DOCTRINE: YES…OR NO? [MONDAY MANNA 19]

Dear friends,

It was a warm Saturday night home gathering in Florida here in the USA of new folks that professed Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I was excited to meet them, but also reserved to see how they expressed their love for Him towards others.

If anything my experience had taught me over the last 20 years or so, it was that many so-called saints (mostly men) are hostile in their opinions. And are very quick to make their superior opinions undiscussable and off-limits.

Over the Lord’s Supper full dinner, the new man who showed up with the well worn Bible and plethora of religious observations. He was proclaiming vigorously the goodness of the Catholic church he attended in helping others on to Christ. I felt I was to be just listening at that point instructed to silence by the Spirit.

Then it came out. The age old declaration I’ve heard dozens of times since I began my walk with Jesus. You too most likely…

“I never talk about doctrine,” he proudly declared.

It was as if he were setting the stage that he was not approachable if anyone might inquire of him about his strongly stated religious preferences. And that he was “doctrinally” correct to state he never talked about it. There was a air of smugness in him I detected, since I’ve also made declarative statements with the same sinful arrogant attitude over the years.

I stifled a smile at that moment if I remember correctly. My mind was toying with asking him somewhat sarcastically like Paul to the Corinthians, “Is that a doctrine of yours not to talk about doctrine?” But, perhaps reflecting my tiredness of the day,  I resisted the urge and made a mental note to get his email from our friend who invited him if perhaps God would have me engage him later.

How many times have you run into people who make the same statement about doctrine?

Not to talk about doctrine is a doctrine.

Not to have an opinion is an opinion.

Is saying there is no truth really true? J  And on it goes….

But what says the Scriptures through the Holy Spirit? Gratefully, there’s plenty.

Doctrine is crucial to God and thus to us. He talks a lot about it in various forms. Doctrine is essentially teaching, instruction, things we learn and then believe. From there then we act on what we hold sacred as a way of life. It’s a reflection of who we really are and not just what we say.

There’s a great spiritual war on for the hearts and minds of God’s human creatures. Satan knows how to use his schemes to twist, pervert, and downright torpedo God’s loving instruction for a fruitful life.

Let’s take a quick look at the verses with the actual English word in them:

1.   Doctrine is so important to Jesus that it’s considered worship, and men have their own agenda He calls precepts:

Matthew 15:9  ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’ “

2.   Growing up in Jesus is normal and we’re to be steady in maturity, not easily captured by every new doctrine that comes through town. Even if it’s a doctrine that says we shouldn’t speak about doctrine.

Ephes. 4:14  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;

3.   Strange and demonic doctrines abound. Some will cause the saints to turn from their faith, fall away, and be lost to the lake of fire.

1 Tim. 1:3  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,

1 Tim. 4:1  But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

4.   Not only is doctrine vital, we’re to follow only sound (vs. sick) doctrine, and point out these things to the saints. Furthermore, we’re to live well so our doctrine is believed by others who watch our lives.

1 Tim. 4:6  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.

1 Tim. 6:1  All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.

5.   Again a different doctrine proclaims sick (vs. sound) words not of Jesus. Ours is a doctrine of godliness, holiness. Those advocating another are conceited, morbid (that’s not “nice” saying this, is it?), and leads to bad, bad behavior.

1 Tim. 6:3-4  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,

6.   In these days we live, most folks with not “endure” sound doctrine, preferring sick doctrine instead. Think Joel Osteen, and the TD Jakes – Ken Copeland – Benny Hinn type greedy prosperity, and most local mega churches with their feel good American gospel masquerading as the Religion of Niceness. We’re there folks.

2 Tim. 4:3  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,

7.   We’re to be active with doctrine: exhorting and refuting. Speaking up about it. Perhaps I should have spoken up that night at my home with the no-doctrine guy!

Titus 1:9  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.

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

8.   And finally, it’s so important, doctrine should have purity and be adorned (ordered, and arranged) as the beautiful truth it is: the image on the Most High God Himself.

Titus 2:7  in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,

Titus 2:10  not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

A brief look at the main Greek words for doctrine as we close will be helpful.

The main word means to learn, to teach, to instruct. You may hear the term didactic as times:

didasko; a reduplicated, causative form of dao (to learn); to teach:- instructed(2), preaches(1), taught(13), teach(33), teaches(5), teaching(43).

From this word comes:

didache; from Greek 1321 (didasko); doctrine, teaching:- instruction(2), teaching(27), teachings(1).

didaskalos; from Greek 1321 (didasko); an instructor:- teacher(10), Teacher(41), teachers(8)

And from that comes:

didaskalia; from Greek 1320 (didaskalos); instruction (the function or the information) :- doctrine(9), doctrines(3), instruction(1), teaching(7), teachings(1).

Our no-talk-doctrine guest that night may have meant he didn’t want to argue voraciously about what he might consider not on his “bullet list” like predestination, end-times, etc. What is a “bullet list?” The doctrines that they determine are important enough to die for Christ. The rest really don’t count for much they declare.

But we’re to agree on all things of doctrine proclaims the apostle Paul over and over!

But if we, or someone we know, says that doctrine is not important or we can’t speak about it, what now will we do?

Exhort. Refute. Defend. Adorn.

Don’t be nice.

Be full of truth.

Be full of doctrine.

Here’s a great quote to provoke you on to love and good works of good doctrines:

“A study of the Scriptures reveals that the teaching ministry of the Church has both a positive as well as negative aspect. While it presents eternal truths, it also combats delusion and false doctrine. To readers of the present time it is at times shocking to read how aggressive, almost violent are the Bibles attacks upon false teachers.

“Jesus Himself exemplified this fact. Consider, for example, His pierce condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees. “Whited sepulchers,” “serpents and vipers,” and “blind teachers” are but a few samples of the harsh words He used. Others in the New Testament were just as severe as Jesus.

“Paul pronounced a curse on those who were preaching another gospel (Galatians 1:8-9) and called his opponents “dogs” and “evil workers” (Philippians 3:2). Peter compared false teachers to unreasoning animals, condemning them with the certainty that their destruction was inevitable (2 Peter 2:1; 3:12-14) The same denouncement is expressed in the Epistle of Jude which attacks false teachers who had slipped into the church.” Complete Biblical Library, 1316, didache, p. 120

Doctrine? Yes!

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,

Marc

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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!

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Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.