What About Doctrine?

Today, the vast majority of churches have adopted the attitude that doctrine is no longer important. Wherever you go, you will hear pastors and church leaders making the following kinds of statements:

"There's no life in doctrine".

"Doctrine divides, love unites".

"Head knowledge is worthless".

"Believing correct doctrine can't save you".

We're supposed to follow Jesus, not doctrine".

"It's not a matter of the doctrine you believe; it's a matter of the voice you hear".

These statements may sound spiritual, but they are actually the product of a darkened mind, for only a darkened mind could read the New Testament and fail to see the emphasis the Lord's apostles put on learning, teaching, and holding fast to sound doctrine.

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

If doctrine were so unimportant, why would Paul tell Titus to make sure he spoke things which "become sound doctrine"? When Paul told Titus to "speak things" which become sound doctrine, he wasn't telling him to make sure his Sunday morning sermons were doctrinally correct. He was telling Titus that his daily conversation should line up with, or support, sound doctrine.

How can we possibly make sure that we are speaking those things which support sound doctrine if we consider doctrine unimportant? How can we possibly speak things which become sound doctrine if we haven't even taken the time to learn doctrine. How can we possibly speak things which become sound doctrine if we don't even know the difference between sound and unsound doctrine?

This verse alone shows that our current attitude towards doctrine is unbiblical. If the apostle Paul taught the saints that they should be concerned about doctrine, whose voice do you suppose it is that's telling us we should do the exact opposite?

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

If doctrine isn't important to God, then why does Paul tell Titus to be sure his "doctrine" shows uncorruptness, gravity and sincerity? In order for a person's doctrine to be pure, or uncorrupt, it must be free of mixture.

How can people possibly be sure that their "doctrine" is uncorrupt (free of mixture), if they don't care about doctrine and they don't even know the difference between pure and impure doctrine?

II. Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

If doctrine is not important, why does Paul tell Timothy to use doctrine to reprove, rebuke and exhort? Why didn't he tell Timothy to just say whatever he feels like saying, or whatever the Holy Spirit tells him to say? How would it even be possible for Timothy to use doctrine to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, if he never bothered to learn it in the first place?

Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

If the only thing God requires of us is that we obey the voice of Jesus or the Holy Spirit, then why is Paul telling the saints at Rome that they should obey "the doctrine" that was delivered to them? And how could they obey that doctrine unless they first learned it?

Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

If the only thing God requires is that we love each other and be one with each other in the "Spirit", then why is Paul telling the saints at Rome to "mark them" which cause divisions and offences contrary to "the doctrine" they had learned, and avoid them?

I. Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

I. Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

If God's not a bit interested in us learning sound doctrine, if He's only interested in us learning to hear His voice, then why did Paul tell Timothy to "take heed" unto the doctrine he had learned. Moreover, why did he tell Timothy to "continue in" that doctrine?

If all we have to do to be saved is walk with Jesus and hear His voice, then why did Paul tell Timothy that if he heeds "the doctrine" he has learned, and continues in that doctrine, he will "save" himself and those who hear him? If doctrine isn't important, why would Paul tell Timothy to give attendance to it?

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

If doctrine itself is no longer important, let alone "holding fast" to it, then why is Paul telling Titus to hold fast to that which he has been taught? That is, to the doctrine he has been taught. Why is Paul telling him to use sound doctrine (i.e.; the faithful word he had been taught) to exhort and convince the gainsayers? Again, how can you possibly hold fast to something you don't have and aren't even interested in getting?

II John 1:8‑9 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

If the only thing God requires of us is that we know Jesus and hear His voice, why does the apostle John say if we abide in "the doctrine" of Christ we will have both the Father and the Son, but if we do not abide in that doctrine, we will not have them? It sure seems like doctrine was important to the apostles, doesn't it? Indeed, knowing and holding fast to sound doctrine was so important, notice the instructions they give to the saints regarding those who teach false doctrine. They instruct us to:

REBUKE THEM "...rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith." Titus 1:13

REJECT THEM "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject." Titus 3:10

WITHDRAW FROM THEM "...we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us." II. Thessalonians 3:6

HAVE NO COMPANY WITH THEM "And if any man obey not our word (doctrine) by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." II. Thessalonians 3:14

RECEIVE THEM NOT "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." II. John 1:10-11

Why is doctrine so important? The answer to that question is very simple. We can be carried away from the faith by false doctrine. This is why the apostle Peter instructed the saints to guard against those who would distort the teaching (doctrine) of not only the Scripture, but also of the apostle Paul.

