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Doctrine, Who Needs it?
1. INTRODUCTION
Doctrine is an unpopular word these days. Comparatively few Christians
wish to discuss doctrine. The buzz word of this generation is experience.
As the 'charismatic wave' sweeps country after country, these or similar
all-to-familiar words will be heard:
- "I've been baptised in the Holy Spirit and you haven't. So don't
talk to me about doctrine, because I know. The Holy Spirit teaches me all I
need to know about doctrine. He shows me what is right and what is wrong.
It's experience that counts, not obsolete doctrine."
This article is not attempting to dismiss another's experience. Rather it is an
attempt to set the record straight on the vital issue of DOCTRINE. What
is doctrine anyway? The Oxford Dictionary defines the word 'doctrine' as:
- 'a principle or set of principles and beliefs held by a religious,
political or other group.'
2. JESUS TAUGHT SOUND DOCTRINE
Strange as it may seem Jesus Christ (Yahshuah the Messiah) only taught
doctrine. In fact all religious instruction, of whatever faith, is based on
'doctrine,' on a 'set of principles.' I'm sure no religious leader worthy
of his position would advocate abandoning religious principles - doctrine! But
What Is Sound Doctrine?
The answer is: Sound doctrine is the unique set of religious principles which
originated from Yahweh the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Israel. Sound doctrine, in short, is the set of principles by which the Almighty
lives. They form an integral part of His character; and He alone has the right
to define them. True believers may subsequently adopt and teach those sacred
principles, but only the Almighty has the authority to define them: because they
originated in His mind.
When Yahweh's Son, Yeshua the Messiah, came to earth he confirmed this
fact. He practised and taught his Father's doctrines - nothing else! All
his sermons were based on the 'religious principles' he had learned from his
heavenly Father. They were not his own ideas: they were his Father's. Listen to
the Saviour's own testimony:
| John 7:
| 16: Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but
his that sent me.
|
| John 12:
| 49: For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent
me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should
speak.
50: And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I
speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
|
The Saviour's famous Sermon on the Mount is an example of his Father's
doctrine.
| Matthew 7:
| 28: And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the
people were astonished at his doctrine.
|
Why is Doctrine so Important?
The answer is: because Yahweh's principles motivate all His actions and laws.
They give us insight into His plans and methods. Consequently when you study
divine law, you are also studying the motivating principles and will of the
Almighty God! You are studying eternal principles which uphold and govern the
present and the future universe. No subject could possibly compare with the
study of divine law: because it is the study of Yahweh's own will and character.
3. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN
Sad to say, the self-worshipping human mind thought it could do better than
the Almighty. It began to conceive doctrines of its own. In this article these
are called man-made doctrines. Yes, believe it or not, man set about to
design his own doctrines, principles, laws and standards of morality. It wasn't
long before the church joined in and jettisoned long established Biblical
principles (doctrines) handed down by the prophets and Apostles of old. The
church adopted the 'doctrines of men:' and to each incoming doctrine it
gave a Christian title. Let me list a few of the doctrines the church adopted
from heathenism.
- Mother and Child Worship: This began in ancient Babylon and spread
to the ends of the earth.
- Christmas: This popular festival came directly from paganism.
- Sunday Observance: The weekly rest day of sun-worshipping pagans.
- Infant Baptism: Nowhere in the scriptures will you find infants
being baptised. Jesus Christ was baptised at the age of 30 years! In
Scripture infants are dedicated, adults baptised.
- The Rosary: Another practice adopted from paganism.
- The Sign of the Cross: "The same sign of the cross that
Rome now worships was used in the Babylonian Mysteries, was applied by
Paganism to the same magic purposes, was honoured with the same honours.
That which is now called the Christian cross was originally no Christian
emblem at all, but the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans and Egyptians - the true
original form of the letter T - the initial of the name Tammuz." (The
Two Babylons (page 197). This informative book is published by PARTRIDGE
and Co. 4 Soho Square, London UK)
These are a few of the man-made doctrines the fallen church adopted as it
jettisoned the sacred doctrines of the Almighty God. It is quite impossible to
tell the catastrophic effect this action has already had on the human race.
Church leaders thought that by accommodating pagan ideas and doctrine it would
attract souls to its fold. It certainly did: but millions in the church are
still in darkness as far as the truth is concerned. Who knows how many - or few
- of these teeming millions will make it to the Kingdom of Heaven! The result of
this tragic policy is that the world is in moral darkness and almost on the
point of self-destruction. The church has rejected the living waters of Yahweh's
truth and embraced paganism instead. This is the underlying cause of humanity's
problems: and this is why most worship - in and out of the church - is vain and
futile! One might compare the 'doctrines of men' to spiritual
contraceptives. They not only stifle life, but their long term effect is 'virtual
impotency' in every sector of human society. Hearken to the Saviour's words
in Mark 7:7 concerning the doctrines of men.
- "Howbeit in vain do they worship me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
What does this verse mean for this generation? It means this: if we attempt to
worship the Creator in a way that He has not authorised, no matter how popular
or exciting that way may happen to be, our worship is vain, worthless and a
total waste of time. We may dance around in Baal-like frenzy, we may beat the
air, laugh, sing, shout, clap our hands or collapse in ecstatic delirium: but we
will accomplish nothing of any value, no matter how feverishly we work at it.
