Well, this is quite a question. Are you orthodox or a heretic? Let me offer you my thoughts and then open this up for some discussion.

The term orthodox can be defined in a few ways:

1. Historic Christian Orthodoxy: This refers to the sine qua non (the “without which not”) of Christian belief. This belief is held, to paraphrase Augustine, “by all Christians, of all time, everywhere.” In other words, it is not limited to time or geographical region. Therefore, it would be found very early in some sort of articulated fashion, though not necessarily in formal document, in the early church. Historic orthodoxy did take a few centuries to articulate in thought and word. It is unthinkable that in the first few centuries Christians would have developed in their understanding beyond a seed form of the basics below. They were too busy trying to stay alive, legitimize themselves to hostile Jews and Romans,  and encourage the local congregations. These basics were handed down in tradition (the regula fide) and Scripture.

In this case, a historically orthodox Christian would be one that believed in these essential elements:

• Deity of Christ
• Doctrine of the Trinity
• The Sovereignty of God
• The historicity of the physical death, burial, and resurrection of Christ 
• Hypostatic union (Christ is fully God and fully man)
• The sinfulness of man
• The necessity of the atonement
• Salvation by grace through faith
• The reality of the body of Christ (the catholic [universal] Church)
• The authority of the visible body of Christ
• The inspiration of Scripture
• The canon of Scripture made up of the Old and New Testaments
• The future second coming

2. Traditional Orthodoxy: This focuses upon the further articulations and nuances of an individual tradition, implied or dogmatized. As the above doctrines developed in understanding, people began to part ways in their interpretation of these doctrines. Traditional orthodoxy takes time to develop since it comes primarily as a result of controversy and challenge. There is a Catholic orthodoxy, Protestant orthodoxy, and Eastern Orthodoxy traditional orthodoxy. I will list all three (although I could have missed something). Notice that the further articulations are inserted in bold.

Historic Protestant Orthodoxy

• Deity of Christ
• Doctrine of the Trinity
• The Sovereignty of God
• The historicity of physical death, burial, and resurrection of Christ
• Hypostatic Union (Christ is fully God and fully man)
• The sinfulness of man in corrupt nature, imputed guilt, and personal sinfulness
• The necessity of the vicarious substitutionary atonement on the cross
• Salvation through grace alone by faith alone on the basis of Christ alone
• The reality of the body of Christ (the catholic [universal] Church)
• The authority of the visible local bod[ies] of Christ
• The infallible, inerrant inspiration of Scripture alone with final authority on all matters of faith.
• The canon of Scripture made up of the Old (39 books) and New (27 books) Testaments
• The future second coming

Historic Roman Catholic Orthodoxy

• Deity of Christ
• Doctrine of the Trinity
• The Sovereignty of God
• The historicity of physical death, burial, and resurrection of Christ
• Hypostatic Union (Christ is fully God and fully man)
• The sinfulness of man in corrupt nature, imputed guilt, and personal sinfulness
• The necessity of the vicarious substitutionary atonement on the cross
• Salvation by grace alone through faith as God works these out through our cooperation with Him
• The reality of the body of Christ (the catholic [universal] Church) which subsists only, explicitly and implicitly, in the one true Catholic Church that resides under the ultimate authority of the Bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter.
• The infallible authority of the visible body of Christ as expressed by the Magisterial authority of Rome
• The infallible, inerrant inspiration of Scripture.
• The canon of Scripture made up of the Old (39 books + Deuterocanonical books/Apocrypha) and New (27 books) Testaments
• The future second coming

Historic Eastern Orthodox Orthodoxy

• Deity of Christ
• Doctrine of the Trinity
• The historicity of physical death, burial, and resurrection of Christ
• Hypostatic Union (Christ is fully God and fully man)
• The sinfulness of man in corrupt nature and personal sinfulness
• The necessity of the recapitulation found in Christ’s atonement in his life and on the Cross
• Salvation by grace through faith as God works these out through our unification with Him
• The reality of the body of Christ (the catholic [universal] Church)
• The infallible authority of the visible body of Christ as expressed by the first seven ecumenical creeds
• The infallible inspiration of Scripture.
• The canon of Scripture made up of the Old (39 books + the possible inclusion of the Deuterocanonical books/Apocrypha) and New (27 books) Testaments
• The future second coming

3. Denominational Orthodoxy: Finally, there is the further division that can be broken down as Protestants continue to further define each of these areas. Of course Calvinists would further define issues of salvation, election, security, and God’s meticulous sovereignty. Arminians would do the same emphasizing God’s universal atonement and God’s providential sovereignty. Baptists would add issues such as believers baptism and congregational style of leadership within the local church. As well, Catholics have continued to further define areas as well such as the Marian dogmas.

OK, so this is the question: Are you orthodox or heretic? It depends on what you mean. My thoughts are that we need to define our terms here and be careful with our pronouncement of heterodoxy. I suppose one can be a heretic with regards to a particular traditional or denominational orthodoxy, but this does not necessarily make them a heretic in the proper sense.

My thoughts are these: To be a heretic in the proper sense means that you deny a doctrine that has been held by all Christians of all time, everywhere. To be orthodox in a proper sense means that you affirm all the essential doctrines of historic Christianity.

Thoughts?