(NIV) II. Peter 3:15‑18 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

The reason Peter warned these saints to guard against false doctrine is because it has the power to carry us away from God. It has the power to bring us down from our secure position in Christ. I don't care how much spiritual life you think you are walking in, or how much revelation you think you have, or how well you think you are abiding in the Vine—if you do not care about doctrine, if you don't guard yourself against unsound doctrine, you are headed for serious spiritual trouble.

But why does unsound doctrine have enough power to carry us away from God? Why does it have enough power to bring us down from our secure position in Christ? The reason it contains so much power is because of the involvement of demon spirits.

I. Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

I. John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

John puts the issue in proper perspective for us as he reveals that behind every false prophet there is a demon spirit. These spirits have supernatural power. So he counsels us to "try the spirits". The determining factor between true and false prophets is what spirit they are walking under. If they walk under a wrong spirit, then they are false prophets and they will be teaching unsound doctrines that have the power to draw us away from Christ.

Thus, Paul warns us that we can depart from the faith as the result of listening to the "doctrines of devils" and the teachings of "seducing spirits". You see, demons have their own doctrines, and they contain spiritual power. Once we begin to accept them, we begin to come under their power and are drawn away from the truth.

Are you beginning to see the picture yet? The reason Satan wants us to think that knowing and holding fast to sound doctrine is no longer important is because he wants us to start listening to his doctrines—doctrines which contain enough spiritual power to carry us away from the faith and destroy us! Once we adopt the attitude that it really doesn't matter what kind of doctrine we accept, we are right where Satan wants us, for he knows that when he presents his doctrines to us, we will never judge them. If you still think accepting unsound doctrine is no big deal, please consider what almost happened to the Galatian congregation.

Galatians 3:1; 5:1-2 & 6-9 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?...Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing...For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Please note that as the result of accepting the false doctrine of the Judaizers, which came from Jerusalem, these believers were being drawn away from the faith. They were on the verge of falling from grace. Paul asked them who had "bewitched" them. He used that term to show that there was a spiritual power behind what was going on. They were being brought down from their secure place in Christ as a result of accepting the doctrinal leaven of the Judaizers, and that leaven had real spiritual power. Thus, Paul says, "Don't you know a little leaven leavens the whole lump"? In other words: "Don't you realize that a little false doctrine has enough spiritual power to destroy your whole fellowship"?

These men did not come into the fellowship denying the virgin birth, or the atonement, or the resurrection. They changed the gospel message just enough to make it unbalanced. An unbalanced gospel is another gospel. What was Paul’s reaction towards those who were introducing unsound doctrine into that church? Did he tell the Galatians to just submit to those men because, after all, they were ministers from the head church in Jerusalem? Did he tell them not to make a fuss over doctrine because, after all, fussing over doctrine is what was causing all the trouble in the first place? Did he tell them to be sure they don’t let doctrine divide them?

Galatians 5:11‑12 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

Paul said he wished they were cut off! He wished they would be cast out of the fellowship. He told the brethren to stand fast in the liberty, to hold fast to the doctrine he originally taught them. He told them to purge out the leaven so they would, once again, become a pure lump (fellowship).

Anyone who wants to be pure before God must purge all leaven out of their lives—and this includes doctrinal leaven. Satan knows this and that is precisely why he wants to stop us from becoming pure in our doctrine. He accomplishes this by convincing us that doctrine is not important. Those who believe doctrine is not important will always end up walking in a mixture of truth and error—and that's what Satan wants. He wants us to remain a mixture because he knows that as long as we are, we cannot really be pure.

Only Satan would tell us not to worry about doctrine when there is such an emphasis in Scripture on learning doctrine, on maintaining it, teaching it, defending it, and if need be, dividing over it. So the next time someone tells you doctrine isn't important, tell them they need to repent for denying God's Word.

There seems to be considerable confusion in the minds of God's people over the meaning of the term doctrine. The whole concept of doctrine has become so degenerate, it’s viewed by Christians as a mental science for highly educated academics. But doctrine is simply God’s truth, delivered to men by men. Learning sound doctrine should never be a dry, lifeless exercise in boredom. If it is, it's because we are on a quest for religious knowledge instead of a deeper union with our Savior. Teaching and learning doctrine didn't begin in the seminaries of this century. It started with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:28‑29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 4:1‑2 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine.

John 7:15‑17 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Jesus came on the religious scene at the age of thirty and started teaching "the doctrine" of His Father. After His death and resurrection, He sent His disciples into the world teaching and preaching that same doctrine, which is the gospel of the kingdom. One of the reasons doctrine has become the enemy in the minds of many of God's people is because there has been a genuine misuse of doctrine over the years. Many have grown weary of all the fleshly striving, backbiting and division which has taken place over doctrine—and rightly so.

