Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Does Doctrine Matter?

There’s been this tragic trend in American Christianity that we shouldn’t be too hung up on doctrine, or doctrinal differences. In fact, it’s gotten to the point that some “Christians” are willing to have inter-faith “dialogue” with other religions. There’s been this notion, especially amongst liberals and Emergents that sound doctrine just divides and provides problems. Sound doctrine, in my opinion, actually does divide; it divides the true Christians from those who believe in another gospel and another Christ.

But, unfortunately, we’ve entered, what I’ve come to call, a “doctrinal free-for-all.” What I mean by that, is the idea that it doesn’t really matter what professing Christians hold to, doctrinally, because, so long as they confess Christ as Lord, they are our brothers and sisters-in-Christ. The lines between orthodoxy and heresy have been blurred. We see that Rob Bell denies the inspiration of Scripture. Brian McLaren rejects the traditional and Biblical concepts of hell and the second coming of Christ, along with the substitutionary atonement. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has decided to allow the ordination of practicing homosexual clergy. I remember coming across this Episcopal site, and one priest once stated that one doesn’t have to believe that Christ physically and literally raised from the dead in order to be a Christian, and another is a universalist. The book The Shack has become a popular book in Christian circles, despite the fact that it contains, if I remember right, by one person's estimation, thirteen different heresies.

Now, admittedly, I would say that doctrinal ignorance has been a problem, particularly within American Christianity. With pastors not preaching sound doctrine from the pulpit of many American churches, there is a lot of spiritual immaturity. Although, the Apostle Paul writes "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming..." (Ephesians 4:14) Although, this seems to happen quite a bit.

But, on the other hand, the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy that: “…the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron…” (1st Timothy 4:1)

He also charges Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” (2nd Timothy 4:2-4)

Yet, Paul writes to Timothy: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (1st Timothy 4:16)

Now, let us go to Scripture to see what the Bible itself says about the importance of doctrine.

“In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” (1st Timothy 4:6)

“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1)

“Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8)

Furthermore, we also read in Scripture of those who do not hold to sound doctrine.

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-9)

“As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.” (1st Timothy 1:3-4)


“If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” (1st Timothy 6:3-5)

“For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.” (Titus 1:7-11)

“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.” (2nd John 1:9-11)

So, evidently, according to Scripture, particularly in the writings of Paul, doctrine is extremely important. I believe that while doctrine cannot save you, it can determine if you’re saved. Therefore, we must, as Christians, be vigilant against these false teachers who are denying cardinal doctrines. We must not receive their teachings, because they are not of God.

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