Doctrine

Good Morning,

One of the most challenging things to find today is someone with convictions. Someone who truly believes something will still believe it, even if it affects their life, whether it has a positive or negative effect on them.

Jude 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.”

When Jude wrote that we should earnestly contend for the faith, he had a motive behind the statement. The following verses refer to individuals who will attempt to lead believers astray; a similar concern is also found in Acts 20. Paul said there would be people who would try to lead church members astray. These deceivers would come from outside, as well as within the church. 

Someone must have convictions.  Someone needs to be willing to stand for what they believe in and not be swayed by others.

As a boy, a family lived near us who went to the Nazarene church. Until recent years, the Nazarenes were quite distinct in their dress and practices. In fact, our neighbor had a church bus parked in front of their house. I also had friends who attended a parochial school, and the nuns were very distinctly Catholic nuns. Their clothing and mannerisms were unique. They were who they were, whether or not they were comfortable or fit in with others. They strongly believed certain things.

The old-time Pentecostals were easily recognized by their simple hairstyles, long sleeves, long skirts, and high collars on the girls. These people might have had different beliefs than we do about many things, but at least we can say that they truly believed in something.

I noticed a new church in our area; I looked at the name and thought, “That name means absolutely nothing.” Honestly, observe the name of the average church and tell me what it says about their theology, doctrines, beliefs, or associations. It almost seems as though churches are trying to choose a name so ambiguous that it could not affiliate them with anything except a warm and fuzzy “Jesus loves me” kind of religion – no doctrine. In America, churches used to be Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, or have other distinctive names that revealed their beliefs.

Doctrine is a vital part of our Christian faith. John was so concerned about proper doctrine that he wrote instructions on how to respond when someone came to them with any other doctrine; they were not to fellowship with them or even bid them, “Good day.”

2 John 10 “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:" 

Paul wrote to the Ephesian church. He was concerned about people who might be influenced by “every wind of doctrine,” and that the Ephesian believers might lack enough conviction to stand for what they believed or be swayed by other beliefs. God truly expects us to believe some principles, but He also wants us to believe them strongly and to hold tightly to them.

Ephesians 4:14 “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;”

Paul warned Timothy that if anyone presented doctrine that did not align with the godly training he had received, he was to stay away from those men. Paul described them as proud individuals who knew nothing.

1 Timothy 6:3 “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;”

vs. 4 “he is proud, knowing nothing…” 

Writing to Titus, Paul said that the young men (not the pastor) in the church should have sound doctrine that is not corrupt. (Obviously, this means that corrupt doctrine was already present in the first century.)

Titus 2:7 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,"

As I knock on doors and meet people in our community, I am surprised by how little they know about the beliefs of their church. Some are Christians, and some are not, but mostly, the people we encounter door-to-door have almost no biblical convictions. Our Christian society has become a “worship” culture that enjoys the music and casual atmosphere, but they genuinely have few or no biblical convictions. Doctrine is simply not a priority. I recently heard someone say that love unites and doctrine divides – which is true and logical. In each of the passages mentioned, and in many others, God instructs His people to understand what they believe, to stand for those beliefs, and in many cases, to separate from those who believe differently.  Of course, doctrine will divide; that is why we have doctrinal beliefs. 

I encourage you to discover what you believe from the Scriptures and firmly establish those doctrines in your heart and mind. Hold tightly to those beliefs and do not waver from them.

Pastor