'Caught Off Guard' Concerning Doctrine

Doctrine…(*Ugh* “Goodbye, not interested.”)

For years, I was turned off by the word doctrine until a friend simplified things: “Doctrine is just teaching,” he said. I don’t know how I had missed that, but he was right. In the Bible, the word doctrine refers to teaching or instruction.

When the early Christians followed the apostles’ doctrine, they were “devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” (Acts 2:42) It really is that simple. (Most English translations use the word teaching nowadays.)

So, how important is doctrine?

A number of years ago, a college friend visited my wife and I overheard her telling about a new women’s Bible study in which the participants had all agreed to avoid controversial Bible topics. While that was a lofty goal, it was flawed. Not trying to be difficult, I interjected, “So, I guess you won’t be discussing salvation.”

The biblical doctrine of salvation is critically important, yet quite controversial.

Biblical doctrine is interesting to some, though there are writers who seem to be gifted in making it as dry as the desert sand. Yet, the instruction found in the pages of the Bible tells us about God and about ourselves. Biblical doctrine helps us answer fundamental questions that mankind has asked throughout the ages:

• Who am I and what is my place in the universe?
• How does the ordered universe make sense?
• Where is there justice?

It is important to understand that every person thinks something about God and the Bible, about truth and eternity, about salvation and morality. A person’s attitudes and behaviors are defined by his understanding of doctrine even if he does not call it doctrine. Consider...

In his book, What Is the Bible?, Rob Bell explains biblical inspiration as something little different from an idea that suddenly pops into one’s head, not unlike Doc Brown’s invention of the flux capacitor in the popular Back to the Future movie series. Yet, if that describes your basic doctrine of biblical inspiration, then the Bible will be reduced to a mere compilation of the writings of men who had an internal urge to write after a bump on the head.

In his Word Pictures in the New Testament, 20th Century Greek scholar A. T. Robertson revealed his doctrine of baptism saying that a person will interpret Acts 2:38 “according as he believes that baptism is essential to the remission of sins or not.” (Vol. III, p. 35-36) In other words, biblical doctrine on baptism is so indistinct in this case that people will simply believe what they already believe. If you embrace Robertson’s explanation, then you will feel perfectly fine to believe whatever you want about Christian baptism.

The point of these examples is that human explanations of biblical doctrine are insufficient and may lead to incorrect conclusions. Those conclusions will surely affect one’s attitudes and ultimately his/her choices and behaviors.

In contrast to the examples above, Paul wrote:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching (doctrine)...so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 

—2 Timothy 3:16

We must keep focus on God’s word so that we are not caught off guard concerning doctrine. Only then will God’s intended goal be met in us.

The goal of our instruction [doctrine] is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 

—1 Timothy 1:5

Mark Stinnett

August 29, 2021

'Caught Off Guard' Concerning Faith

A young couple had asked me to perform their wedding ceremony. She was not a Christian and reluctantly came with her fiancée to meet with me to talk about the wedding.

I emphasized that I believed the Bible and intended to include statements about God and his instruction for marriage. They both agreed. A few minutes later, however, the bride-to-be made a comment that caused me concern. I responded, “When you say, ‘God,’ and I say, ‘God,’ I don’t think we are talking about the same thing. Do you believe the Bible?”

Her final response, before cursing and storming out of my office, was something about how any writing that had been buried for a hundred years could be unearthed and then revered as a sacred text. (I did not wed the two.)

Years earlier, a co-worker of mine described Jesus as someone who was simply ahead of his time. She said that His advanced knowledge allowed him to heal in ways unfamiliar to the people of his day. So, they saw his practices as magical and called the results miracles. In addition, the crucifixion and resurrection of this wonder-worker were simply made up by disciples to account for his sudden disappearance.

Denial. The bride-to-be and my coworker were denying three important foundational truths that undergird Christianity:

• God is the Creator of the universe;
• Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, deity in the flesh; and
• Jesus was crucified, but was raised from the dead, and then ascended to heaven.

In his book, The Genesis Record, Henry Morris compared atheism, humanism, evolutionism, and an assortment of other –isms. He concluded that there are many different ways to deny God, but they are all still a denial of God. (p. 38)

Voices of our day mock the Scriptures, yet without carefully investigating its content. Voices of our day cite scientific research as testimony against events and claims in the Bible, yet often while overlooking their own hidden assumptions. Voices of our day, even many religious voices, often deny straightforward biblical teachings that clash with accepted beliefs.

