What Is Doctrine?

 

What Is Doctrine?

     “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”  Well, sometimes.  Stepping over the threshold of the visiting church, we meet smiling eyes and warm hands.  The usher hands us a bulletin and we take our seat in the pew.  Joy fills the air.  Announcements make sense.  Worship songs are unique and flavorful.  The pastor takes the podium.  In the middle of the sermon, a small voice cues.  A slight twinge.  We search the bulletin for answers.  Deeper into the message has us wondering what we are doing there.  Service concludes and we make a hasty retreat to the parking lot.

     It pays to do your research before engaging a church in worship.  One question.  What do they worship?  Assumptions sink the ship.  All churches do not think as you do.  In fact, denominations have peculiarities that draw party lines stronger than politics.  Is this wrong?  No, Man is famous for his nearsightedness.  The natural tendency is to align behind a leader and develop the “us and them” attitude.  However, churches cross God’s line when disagreements lead to divisions with hostility.

     Will we all agree?  No.  The first church was together in one accord when the Holy Spirit came.  Certainly, most did not share the same views.  Even the disciples were confused.  However, peace marked their gathering.  Bickering was not known and God blessed them.

1 Corinthians 8.1b  “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.”

      When petty differences lead to resentment, bitterness follows.  Perhaps this is the real necessity for doctrine.  It gives members a way out.  Claiming “doctrinal differences” a mutual separation happens like a no-fault divorce. 

     Has God ever authorized the prudent use of force?  The kind needed to remove us from the pew?  Seldom.  He wants fighters.  Changers.  Ones that will stick in and argue a cause.  Covered in love, we have great leeway to regard our brother and seek truth.  Esteeming others better than ourselves, we don humility and confess we do not have all the answers.

     Doctrine is a set of private beliefs each holds.  Whether fashioned by the newspaper or by the pastor.  We arrive at conclusions based on observations.  Doctrine frames our reality.  In it we find security.

     In regards to the Church, doctrine is where reality meets the teachings of Jesus.  Reality does not change.  It is His creation.  But our interpretation of the Word suffers.  Sometimes we are lazy.   Maybe we trust another to interpret.  Whatever the reason, illogic creeps in as we maintain the right to contend.

     What if our framed understanding is threatened?  Do we wait on God to speak or do we panic and run.  God might be calling you to engage with those contrary.  Safety is not known in compliance.  He uses lively stones to build His Church.  Settled ones in regimented rows look more like North Korean troops passing by.  He doesn’t call for a frontal lobotomy.  He calls for wide diversity met in unity.  His picture:

Revelation 7:9 “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”

    If our doctrine divides, it is called something else.  Curse words come to mind.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sojourning

  Sojourning Sojourn: a temporary stay Hebrews 11: 8  “ By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country , dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. ”      This indeed is a strange place.   I call my house T.L.A. or Temporary Living Accommodations.   In the Air Force, TLA housed those who were just passing through.   Like airman using the base as a skipping stone to get to their next assignment.   Hotels of sorts, they offered the comforts of home on a smaller scale.      We are a people set in Babylon.   Even in Sodom as we shut the doors as night.   This world so interferes wit...
Read more

The Church Picture

  The Church Picture 2 Samiuel 6: 20  “ Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! 21  And David said unto Michal, It was before the  Lord , which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the  Lord , over Israel: therefore will I play before the  Lord . 22  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. ” Revelation 4: 10  “ The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive ...
Read more

God's Successive Revelations

  God’s Successive Revelations Search Me diligently, and I will reveal Myself to you.      Yah, that sound like something God would say.   I understand He revealed the Trinity to us.   I plead ignorance in Church history.   Some theologians, perhaps 400 A.D. came upon this gem that we hold true today.   The idea of the rapture is new on the Church radar.   Late 1800’s?      What if God revealed His truth to His people in time?   Surely, Solomon was the wisest man in his day, but did he know about Pentecost?   Daniel, the far seer, was only shown glimpses.   What did he know of Peter and miracles in the temple?   A certain king discovered God’s truth again and that made for a reformation, but what did he know of the beast standing in the sea?   God gives insight in His time.      I have trained seven children.   As young  children, I did not flood them with...
Read more