People have been hurt, and there has been much wickedness manifested, all in the name of doctrine and of defending doctrine. However, the cause of all this wickedness is not God's doctrine or the proper defense of that doctrine. Rather, the cause of the wickedness we see is the religious pride of men. The problem is not God's doctrine. Rather, it's what wicked men do with that doctrine. They hold it in unrighteousness; they twist and pervert it; they use it as a means to their own selfish ends; and they use it to divide and enslave the body of Christ.

Instead of rejecting the thing (doctrine) these wicked religious leaders use to divide and enslave the body of Christ, we should reject them. We should understand that they are the culprits, not God's precious doctrine! It is a testimony to the deceiving power of Satan that contemporary Christians think doctrine is their number one enemy.

When you get right down to it, every unsound doctrine is simply the perversion of, or a counterfeit of, the sound doctrine which Jesus Himself taught, and which He passed on to the original apostles. So the way to keep from being deceived by false doctrine is not by ceasing to care about doctrine altogether. That's insanity! Neither is the answer to place ourselves under the "covering" of a preacher or a group of ministers—after all, many of today's leaders are themselves deceived, so how can they help us stay out of deception?

The answer is to have a thorough knowledge of the Scripture, and also, the ability to rightly divide it. Having a thorough knowledge of the Scripture entails more than simply knowing "key" verses of Scripture or certain Scriptural principles. What we are talking about is having such a thorough grasp of God's Word, we cannot be deceived by those who can quote it, but who quote it out of context. We are talking about having such a thorough grasp of the Scripture, we cannot be deceived by those who handle it carelessly or deceitfully, or by those who are skilled at putting a wrong "spin" on it or who twist it in some way.

The person who stands behind the pulpit and piously claims doctrine can't save us is only telling half the story. While it's true, doctrine cannot save us, it's just as true that doctrine leads us to salvation. As a matter of fact, without the "hearing" of sound doctrine (which is the gospel), you would never have found salvation! You must first hear "the doctrine" of God in order to believe it and be saved.

This is the reason so few people are actually being saved today. The true gospel (sound doctrine) is not being presented. What's being presented is a Satanic counterfeit—and since people are hearing a counterfeit gospel, they are being brought into a relationship with another Jesus and another spirit.

So you see, it's very important what kind of doctrine we accept. Indeed, our eternal destinies depend on whether or not we receive sound doctrine (the real gospel) at the beginning of our walk with the Lord. Once we are brought into a relationship with the real Jesus and the true Spirit of God as the result of hearing and believing the true gospel message, then we must learn to hear the voice of God. Then we must learn how to walk in the Spirit. Then we must learn how to abide in the Vine. However, even after we have been born again, while we are learning to hear the voice of God, while we are learning to walk in the Spirit and abide in the Vine, we must still pay careful attention to the kind of doctrine we are allowing into our lives.

Doctrines are not mere human opinions or ideas. Both sound and unsound doctrine contain power. One has the power to draw us towards Jesus; the other has the power to draw us away from Jesus. One helps to ground us in Christ; the other makes us unstable and unable to be grounded in Christ. This is why Paul told us to rightly divide the Scripture, to hold fast to the truth, to speak things which become sound doctrine, and reject and separate from all those who walk in, or promote, error. You are not dealing with human beings alone. You are dealing with the spirits that make people do the things they do and believe the things they believe.

Matthew 16:6‑8 & 11-12 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?...How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

The Lord told His disciples to "beware" of doctrinal leaven. That warning applies to us as well. Now when Jesus tells us to beware of something, He means what He says! If we ignore His warning, we show ourselves to be fools and are headed for religious delusion. The influence of false or unsound doctrine in our lives is not a joke. Bad doctrine produces bad experience. Bad doctrine can bring us under the influence of demon spirits. Bad doctrine contains enough power to carry us away from God. It has enough power to cause us to depart from the faith. It has enough power to destroy both individuals and entire fellowships.

So don't ever fall for Satan's line again, that doctrine isn't important. The apostles taught that learning sound doctrine, holding fast to it, teaching it, contending over it, and if need be, separating from others over it, is just as important as prayer, meditation, repentance and confession, deliverance, sanctification, Bible study, walking in the Spirit, abiding in the Vine, and all the other things which accompany salvation.

It may be true that believing correct doctrine can't save us; but it’s also true that believing false doctrine can destroy us. It can bring us down from our secure position in Christ and eventually lead us away from Jesus altogether. So be wise and hold fast to the truth!