Denying God, one must ultimately accept with blind faith that something (matter) can emerge from absolute nothingness. (Science does not agree.) Denying the deity of Jesus, one must blindly ignore salvation and morality. Denying the resurrection, one must blindly accept the absence of divine judgment, the afterlife and hope. The denial of these three fundamental truths reduces human beings to little more than animals whose end is nothingness.

Christian faith is rooted in the existence of the God who IS and who created and who recorded His spoken word to mankind. The very first verse of the Bible is a kind of 'You Are Here' pointer that provides mankind its bearings within the framework of the universe and eternity. It provides relevance to mankind’s existence. It gives relevance to the existence of every individual.

Faith is not blind, but rooted in truth. Yet, the Apostle Paul warned that God’s wrath is against those who “suppress the truth”...

Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 

—Romans 1:19 (NASB95)

Christians “walk by faith.” It is not blind faith or the faith of desire (i.e. I want to believe, so I believe). Our faith is grounded in the verifiable revelation of our wise Creator. Do not be caught off guard by the voices of doubt of our day.

Mark Stinnett

August 22, 2021

'Caught Off Guard' Concerning Love

For God so loved…

The first word in this well-known verse (John 3:16) is usually ignored when the verse is quoted in isolation. The word for actually introduces an explanation. Jesus had been speaking with a prominent Jewish teacher, Nicodemus. He was trying to help Nicodemus understand how to enter into the kingdom of God through spiritual birth. He had just drawn from an Old Testament event involving Moses.

On one occasion the Israelites had sinned and God sent a plague of snakes against them. People were dying from being bitten by the snakes and Moses was instructed to make a bronze snake and place it on a stick for all to see. When the people looked at the bronze snake that was lifted up by Moses, they would not die from the snake bites.

Jesus was thinking about the faith that it took for the people to look upon the bronze snake that had been lifted up. Then, in reference to Himself, He said that the Son of Man must also be lifted up (on the cross), “so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.” (John 3:15) Then, He further explained:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

It is easy to think that the phrase so much refers to how much God loved, as if God was quantifying His love. Too often God is made into a jolly grandfather-type being who is so full of love that He just accepts everyone no matter what. Hugs. (Think, Santa Clause...Ho, Ho, Ho.)

Actually, Jesus was describing the extent of God’s love. God loved the world so much, that is, to such an extent that He gave His only begotten Son as a sacrificial lamb to die on the cross in place of sinners. That is love.

In our day love more often describes some degree of affection or a sexual relationship. Yet, the love of God involved personal sacrifice.

Sexual love has nothing to do with sacrifice, but rather personal satisfaction. Affectionate love has more to do with emotional feelings and natural connections to something or someone. It too is often about personal satisfaction.

God loved mankind to the greatest extent that anyone can love. The Apostle Paul described this love by first noting that Jesus was equal with God. He was deity, yet…

Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

—Philippians 2:6-8

God desired to have a relationship with those He created and He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to make that relationship possible. And He wants His people to possess the same attitude and behavior of love.

So, if you truly love God with all your heart, you will make whatever sacrifice is necessary to keep your relationship with Him. And if you truly love your neighbor as yourself, you will make whatever sacrifice is necessary to maintain your relationship with him/her.

Don’t be caught off guard. The love of God is not about sex or self, but sacrifice.

To what extent do you love?

Mark Stinnett

August 15, 2021

'Caught Off Guard' Concerning Righteousness

How do you know what is right and what is wrong? Parents provide a definition of morality for their children. Yet, at some point a child grows up and must take responsibility for himself/herself. So, how does a person figure it out? Does society define morality? Are right and wrong determined by personal preferences?

In simple terms righteousness is about doing what is morally right and avoiding what is morally wrong. The term righteousness, though most often used in a religious context these days, is not restricted to religion. It is rather a term that describes a way of life or the collective behavior that describes a person.

Noah is the first man in the Bible to be noted as a righteous man. To further describe his character we read that he was “blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9) One of Noah’s ancestors, Enoch, also “walked with God.” He must have been righteous as well.

The idea of walking with is used several times in the Bible. Its literal sense provides a picture for its figurative use. If you are literally walking with someone, you are going the same direction and going at the same pace. There is a general sense of unity and compatibility and perhaps, for that time together, a sense of mutual acceptance.

