Dear Brothers & Sisters,
In some circles, mentioning the word doctrine is like mentioning a bad word. Perhaps it conjures up an image of facts & knowledge without faith or application to one’s life. But in reality doctrine is essential to the faith and life of the believer.
The word doctrine occurs in the New Testament 46 times (in the KJV) and 10 times in the ESV. In the ESV the word is used 9 out of 10 times* to translate one Greek Word διδασκαλιa (didaskalia); a word that means instruction or teaching.
Yes, that’s right, doctrine simply means teaching. In this case, teaching what God has revealed in His word. Doctrine includes practical instruction, principles and truths to live by, the facts of the good news of Christ, and God’s revelation of Himself to us.
Doctrine, then, is not optional, it is essential to the well-being of the people of God. Unless we hold fast to the truth of Christ, we have no hope.
The Necessity of Doctrine
Paul wrote about the necessity of doctrine to Timothy. He commanded him:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:15-19)
The word of truth (rightly handled) is necessary, for it is the only antidote to the gangrene of lies and speculations, which spring up wherever the truth is neglected. Wherever the truth is set absent, death reigns.
In The Book that Made Your World and the Legacy of William Carey Christian thinker Vishal Mangelwadi shares about the transformation the Word of God made in his own native land of India. Before William Carey took the gospel to India and translated the word of God into their languages, widow burning and female infanticide were common place. Only when Christians taught the word of God were laws put in place to outlaw such practices. Vishal is observing what the Scriptures teach: that apart from God’s word we walk in darkness, but in the light of God's Word lives and cultures are transformed.
India is still a very dark place. Even today in rural India female infanticide is common, due to the widespread belief that women are inferior to men. Sadly, today in Canada we are not so very different. Contemplate the tragedy within our own nation of Canada, the tragedy of young children being ‘affirmed’ in their gender confusion & being irreversibly affected by puberty blockers, hormones, and the mutilation of their bodies. Consider that though we condemn infanticide (for now) babies in the womb are being slaughtered daily in the name of freedom. Truths that we once called self-evident (e.g. the equal value if every human being) are not so self-evident. Why? Because as a society we have abandoned the light we had, the light of God’ word. When mankind rejects God and His word, we become a culture of death.
Proverbs 16:25 instructs us “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Wisdom cries out “All who hate me love death” (Proverbs 8:36).
Our experiences, our emotions, our reasoning are all limited. Our minds and hearts are affected to the core by sin. Even those who have been transformed by the Word & Spirit of God see only in part. Therefore, to base your life on your experience and opinions (or those of other fallen humans) can only be described as the way of death.
In contrast, “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Add no to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5-6).
So let us then hold firmly to the trustworthy word as taught, that we might live not by lies, but by the truth which purifies our souls and sets people free.
More on the Word of God to follow next week.
Grace & Peace,
Matt
_______________________
*Romans 16:17, Ephesians 4:14, 1 Timothy 1:3, 1 Timothy 1:10, 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 6:3, Titus 1:9, Titus 2:1, Titus 2:10.
Matthew Deneault
Comments