Doctrine Really Matters

Doctrine really does matter.

My only hesitancy to use the word “doctrine” in the title of this article is the fact that the term has fallen out of favor when it comes to describing the Christian faith. To use it in my title may discourage potential readers because the topic of doctrine sounds dry and academic, or even obsolete. (But since you’ve read this far, at least you haven’t been scared off, so stick with me!)

You hear people say things like, “I don’t get hung up on doctrines and creeds; just give me Jesus!” “Doctrines divide but love unites,” and “I have no creed but the Bible.”  Of course, when you ask them who Jesus is, what love is, why being united is a good thing, and what does the Bible teach, their responses are by definition doctrinal. It’s like the postmodern statement that there is no objective truth, which is in itself a statement seeking to proclaim objective truth.

And then there’s the clever but absolutely horrible statement, “My karma ran over your dogma!” a nonsense comment which is meant to put down Western religion (that is, Christianity) which is based on propositional truth (dogma or doctrine) given by a personal God, in favor of eastern religions which are based on feelings and emptiness of self in favor of an impersonal force (karma). I would prefer to say, “My dogma chased your karma!” (Which makes no sense either, but I had to say it.)

So why does doctrine matter? There are several reasons which make doctrine important in our lives (beyond answering for us the question of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin).

1. Doctrine matters because God has revealed himself to us doctrinally. The Scriptures teach us about God, about ourselves and our need for salvation, and about our Savior, Jesus Christ. There are direct propositional statements such as “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” “God is love,” “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and “Jesus came to save sinners,” among many others. The fool says in his heart “There is no God,” (Psalm 53:1) but I think it’s also foolish to believe there is a God but not want to know or believe anything specific  about him.
   

   We cannot read God’s Word without encountering and depending on doctrinal statements to understand what he has said about himself and our salvation.

2. Doctrine matters because it has defined the Church and is the expression of the Church’s faith and beliefs. Without doctrine there is no Church, and conversely, the Church has developed and affirmed doctrines based on what God has spoken through Scripture. The very term “Trinity” and the doctrines around it, for example, were created by the Church to explain and better understand what the Bible teaches about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and their unity as one God. That testimony of believers who have faithfully studied and interpreted the Bible has produced the key doctrines which have been taught by the Church throughout the world.
   

   Without doctrine there is no true Church united in faith – just social groups of friends holding potlucks and weekly sing-a-longs.

3. Doctrine matters because we are saved by grace through faith. Faith plays a huge part in our salvation; what we believe is greater than what we do when it comes to being forgiven and inheriting eternal life. In fact, Christian doctrine affirms what the Scriptures teach, that we are justified before God by our faith and not by our works. Romans 3:28 says, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” The faith referred to includes belief in a certain person, Jesus Christ, but also in certain doctrines about who Jesus is and what he has done for us. True saving faith has content: it believes something, specifically that Jesus has come in the flesh (1 John 4:2), that he is Lord and was raised from the dead (Romans 10:9-10), that he and the Father are one (John 10:30), that he was crucified to save us from our sins (Galatians 2:20), and that he is the Christ and the Son of God (Matthew 16:15-18).
   

   Believing that there was a man named Jesus who was a good, moral teacher is not enough. Our doctrine about him matters eternally!

4. Doctrine matters because it affects how we live. Years ago one of my relatives married a man that she had reservations about because she believed that Christ’s return was imminent and that the Lord wanted her (and him) to be married before that happened. Her doctrines of the end times and of marriage led her to make a decision and do something she later regretted: their marriage ended before too many years, and twenty years later Christ has still not returned. There are other examples from history, current events, and our own lives that we can give of doctrine shaping behavior:
   • The Pilgrims sailed to America (even losing almost half their number within a few months of landing) because their doctrines were different from those of the Church of England, which persecuted them for having different doctrines.
   • Today, there are many Islamists who are committing acts of terror because of their doctrines about religious law, life after death, and the Koran. There are also Christians who are suffering persecution and even martyrdom because they believe Jesus is Lord and will not renounce him even at the threat of death.
   • And then there’s us: how we live and the decisions we make are guided or at least influenced by what we believe. Do we believe God condemns cheating on our taxes, messing with the neighbor’s spouse, and gossiping and therefore avoid doing those things? What do we spend our money on, and how much do we give to the Lord’s work in our local church? Do we volunteer to help the poor or the homeless? Do we really believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one goes to the Father except through him (John 14:6) – and does that doctrine move us to tell others about him for their sake? And do we look forward to Christ’s return and heaven because of his atoning death and resurrection? How we answer those and many other similar questions, and how we behave reveal the doctrines we actually hold to be true.

What are your doctrines? What do you believe to be true about God, yourself, and life? Why are you here (I mean on earth, not on my blog site)? What does eternity hold for you, and why? I encourage you to set aside some time to examine your beliefs – your doctrines – to know what you believe and assess whether your actions are consistent with what you say is true.

James (2:18) said, “I will show you my faith by my works.” So what doctrines are you showing by your actions?

Study your Bible and the great creeds and confessions of the Church which explain the Scriptures. Worship where those truths are rigorously upheld and taught. And then live accordingly, knowing that doctrine really matters, for you and for everyone you impact. And may the Holy Spirit enlighten and strengthen you in the true faith through God’s own Word, because . . .

Doctrine really matters!

May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord look upon you with favor, and give you peace. Amen.

Read: John 20:30-31