Now, take that mental image and think about walking with God. The idea is that you are going in the same direction, at the same pace, enjoying acceptance and compatibility. Because God is your Creator, walking with God also suggests your submission to His will and compatibility with His values. When I think about walking with God, I cannot help but think about living a life of righteousness.

Righteousness in the Bible is based on a standard, but no arbitrary standard. God did not compile a list of rules and regulations and publish them as “The Righteousness of God.” Righteousness IS based on a standard, but God Himself is that standard.

For a better understanding of righteousness, the Old Testament books of Psalms and Proverbs are filled with instruction. In the New Testament, check out the book of Romans. For now, think about the words of Jesus:

For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

 —Matthew 5:20 (NASB95)

I wonder if an overemphasis of salvation by grace has made some Christians lazy in their thinking about righteousness. It is true that no amount of righteous actions will erase your sin debt. By the grace of God only the blood of Jesus offers forgiveness of one’s sins. However, Jesus was crystal clear; without righteousness, a person “will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Let’s not be naïve about righteousness. The expression, might makes right, is incompatible with God. The popular “you can’t judge me” mentality will not work with Jesus, our Judge (Acts 17:31). Today’s tolerance and acceptance philosophy simply cannot be sustained, being incompatible with the conflicting desires of people. We must rather be guided by truth. Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul:

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

— 1 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB95)

God expects His people to be righteous. It is not enough to claim righteousness. You must be righteous in your attitude and in your behavior.

Are you walking with God?


Mark Stinnett

August 8, 2021

'Caught Off Guard' Concerning Judgment

Talking about the final judgment seems to make people anxious. Many Christians wonder if God is going to bring up…that event from their past that they wish they could forget. Non-believers may be anxious because they don’t know what might be said. They might be made to feel guilty for their lifestyle choices or some event in their past. Whatever the case, Judgment Day is the day when, “I’m only human” carries no weight; it cannot be used as an excuse.

When judgment is discussed in the context of the Bible, most people know that something will be said about eternity, heaven and hell. Eternity is a difficult concept. Getting a clear picture of heaven...elusive. And, what about hell? There seems to be many definitions and ideas about hell; the most common (I think) may be rooted in Dante Alighieri's Inferno, not the Bible.

Recognizing that science cannot be applied to divine judgment, eternity, heaven and hell, some people just make the assumption that we’ll all be like the dog Rover; when you’re dead, you’re dead all over. Yet, such a conclusion is based on empty space. It is a made-up conclusion that ignores God. It is not based on facts because there are no physical facts to enter into evidence that would weigh in on the question of eternity or heaven or hell.

So, we are left with two simple options:

• Make up our own conclusions, or
• Consider information from beyond our natural world, i.e. the revealed word of God.

Whether or not the biblical descriptions of heaven and hell are taken to be literal or figurative, it is clear: Heaven is equated with bliss while hell is equated with torment. One other thing; both are eternal. The Bible talks about the lake of fire (hell) as the second death (physical death being the first death). There is never such a thing as a third death where someone simply ceases to exist. So, just remember, eternal bliss or eternal torment!

In the Bible, divine judgment is about God’s discernment and His ultimate separation of good from evil, the godly from the ungodly, the righteous from the unrighteous. He is not arbitrary in His judgment. Rather His discernment is based on His divine character. God IS good and righteous and godly. But that’s not all. Goodness and righteousness and godliness are all characteristics of the One who lives. God will ultimately make a distinction between those who are spiritually alive and those who are spiritually dead.

In an often overlooked verse, John 3:18, Jesus said that those who do not believe in the Son of God will be judged (i.e. condemned). It sounds like those who do not love God with all their heart and listen to His word will be condemned.

Jesus gave us a picture of the final judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. It sounds like those who do not love their neighbor as themselves will suffer eternal punishment.

Is it really that surprising that those who do not truly embrace the two greatest commands will not enjoy eternal bliss?

The Apostle Paul preached a sermon at Athens in which he stated that God no longer overlooks people’s ignorance. He declared that people everywhere should change their minds (repent) concerning Jesus, because “He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness” through Jesus. (Acts 17:30-31)

Don’t be caught off guard; God’s judgment is real. 

Anything different from God’s revealed word is just made up from empty space.


Mark Stinnett

August 1, 2021