Context
Devotional - A Word about Sound Doctrine
"It's very important that we teach sound doctrine, isn't it?"
Some of you cringed when I said that because you aren't big fans of deep theological issues or you've been driven crazy by people who want to dig into the minutiae of theological issues. Others felt your hearts go thumpity-thump because you love to dive into the deep end and study those issues and you believe the church needs to be founded on doctrinal truth. You read systematic theologies for recreation.
Some love doctrine and theology and others don't. But while our reactions to the word "doctrine" may differ, what is probably identical is our understanding of what the word means. Doctrine is a mental exercise, often divorced from practical concerns.
But look at Paul's admonition to Titus that opens chapter 2. He tells him to "teach what accords with sound doctrine." But he does not then delve into some kind of academic exercise, but he deals with a series of very practical and relational issues - how older men, older women, younger men and younger women were to behave. Husband and wife relationships. Bondservants and masters. Renouncing ungodly and worldly passions. Living self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.
"Doctrine" as Paul defines it is not a mental exercise. It's understanding the work of Christ and applying it in such a way that we live righteously in the power of Christ. Egg-headed Christianity held no appeal to Paul and the idea of "sound doctrine" that did not deal in real life holiness, that did not deal with relationships and lifestyles was absurd to him.
Yes, doctrine deals with the story of Jesus and his wonderful work of grace, but true doctrine - the teaching of truth - leads to a life that is obedient to and pleasing to the Savior. Doctrine is never just a series of ideas about theology, but truth that changes the way you live your life.
Some of you cringed when I said that because you aren't big fans of deep theological issues or you've been driven crazy by people who want to dig into the minutiae of theological issues. Others felt your hearts go thumpity-thump because you love to dive into the deep end and study those issues and you believe the church needs to be founded on doctrinal truth. You read systematic theologies for recreation.
Some love doctrine and theology and others don't. But while our reactions to the word "doctrine" may differ, what is probably identical is our understanding of what the word means. Doctrine is a mental exercise, often divorced from practical concerns.
But look at Paul's admonition to Titus that opens chapter 2. He tells him to "teach what accords with sound doctrine." But he does not then delve into some kind of academic exercise, but he deals with a series of very practical and relational issues - how older men, older women, younger men and younger women were to behave. Husband and wife relationships. Bondservants and masters. Renouncing ungodly and worldly passions. Living self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.
"Doctrine" as Paul defines it is not a mental exercise. It's understanding the work of Christ and applying it in such a way that we live righteously in the power of Christ. Egg-headed Christianity held no appeal to Paul and the idea of "sound doctrine" that did not deal in real life holiness, that did not deal with relationships and lifestyles was absurd to him.
Yes, doctrine deals with the story of Jesus and his wonderful work of grace, but true doctrine - the teaching of truth - leads to a life that is obedient to and pleasing to the Savior. Doctrine is never just a series of ideas about theology, but truth that changes the way you live your life.
Father, teach me who you are and what Christ did so that I may live as you want me to live.
Think and Pray
Do you either avoid God's word and its teachings, or do you get bogged down in mental exercises that do not produce practical life changes?
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