Every time I hear or read a professing Christian say that doctrine is not important, or worse, that doctrine is bad because it causes division and controversy, I cringe and feel sad at the same time. Lately I am wondering wether such a professing Christian even knows what he or she is saying.
Let me start by posting here the definition of doctrine, found in a couple of sources:
From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Definition of DOCTRINE
1
archaic : teaching, instruction
2
a : something that is taught
b : a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : dogma
c : a principle of law established through past decisions
d : a statement of fundamental government policy especially in international relations
e : a military principle or set of strategies
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Doctrine from wikipedia
Doctrine (from Latin: doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system. The Greek analogue is the etymology of catechism.1
Often doctrine specifically connotes a corpus of religious dogma as it is promulgated by a church, but not necessarily: doctrine is also used to refer to a principle of law, in the common law traditions, established through a history of past decisions, such as the doctrine of self-defense, or the principle of fair use, or the more narrowly applicable first-sale doctrine. In some organizations, doctrine is simply defined as “that which is taught”, in other words the basis for institutional teaching of its personnel internal ways of doing business.
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As we can see, the word doctrine means teaching, as in a principle or fact, or principle, as in a belief or fact which instructs us in some sphere of living.
We know that the Bible is the word of God. This means that our LORD Himself is the author of each word written, using believing and faithful men, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to write the words down. As it is written:
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (NKJV)
Young’s Literal Translation, (YLT), renders the verse this way:
2 Timothy 3:16 every Writing is God-breathed, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for setting aright, for instruction that is in righteousness,
This verse tells us why reading and studying the Bible is important. Notice how the first reason listed is doctrine, rendered as teaching in the YLT. The Scriptures themselves tell us that doctrine is indeed important and necessary for growing in the faith.
What else does the Bible have to say to us about doctrine? Here are some verses:
Proverbs 4:1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding;
2 For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.
From the book of Jeremiah, speaking of idols as, “a worthless doctrine”:
Jeremiah 10:6 Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD (You are great, and Your name is great in might),
7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You.
8 But they are altogether dull–hearted and foolish; A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.
9 Silver is beaten into plates; It is brought from Tarshish, And gold from Uphaz, The work of the craftsman And of the hands of the metalsmith; Blue and purple are their clothing; They are all the work of skillful men.
10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
From the book of Matthew, speaking about false doctrines:
Matthew 16:12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
From the book of Mark, the people are astonished at the Lord Jesus’ teaching or doctrine, as well as His command over the unclean spirit, both of which demonstrated His authority:
Mark 1:21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.
22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Mark 1:27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
The Lord Jesus is questioned concerning His teaching:
John 18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.
Doctrine as a component of the Christian life:
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The proclamation of the crucifiction, death and resurrection of Jesus as, “new doctrine”:
Acts 17:19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?
Understanding the correct doctrines of Scripture is vital for our spiritual life and growth. The doctrines of the Bible also teach us how to live and behave under the perfect will of God, so that, in doing so, we may give testimony of His truth.
How can anyone say that doctrines are unimportant or unnecessary? Please, dear reader, beware of this lie of the devil, for Satan likes nothing better than to have lots of professing Christian churches where the people are utterly ignorant of what the Bible says and what it means. The devil wants people to listen to messages from false teachers and preachers who stand at the pulpit to talk about how to have more money, be more atractive, be more successful at work, and who illustrate their humanistic philosophies with personal anecdotes.
Other churches are so entangled with social works and social or political justice that Christ is not even in the picture. In these churches, you do not hear the message of repentance from sin, the only way of salvation which is through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the condemnation that will follow if this message is not heeded.
So how can you tell if a pastor or preacher is a true servant of God or not? A preacher who, “rightly divides the word of truth”, always puts God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ at the very center of every message. The focus will be on how the perfect will and sovereign purposes of God, taught in the Scriptures, lead the human being down the path of life. A deceiver, in contrast, will talk about how can the human being get things out of God; the human being is at the center of the message, and God is at the periphery.
A true teacher will base his message on what the Bible says and will give a correct interpretation. This message will be peppered with Scripture; everything the teacher says will be backed by what is written in the Bible. On the other hand, a false preacher will hardly if at all read from the Bible, and will in fact be giving his own opinions or pop psychology. Nothing this person says will be backed by Scripture. From time to time, though, the false teacher will take a verse or two in order to twist it and pervert it.
And how can Christians, especially new babes in the faith, guard against these, “ravening wolves?” How else but by the careful study of biblical doctrines. This is not an option. Every Christian is commanded to know the Scriptures in order to proclaim the gospel correctly, be a testimony to the Lord Jesus and avoid falling victim of Satan’s deceptions. It is the responsibility of every Christian to know as much as possible about what the Bible says and does not say, and to have a correct understanding of the written word.
Our Lord Jesus taught an important principle concerning doctrine:
John 7:14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
17 “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
18 “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
In these verses, the Lord Jesus taught the difference between someone who teaches in a desire to follow the will of God and someone who wants to glorify himself. The apostle Paul warns us about the latter:
Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
The doctrines of Scripture are not to be compromised or watered down. This is another unfortunate tendency of many churches today, in order to gainmembers and be liked by everybody. This is what the apostle Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy about this issue:
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia––remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
Notice that the reason given for making sure that no other doctrine is taught is not to make life miserable to the Christians, but out of love and concern for them. After all, Christianity is all about the eternal destiny of the soul, another vital point which has been grossly neglected in favor of earthly and material worries. We can say with certainty that, without the doctrines written in the Bible, there simply would not be any Christianity.
Here is more exhortation from Paul to Timothy:
1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 6:1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.
2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
The apostle John gives us an explicit warning:
2 John 1:9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
As you can see, the Bible has plenty to say about doctrine. The entire Bible is the revelation of God, and all of it is doctrine. The Bible contains many kinds of teachings, and all of these teachings are the doctrines of Scripture, which we are all commanded to know and learn. As Christians, we can not shy from the hard doctrines such as judgement, hell, sin and the wrath of God. We can not be selective on what we believe or proclaim to others, for to do this is to transgress the will of our God.
Zoraida
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