'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

What If I'm Wrong?

What if I’ve gotten it wrong?

Have you ever asked yourself that question? It is a question that might follow an important decision at your place of work. It might take a slightly different form when a person has second thoughts about his college choice, career choice, or even his/her choice of a mate.

Have you ever asked yourself this question in reference to your religious beliefs? What if I’m wrong?

I’m not promoting doubt. I do not want to lead you to question your faith. But you might also consider whether you have it all figured out completely and absolutely.

There are many passages that I think I understand, but I am constantly going back to refine my understanding. I recognize that I can be wrong, even when I have been strongly convinced in the past. I probe the scriptures carefully to see if I’ve missed something.

I have had religious conversations with believers who do not agree with me doctrinally. I have had religious conversations with people who have religious beliefs, but do not accept the Bible as I do. I have conversed with a couple of atheists about God and religion.

I have found these people to be intelligent individuals with good intentions and deep convictions. They often present compelling thoughts about life, and death, and the world we live in. What if I’ve gotten some things wrong!?

Two passages help keep my feet on the ground:

There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
—Proverbs 14:12

I recognize there are many influences that can affect my thinking and my decisions. I recognize that I am ignorant of many things. (Ignorance means that I just don’t know, not that I’m stupid.) My way (my thinking) seems right, because I know only what I know. My patterns of thought and my value system are what I use to make decisions. For that reason, I really need help. God’s word is where I turn. He sees far more than and far beyond what I can see.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
—2 Timothy 3:16-17

This passage tells me that turning to God’s word makes sense. It is trustworthy and it gives me exactly what I need to get along in this life and prepare for life with God after this life.

I find additional encouragement when I read about the man Job. He experienced sudden hardship and misery. He had pressing questions about life and his circumstances. Yet, in the end, he received no explanation, no answers to his questions. Rather, God presented to Job His divine power and holiness as Creator. God basically told Job, “I am your Creator. Knowing that is enough.” Job bowed.

Finally, I find assurance in knowing that God is in the transformation business. That means that I am in a constant state of change, becoming more and more what God wants me to be. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Only God can say, “I Am.”

“Am I wrong?” is a question I never take lightly. It is sobering and it reminds me to be patient with others as they are being transformed by God. Still, it is important to strive to be right.

Now...go back to the beginning and read this as if you wrote it; as if 'you' are the one writing “I.” We both need this challenging encouragement.

Mark Stinnett

The Kingdom of God Is...

How should we go about resolving doctrinal differences (ugh!)???
(Wait! Don't shy away from biblical doctrine; it is nothing more that biblical 'teaching.')

In the last two hundred years, I think Christianity has failed miserably. Just look at the number of denominations and splinter groups within those denominations. Yet, many religious folks are talking about unity these days. Unfortunately, many wish to achieve unity by simply ignoring doctrinal differences or by throwing doctrine out the window altogether. The Apostle Paul offered the answer, but not everyone can hear it!

When Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome he spoke of the kingdom, but not by saying, “the kingdom of God is like” (as in many of Jesus' parables). Rather, he wrote, “the kingdom of God is.” He was saying something about the nature of the kingdom of God.

The Christians in Rome were divided. There were doctrinal issues concerning the eating of meat and also the observance of special days. As Paul dealt with the divisive attitudes of the Christians he reminded them:

The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,
but righteousness and peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit.
—Romans 14:17

That statement followed his clear assertion that there was no restriction in the eating of meat! However, instead of demanding that everyone adopt his apostolic explanation of liberty, he warned those who already understood their liberty (of eating all meat) not to harm their fellow Christian who, for conscience sake, could not enjoy the same liberty. Then came his explanation: “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking.”

Bear in mind that some Christians in Rome believed it to be a sin to eat certain meat. So they abstained in order to avoid sinning. It truly was a doctrinal issue, not a mere subjective opinion as many writers and teachers suggest.

Have you ever known of a church issue in which one group believed  that a certain practice was sinful, yet another group believed they had the liberty to engage in that same practice? In an open discussion of scripture each group considered the scriptures with a good conscience. Yet both, using the scriptures, came to conflicting conclusions. Their conclusions were based on their reasonings.*
Stalemate! What next?

What issues of our day are similar in nature to those in the church in Rome?
Has God actually left some doctrinal questions without clear answers in scripture?
Yes and No.

There ARE, in fact, some questions/issues for which there is no direct instruction or guiding example. Yet, an all encompassing answer IS given for all churches for all time:
The kingdom of God is...righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

I think God wants to see whether people are more interested in brotherly love or personal liberty. Are you seeking “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” or are you zealous for your liberty!? Do peace and joy accompany your definition of righteousness? What is the kingdom of God really about?

Those who pursue ‘righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ will show self-restraint regarding their perceived Christian liberties. They will consider their fellow Christians first.

In contrast to those who show restraint are those who insist on pursuing their Christian liberties. In reality they are merely set on indulging in their personal desires.

On one occasion Paul wrote…
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.

All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.
--1 Corinthians 10:23-24

Voluntarily giving up my Christian liberty for the sake of my Christian brother...that is the meaning of ‘love your neighbor.’ Isn’t that what the kingdom of God is about???

* ‘Reasonings’ is the literal meaning in Romans 14:1 where some translations have opinions (NASB, ESV, RSV), disputable matters (NIV), doubtful things/issues (NKJV, CSB).