Practical Theology — Living the Way of God, Character Traits 20-22
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.
*********
20. RESTORATION / TESHUVAH — תְּשׁוּבָה (Teshuvah — “Return / Turning / Repentance and Healing”)
Teshuvah is one of the most profound concepts in all of Hebrew thought. It means to turn — to stop moving in the wrong direction and return to YHWH and to the right path. It is far richer than the English word repentance which often carries only the connotation of guilt and remorse. Teshuvah is restoration — the healing of broken relationships, the rebuilding of what was damaged, and the return of the whole person to wholeness. At BOWU we teach that Teshuvah is not a one-time event at conversion — it is a continuous lifestyle of returning to YHWH whenever we drift, stumble, or fall. The door of Teshuvah is never closed.
Old Testament — “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:7)
New Testament — “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
Here are the two additions to integrate into the complete document:
21. REPENTANCE — נִחוּם (Nichum — “Change of Heart / Turning from Wrong”)
Repentance is the deliberate and courageous act of acknowledging that one has departed from HaDerech and choosing to turn away from that wrong path. While Teshuvah emphasizes the return and restoration, Nichum emphasizes the internal change of heart and mind that makes genuine turning possible. True repentance is not merely sorrow over consequences — it is a deep moral reckoning with the offense itself, whether against YHWH, against another person, or against oneself. At BOWU we teach that repentance is not a sign of weakness — it is the mark of a spiritually mature person who values truth and right relationship above the protection of their own ego. A community that practices repentance is a community that grows, heals, and remains spiritually alive.
Old Testament — “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)
New Testament — “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
22. CONFESSION — וִדּוּי (Viddui — “Declaration / Acknowledgment of Sin before YHWH”)
Confession is the spoken acknowledgment of wrongdoing before YHWH and where necessary before those we have wronged. Viddui in Hebrew tradition was a formal and serious act — on Yom Kippur the High Priest would confess the sins of the entire nation over the head of the scapegoat. Confession was never merely private and internal — it involved the spoken word because there is power in declaring truth aloud. At BOWU we teach that confession is not about self-condemnation — it is about spiritual transparency and the releasing of shame. What is hidden festers. What is brought into the light is healed. Confession breaks the power of secret sin, restores broken relationships, and positions the believer to receive the full mercy and forgiveness of YHWH. Confession and repentance work together — one without the other is incomplete.
Old Testament — “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)
New Testament — “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)
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.
Leave a Reply