Inroduction
Before we answer this question let us define what we mean by the word doctrine.
“In a general sense, whatever is taught. Hence, a principle or position in any science; whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or master. The doctrines of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and his apostles.”[1]
To simplify, a doctrine is a teaching. The word doctrine itself is found 56 times in the bible (6 times OT and 50 times NT). The statements on the front cover of this pamplet have rung in my ears by co workers, fellow church goers, friends, family and etc.. Throughout my time as a Christian I have made a big deal of doctrine. I have desired to know the doctrines of the bible, the doctrines of other Christians, doctrines of the different kinds of churches, doctrines of the cults and other religions. From this desire I have set out to know these things, but have I been mistaken? Is it wrong to make an issue one’s doctrine? Is doctrine important?
To many of you, this sounds like a foolish question and it should. DOCTRINE IS ALL IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!! Without it we would not know who Christ is. Without it we would not know how to get saved. Without it we would not what a true church looks like. Without it we would not know God’s design for marriage and the home. We could go on and on…….
The Faith
Several times in the NT we see the phrase “the faith”. The bible tells us to:
1 Corinthians 16:13
13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Philippians 1:27
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Titus 1:13
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Jude 3
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The faith, is simply a body of doctrines. Doctrines are teachings. Here is my question…. Are we contending for, standing on, sound in and striving together for the body of teachings taught and lived by the apostles? Having been saved out of the world I began my walk as a new born again Christian with this begging question. This question is asked by many who are saved as well as those who are not saved. Why are there so many different kinds of churches? Here is a simple answer to a very complex question, differing doctrines account for most of the different kinds of churches. Here is a better question to the reader of this pamplet, why do you attend your church? Why is it, I have rarely, heard the following response “this is what my church believes and this is what I believe, so I belong here”. If the reason why you attend your church has nothing to do with its beliefs then you have misunderstood “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3)”. I Pastor an Independent Fundamental Baptist church because of this very faith (the body of doctrines found in the NT).
Doctrinal Statements
Once I understood the importance of doctrine I began to look at all the different beliefs that Christians hold. This is easy to do for those churches who have a doctrinal statement, statement of belief and or articles of the faith (all churches should have such). Many churches have no need for such a thing, but why? Some churches may suggest the Holy Spirit is enough, and others may say the bible alone is enough.
These ideas really sound good, but here is the problem everybody believes the bible and leans upon the Holy Spirit. So, why are there so many differences? Because not every church really holds to the bible as all authoriatative, a doctrinal statement is necessary to communicate a true belief in the scriptures if a true belief is held.
In church history we see a practice in churches and church councils to state and to reexamine its beliefs and or practices to deal with the new evils of the day. We see a beginning of this in the book of Acts. In Acts 15:1-32, we see a conflict in the early church over what would be required of Gentile believers. Church leaders (apostles at this time) gathered together to lay down what these doctrines would be. At the conclusion of the meeting, an application was made for these doctrines. Here are the doctrines that the Jewish believers would require of the Gentile believers.
Acts 15:28-29
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
This continued throughout the early part of church history as noted by Willmington.
“The Position of the Early Church. During the third, fourth, and fifth centuries the church held no less than 184 councils, not to deal with civil rights, ecology problems, or political ills, but to deal with any and all heresy that would dare tamper with the pure Word of God.”[2]
I am sure this rarely takes place today, a group of men gathered together for the purpose of “what saith the scripture (Romans 4.3)” ditto “Nevertheless what saith the scripture (Galations 4.30)”.
Why Preach Doctrine
Doctrinal preaching and teaching has often been replaced with feel good sermons, emotionalism and as the apostle put it “after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3)”. We need to get back to doctrinal preaching and teaching and here is why.
1. Church people do not know what they believe and why.
2. Church people in general cannot apply the following scriptures due to ignorance 1 Corinthians 16:13, Philippians 1:27, Titus 1:13 and Jude 3.
3. Most church people see no need for Sunday evening and/or Midweek services.
4. Evils of our day are going unanswered such as, new and “better” translations, homosexuality, women in church leadership, tongues, worldly influences on the church, etc….
5. Lost people are receiving mixed messages as to what the faith is.
6. Children of church people are exiting the church at alarming rates because dad and mom cannot give answers for what they believe.
7. Practices in churches are no longer tied to the doctrines of scriptures.
8. When church people seek further study into theology they are recommended books and or college courses (when churches should be supplying some of this need).
9. The next generations of church leadership are doing some of the following…
a. Giving smaller doctrinal statements to be more inclusive.
b. Copying former doctrinal statements without being able to defend their meaning.
c. Not preaching or teaching foundational doctrines because they see a lack of relevance.
Solutions
What can we do about this problem? Know what you believe and why. Find out what your church believes and why. Scriptures also supply us with these answers.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Then you can….
Jude 3
3 …it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
3 …it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Get the brethern together in your church to study these things through and God will bless. Here is a list of God’s desired results of God called leadership contending for, standing fast in, sound in and striving together for the faith.
Ephesians 4:11-14
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Doctrine & Worship
Some have erronously attempted to separate these two. May I ask, can this be done? ABSOLUELY NOT!!! What saith the LORD?
John 4:23-24
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Bible doctrine is truth. This makes total sense. How do we know who God is without doctrine or The Son of God without doctrine? How can a person worship God as God, without doctrine telling us that He is God? Have you read Psalm 119 lately? Psalm 119 is really a Psalm of worship. David was worshipping God through his love for God’s words. From God’s words we find doctrines that we His children are to apply. These two cannot be separated.
Problems with Doctrine
When does doctrine become a problem? This pamplet would not be complete without dealing with these problems and there can be a variety of problems. I am going to only deal with two of them.
1. Rejection of true bible doctrine.
Does this really happen and what are we to do when it does? What saith the scripture?
2 Timothy 4:3
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…
How are we to respond to this modern day problem?
2 Timothy 4:2
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:5
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
2. Doctrines of men
Believe it or not, many practices and teachings in churches are not found in the scriptures. Jesus warned us of such doctrines.
Mark 7:7
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
The following doctrines when we consider the scriptures as a whole lack a solid foundation such as: baby baptism, baptismal regeneration, works salvation, modern day tongues, losing one’s salvation, women preachers, denominational organizations, events in Genesis as well as future evnets in Revalation are allogorys, and we could go on and on…
The bible says we are to:
Romans 16:17
17 … mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
17 … mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Ephesians 4:14
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
Hebrews 13:9
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.
In Conclusion
My prayer is that this pamplet is a help and a blessing to you, that ye my grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For further study one could go through a concordence and look up all the scriptures with the word doctrine. But I also want to challenge each and every of you to know what you believe and why, as well as know what your church believes and why. Jesus said:
John 8:32 (KJV)
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
There is a great freedom that comes from knowing the truth. Jesus had previously told us where this truth can be found. In the word of God.
John 17:17
17 …thy word is truth.
17 …thy word is truth.
Here is one final word from the word of God.
Titus 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
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