The Doctrine of Doctrine
Every Book in the New Testament, except perhaps for the Book of Philemon, contains some sort of exhortation to pursue sound doctrine. Clearly the Bible tells us that a person who does not have the doctrine of Christ does not have God (2 John 9,) and that a person who teaches doctrine contrary to that of the apostles is to be accursed (Galatians 1:9!) That’s pretty strong language, don’t you think? To say that doctrine is not important is to say that Truth is not important. God is Truth, and He relates to His people based on Truth. What we believe ABOUT God has everything to do with how we relate TO God.
Without Bible teachings or doctrines, religion becomes only an affair of the feelings. Doctrine has certainly been downplayed and abused. Some want to make doctrine as something that belongs to the intellect rather than with reality of life. It has, of course, been proven that people are very likely to adopt only what is convenient in regards to doctrine. So many teach that the best thing to do is to stress Jesus and de-emphasize doctrine. Intellectual knowledge becomes separated from knowing Jesus (a grave error and one that the enemy delights in publishing).
Any separation between Jesus and doctrine leaves much to be desired for one is left powerless to convey Jesus Christ without doctrine. A Christian without Biblical doctrine is a rudderless man, tossed to and fro. He is not securely anchored because he has no “sure nail in a safe place.” What does one say after “Jesus loves you?” Love does not destroy doctrine or make it unnecessary rather it DEMANDS doctrine. It puts life and meaning into it.
Withdraw yourself from anyone who teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words of Jesus and doctrine. I Tim. 6:5, Titus 3:10, 2 Tim. 3:1-5
— jlg —