuals who have given it the impetus afforded by the devil himself. The devil is most charmed when his subjects are inward looking than outward for they would be affirming his character, intentions, and self willed pride.

Gen  11:4 – And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 

Prov 18:12 – Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Conclusion – Sin (Forfeit)

I will try to keep this short and simple. Let us go back and review the manifestations of a mental state of a person in severe decline and see if we can draw parallels between that and the state of humanity in the modern world today as a consequence of the aforementioned Orthodoxies.  

And I did mention that I would circle back to definition 3 which is the degree to which someone beliefs the doctrines. The expectation of the overseers of the Orthodox is full subservience to it and the degree to which you submit is directly proportional to the reward that it can offer. And let us explore the rewards that is has to offer, shall we?

The world today despite all its advancements in technology, comfort, affluence, is still sadder, more depressed, more suicidal, more delusional, more disconnected from reality, more susceptible to irrational fears, insecurities, and anxiety, more indulgent in risky behaviors, more vulnerable to poor judgments, more fatigued, more asleep when awake and vice versa, more unsure of their own identity, more immobile in the literal sense in bondage to satisfying their insatiable appetite for entertainment, more immobile psychologically, more dependent on pharmaceutical drugs to keep going, more in despair, lonely and alone, more paranoid, more hopeless, more addicted to all sorts of substances, drugs, alcohol, and sex.

In an effort to be more human without God, we have become animal like almost on the verge of extinction. We are in the process of self-annihilating fulfilling the likes of Nietzche’s nihilism. In an effort to free ourselves from God we have entrapped ourselves in our own vice of depravity. We have in essence become mentally ill, inept to operate in full capacity as God willed as his image bearer and like the severely mentally ill have secluded ourselves from enjoying and fully living in the reality that God created for His glory. We have in essence imprisoned ourselves in willfully remain imprisoned thoroughly convinced thorns, briers, mines and traps that are laid all around are meant for your human fulfillment.

What a travesty!

Let me leave you with these verses for in God and Christ alone there is absolution for the maladies of our hearts and our proclivity to destroy ourselves.

John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Psa 16:11 – Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

John 4:13-14 – Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 

Rom 15:13 – Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

God bless you!