I have become wearied at times as I have sat listening to certain preachers that place one story upon another story that leads to yet another story –without one hint of Biblical substance. And people seem to love it — but if that is what it is all about we ought to trade in the old black-backed-Book for a handy “Reader’s Digest.” (Since the Bible doesn’t seem to be very digestible to many). BUT hey, what about doctrine Doc?
Nearly every book in the New Testament contains some sort of exhortation to pursue sound doctrine. Clearly the Bible tells us that a person who does not have the doctrine of Jesus 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). “Does not have God,” “Accursed!” Strong language—Biblical language at that. To suggest 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.
Religion becomes only an affair of the feelings without Biblical doctrines. All about the religious landscape today doctrine is being downplayed and abused. Appears that many want to make doctrine something that belongs solely to the intellect rather than with issues of life. It has, of course, been proved that people are very likely to accept only what is convenient in regards to doctrine therefore many teach that the best thing to do is to “stress Jesus” and de-emphasize doctrine so intellectual knowledge becomes separated from “experiencing” Jesus (a grave error and one that the enemy delights in publishing).
When one gives pause to think about this it becomes apparent that any separation between Jesus and doctrine leaves one powerless to rightfully and truthfully convey Jesus Christ without doctrine. Those without Biblical doctrine are rudderless, tossed to and fro–not securely anchored because they have no “sure nail in a sure place.” What, pray tell, does one say after “Jesus loves you?” (and “Love,” Biblical love, itself cannot be rightly understood without Biblical doctrine). As a matter of fact, love does not destroy doctrine or make it unnecessary rather it DEMANDS doctrine–It puts life and meaning into it because without doctrine it cannot be truly understood. There MUST be the presentation of doctrine – whether it be “teaching” or “preaching” (by the way I think that in the Bible many times those two terms are used synonymously.)
The “gospel” is very much to be considered “doctrine” – and one cannot even attempt to “preach the gospel” and not preach doctrine. While it is true that “teaching” (as we know it) vs “preaching” (as we know it) does usually give more time to the integrals of doctrine and details it much more vividly — yet we cannot separate doctrine as something that solely belongs to one and not the other — indeed “doctrine” is the impetus of both!