Practical Theology — Living the Way of God, Character Traits 1-5
BOWU — Believers of the Way United — is built upon הַדֶּרֶךְ (HaDerech) — The Way. This is not merely a metaphor. In the Hebrew Scriptures, HaDerech refers to the path, the manner of life, and the prescribed order of walking that YHWH established for His people. The Way is God’s perspective made practical — His Torah lived out in daily human experience.
The Bible is fundamentally a book of orthopraxy — right living — not merely orthodoxy — right believing. While doctrinal truth is important and has its place in our teaching, the primary focus of BOWU is practical theology: how the Word of God transforms the way we live, speak, relate, and function in the world every single day.
Most ministries center their identity around doctrinal positions. At BOWU we recognize that believers may grow and vary in their theological understanding over time — and that is healthy. But there is one thing upon which all sincere followers of HaDerech can agree — right living.
The Bible is not primarily a theological textbook. It is a lifestyle manual given by YHWH to shape a people who reflect His character in the earth.
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1. PATIENCE — אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם (Erech Apayim — “Slowness of Anger / Long-suffering”)
Patience is the disciplined capacity to endure difficulty, delay, or provocation without losing composure, faith, or purpose. In Hebrew thought Erech Apayim literally means “long of nose” — a vivid image of one who does not flare up quickly. Patience is not passivity — it is active trust in YHWH’s timing. The person who walks in patience has learned that YHWH’s delays are never denials, and that the fruit of endurance is always worth the wait. In a culture of instant gratification, patience is a radical and countercultural act of faith.
Old Testament — “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power.” (Nahum 1:3)
New Testament — “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:4)
2. CHARITY — צְדָקָה (Tzedakah — “Righteous Giving / Justice in Action”)
Charity in the Hebrew sense is not optional generosity — it is a moral and covenantal obligation. Tzedakah comes from the root tzedek meaning righteousness, revealing that giving is not merely an act of kindness but an act of justice. To withhold from the poor is not simply unkind — it is unrighteous. At BOWU we understand that Tzedakah restores dignity, rebalances the community, and reflects the heart of YHWH who is the ultimate provider and sustainer of all life. Charity is therefore both a spiritual discipline and a social responsibility.
Old Testament — “He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)
New Testament — “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor… but have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:3)
3. FORGIVENESS — סְלִיחָה (Selichah — “Pardon / Release”)
Forgiveness is the conscious and courageous decision to release another person from the debt of their offense — not because the offense was insignificant, but because YHWH Himself is the ultimate judge and avenger. Selichah is rooted in the divine character — YHWH is described throughout the Hebrew Scriptures as a God who pardons freely and abundantly. To forgive is to align oneself with the nature of the Eternal. Unforgiveness is a prison whose key is held by the one who refuses to release the offender. At BOWU we teach that forgiveness is not weakness — it is the highest expression of spiritual strength and freedom.
Old Testament — “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Psalm 86:5)
New Testament — “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
4. JUSTICE — מִשְׁפָּט (Mishpat — “Judgment / Right Order / Due Process”)
Justice is not a political concept — it is a divine mandate woven into the fabric of Torah. Mishpat encompasses fair judgment, the protection of the vulnerable, the correction of oppression, and the restoration of right order in human relationships and society. YHWH is described as a lover of justice throughout the Psalms and the Prophets. At BOWU we affirm that a life lived in HaDerech cannot be indifferent to injustice. To walk in The Way is to stand with the fatherless, the widow, the stranger, and the oppressed — not as a political agenda but as a covenantal calling rooted in the Torah of YHWH.
Old Testament — “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
New Testament — “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith.” (Matthew 23:23)
5. LOVE — אַהֲבָה (Ahavah — “Deep Covenantal Affection / Loyal Commitment”)
In Hebrew Ahavah is not primarily a feeling — it is a covenantal choice. Love in the biblical sense is demonstrated through sustained loyalty, sacrificial action, and unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of another. Ahavah is the foundation upon which all of Torah rests — Yeshua himself declared that the entire law and the prophets hang on love for YHWH and love for neighbor. At BOWU we teach that love is not sentimentality — it is the governing principle of right living. A community that walks in Ahavah becomes an unstoppable force for healing, restoration, and transformation in the world.
Old Testament — “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18)
New Testament — “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)
The Twenty Pillars of Right Living is a five-part teaching series. The Bible is not primarily a theological textbook. It is a lifestyle manual given by YHWH to shape a people who reflect His character in the earth.