The idea for this article today came from the late Chuck Colson, from both the Watergate Fame and the Prison Fellowship Ministry.  His journey of going from the pinnacle of political power as being one of President Richard Nixon’s top aides, to being a convict due to his involvement in the Watergate crime, to being the founder of an international prison ministry that has charters in over forty nations, has made him one of my favorite contemporary and historical men of faith.  I once heard him say that one of the primary problems and things that are destroying and weakening our nation is that many of our leaders in the Christian community, the political arena, corporate America, and in every sector embraces orthodoxy without orthopraxy.  Being the curious person that I am when it comes to hearing catchy phrases and words that I have not heard before, I immediately sought out the meaning of this term.  I knew the meaning of the word orthodoxy and that it applied to the holding of correct or generally accepted beliefs and doctrines.  However, this new word got me to thinking and searching.  When I discovered that orthopraxy simply meant “correctness of practice, action, or procedure,” I knew that Chuck Colson was saying, in a more formal and intellectual way, what many of us say in everyday terminology when we declare, “if you talk the talk, you must walk the walk.”  
This principle is not one just for Christians or religious folks.  It is something that we must embrace whether we are operating in the sacred, the secular, the church, or corporate America.  It is something that educators, as well as bankers, politicians, and those in law enforcement must adhere to without any exception.  When a people or person embraces a particular orthodoxy without orthopraxy, it is sheer hypocrisy.  Now no one wants to be referred to as a hypocrite, regardless of the area of his or her profession or practice.  However, we are living in troublesome times when many are “talking the talk without walking the walk.”  It has become commonplace to hear of people in nearly all walks of life who have been exposed as being deceivers and hypocrites.  Duplicity has become the practice of the day, when people are not practicing what they preach, nor living by the ethics or standards that they supposedly embrace.  Due to things like political correctness, peer pressure, and the desire to be rich or to succeed, many are bending the rules and overriding their consciences and convictions in order to be successful and popular. Such people who are drunk with greed and power, love the admiration of man more than the approval of their conscience and Creator.  Being correct in orthodoxy and inconsistent and hypocritical in orthopraxy is one of the primary problems that is plaguing and weakening our culture and nation.  It is the Achilles’ heel of the Christian community and, arguably, the greatest hindrance of the church.  It is the thing that stands in the way of many unconverted and sinful men, the very thing that causes them to mock and reject the good news.  Far too many of us say and do not.  Far too many of us are guilty of embracing the ungodly and satanically inspired practice of telling people to “do as I say, not as I do.”  Bear with me, if I sound preachy to you because this is not intended to be a sermon or message of rebuke.  However, after studying, practicing, and preaching the Word of God for over forty-two years, I guess I cannot help but to reflect or reference its sacred and inerrant principles and standards in all of my dealings and ways; for that, I make no apology.  Nevertheless, practicing what we preach and embracing ethics and right standards is not something that just churchgoers should embrace, but everyone, regardless of their position or station in life.  It is something that politicians, bankers, lawyers, doctors, and all businessmen should adhere to without compromise or exception.  It is a way of life that both leadership and laity, rich and poor, educated or illiterate, and all people, regardless of creed, color, or nationality should embrace.  
I agree with Chuck Colson that the greatest detriment to this nation is the fact that many people embrace a belief in orthodoxy, but fail to follow through with orthopraxy.  I believe that is at the core and cause as to why so many Americans lack confidence in our political system and the elected officials that are suppose to be representing them.  I also suspect that this is the reason why both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are perhaps two of the most distrusted and unpopular candidates to run for the Office of President in recent history.  Their dubious characters and tainted reputations can, to a great degree, be attributed to their lack of being consistently pragmatic in what was constitutionally and morally correct.  Although none of us are perfect and we all have made mistakes in our lives, there is no excuse for any of us to practice hypocrisy.  If we are to be truly a part of making American great as it was intended to be by our Divine Creator, Who orchestrated the lives of our founding fathers in the birthing and shaping of this nation, then we must walk the walk, as well as talk the talk and be true to our consciences and convictions, and not deceivers and hypocrites.  On every level and in every practice, profession, or field of endeavor, we must strive to be true to our principles, beliefs, and policies without prejudice or partiality.  This adherence must especially be the case to we who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ and who are suppose to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth.  
I have perhaps some bad and unwelcomed news for you, who believe that the answer to our national problems reside in electing the right person to the presidency, for Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, or any other politician cannot fix the things that trouble us as a nation, even if their names were Washington, Lincoln, or Roosevelt.  True, the president’s office carries power and authority and the one who occupies the Oval Office is the Commander in Chief.  Nevertheless, no one person can heal what ails us.  Only the Lord can cure the malignant cancer that has infected us as a nation.  Many who are a part of the problem, due to the fact that they have forsaken the Lord and have bowed down to things, like political correctness, heresies, apostasy, and other vanities and idols, will no doubt, detest, and reject what I am saying here.  Righteousness is still the greatest source of a nation’s ascension.  When a people refuse to be righteous, according to divine standards, they have condemned themselves to ruin.  The only thing that will silence the death kneel that continues to ring and signify our certain collapse and destruction as a nation is national repentance.  I hope and pray that we will repent and return back to He Who made us, for America is too young to die.