Because the fact is, 'worship that is not based on genuine faith and
obedience to the commandments of God is vain, futile and worthless worship!'
That is what the Scriptures teach!
4. THE DOCTRINES OF THE NICOLAITANS
False doctrine always leads to sin; and more often than not to sexual sin.
Indeed that is the very reason why Satan works so hard at getting mankind to
adopt falsehood. But Yahweh hates false doctrine. Therefore, no matter how
attractive or exciting false doctrine may appear, it must be put out of our
lives. Only then will we be able to stand in the Day of Judgement.
| Revelation 2:
| 6: But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
|
5. YAHWEH'S DOCTRINE
The Saviour taught sound doctrine; that is, the spiritual principles he
learned from his Heavenly Father. Never did he conceive a doctrine of his own:
though he often needed to magnify, explain and demonstrate his Father's
doctrines and the laws based on them. Here is proof of this astonishing fact.
| John 7:
| 16: Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but
his that sent me.
|
| John 8:
| 28: Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of
man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of
myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
|
The Key to Understanding Sound Doctrine
Sound doctrine is best understood by the obedient; by those who really want to
do the Father's will. You have absolutely no chance whatsoever of appreciating
the value of true spiritual principles and divine law if you blatantly practice
sin or do not wish to give it up. Only the obedient understand the Father's
will. (Daniel 12:10)
| John 7:
| 17: If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
|
6. THE DOCTRINE OF DEVILS
Devils are evil angels who have revolted against the Almighty. They are
spirit beings and they posses enormous powers. In the distant past millions of
evil angels rejected Yahweh's authority and His laws. Ever since, they have done
their utmost to ruin His creation and frustrate His work. The Holy Spirit warns
us about the increased activity of evil spirits (devils) in the days just prior
to the return of Jesus Christ to earth.
| 1 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 ...
3: Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which
God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe
and know the truth.
|
One such doctrine of devils is 'enforced celibacy.' Another is to 'forbid
eating meat.' (verse 3). These two doctrines are widespread in pagan lands,
where they originated. They are classified in Scripture as the 'doctrines
of devils.' Sad to say the Christian church adopted these two doctrines.
The tragic consequences of this adoption continues to this day in communities
around the world.
7. SHOULD WE PREACH SOUND DOCTRINE?
We are commanded to preach sound doctrine. The world is perishing because of a
lack of sound doctrine; those divine principles which teach us how to regulate
our behaviour. The popular church has departed from the doctrines of the
Bible and are now wallowing in the unclean doctrines of men and angels.
Because of this, sin in its myriad forms is smothering the life out of billions
of souls! We dare not remain silent; even if it means upsetting some readers, a
reaction we deeply regret.
- Jesus taught sound doctrine
| Mark 1:
| 22: And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he
taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
|
| Mark 12:
| 38: And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the
scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in
the marketplaces.
|
- The Apostles taught sound doctrine
| Acts 5:
| 28: Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not
teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine,
and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
|
| Acts 13:
| 12: Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being
astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
|
| Acts 17:
| 19: And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying,
May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest,
is?
|
- Scriptural advice concerning doctrine
| 1 Timothy 1:
| 3: As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went
into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no
other doctrine.
|
| 1 Timothy 4:
| 6: If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things,
thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the
words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast
attained.
|
| 1 Timothy 4:
| 13: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine ...
|
| verse 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.
|
| 1 Timothy 5:
| 17: Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double
honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
|
| 1 Timothy 6:
| 1: Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own
masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine
be not blasphemed.
|
| 2 Timothy 3:
| 16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
|
| 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.
|
| Titus 2:
| 1: But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
|
| 2 John 1:
| 9: 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.
|
| 2 John 1:
| 10: If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,
receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.
|
| Revelation 2:
| 14: But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast
there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac
to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat
things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
|
| 2 Timothy 4:
| 2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.
3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears.
|
SUMMARY
- Sound doctrine is a set of moral principles which comes from Yahweh the
Almighty God of Israel. It forms the basis of His character, His will
and His law.
- Yahshuah the Messiah (Jesus Christ) always taught sound doctrine;
which he received from His heavenly Father. He never introduced a single
doctrine of his own: but always magnified his Father's laws in order that
mankind would appreciate their meaning.
- Sad to say the Christian church set aside the doctrines of the Almighty
and adopted in their place the 'doctrines of men and angels' (Sunday
observance, Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday, relic/idol worship, celibacy
of the priesthood etc.).
- Teaching and living by the 'doctrines of men' results in
vain, futile and worthless worship. Believers may delude themselves and each
other; but we cannot delude the Almighty. The Saviour's warning was: 'Every
plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted will be rooted up.'
This applies to all false doctrine, be it of men or angels.
- The Bible admonishes us to live by sound doctrine:- the principles
of Yahweh.
- If you really wish to understand the will of the Almighty you must begin
to obey His commandments: which are simply the divine definitions of His own
principles.
- You may have had some extremely exciting experiences. I'll not doubt them.
But if you are relying on personal experiences instead of the Word of
God, then you are in for a big surprise on the soon-coming Day of
Judgement.
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