Introduction
[i.1]
Doctrine And Division
From its early days, Christianity has been a boiling cauldron of debate and division. While still toddling in its infancy, the church that Jesus built endured one satanic assault after another. Its greatest threat didn't come, as one might expect, from without but from within. The good news of reconciliation and forgiveness had barely reached the ears of the first gentile cities when church leadership was forced to deal with issues that centered on Hebrew law and custom. Laws about food, drink, holidays and especially circumcision.
[i.2]
Many legalistic members of the early church felt that gentiles should be obliged to keep Hebrew ceremonial traditions. No sooner had gentiles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit when some respected leaders were deciding whether or not it was acceptable for them to have it. This position was so strongly held by some that it even influenced men of notable spiritual stature like the Apostles Peter and Barnabas. It is difficult to believe but these two great leaders, who knew better, were moved away from the simplicity of the gospel to the error of prejudice. This conduct had to be corrected, and it was; by the Apostle Paul who confronted Peter.
Galations 2:11-13
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
[i.3]
The enemy of God wasted no time in his unrelenting attempt to divide and confuse the children of God. Sadly, we must admit, he has been more successful at dividing the brethren than we have been at maintaining Christian unity, loyalty and love, though this clearly is God's will.
1 Corinthians 1:10
10 “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
[i.4]
Over the centuries, many lives and churches have been destroyed in the name of doctrinal integrity. So aware are we today of this issue that many shy away from the mere mention of the word "doctrine." The word doctrine is simply a synonym for teaching and yet in many church circles today this word has become profane, carrying with it negative connotations. If doctrine is a bad thing, then why do the Apostles exhort us to follow it? If doctrine divides, then why do we accept it? What do the Apostles mean when they refer to sound doctrine?
[i.5]
The Purpose Of Sound Doctrine
Let us try to understand what "sound doctrine" is. The word "sound," translated to English from the Greek word "hugiaino," simply means uncorrupt or healthy (Strong's 5198). The word doctrine, is translated to English from the Greek word "Adidas," meaning teaching (Strong's 1319). Put these words together and you have teaching which is healthy and uncorrupted.
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Who would argue with the value of uncorrupted teaching? It is corrupted teaching that has led to so many divisions in the church. God's word is not subjective; you can't interpret it the way you want. There are only two ways to interpret God's word, his way, which is sound, and our way, which is corrupted.
There are three influences that corrupt our interpretation. The first is pride and our desire to be right at any cost; even at the expense of truth. The second is ignorance; believing we have all the truth and have need of no further teaching. Third is our desire to regard God's word as incomplete or lacking clarity so we feel compelled to assist God by adding our own thoughts to it. We make rules and amendments we think necessary to assist God. For example, it's not enough, we think, for God to tell our women to dress modestly; we think we must detail length, style and color in our efforts to clarify God's word. By doing this, we deny our sisters the opportunity to be guided to truth by the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”
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The doctrine of the Apostles is not to blame, but rather, our self-serving desires to tailor the scriptures to suit our own ends. When we see something in God's word that causes us an inconvenience or pricks our conscience, we simply discredit it. Some excuse it as applying to a particular time, ethnic people or place. Others seek to add their own weight of judgment to it, making it too heavy to bear as the Pharisees did. Still others try to water it down, to weaken it so it carries little or no importance at all.
[i.8]
The Doctrine Of Men
Peter and Barnabas didn't get into trouble listening to God; they got in trouble listening to men. Over the course of history, the church has been guilty of causing much pain and suffering by teaching and observing the doctrines of men.
Matthew 15:8-9
8 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”
9 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
It's clear in Paul's first letter to Timothy that corruption had already begun to infiltrate the church at Ephesus, which accounts for Paul's concern.
1 Timothy 1:3-4
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,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do."
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In this same letter, Paul speaks of a time near the end when many shall depart from faith in God and turn toward witchcraft. They will have no conscience and speak lies by pretending to be godly. These people will forbid some to marry and will make laws which center on eating. If we correct such abuses within the church, we will be advancing sound doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:1-6
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;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
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.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
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.”
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Sound Doctrine
Indeed, Paul admonishes Timothy to pay attention to his reading, preaching and doctrine (teaching).
1 Timothy 4:13
“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
[i.11]
He continues further to exhort Timothy to take notice of the doctrines and do what they say for his sake and the sake of those he teaches.
1 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.12]
Elders who are good administrators and labor in doctrine are worthy of reward.
1 Timothy 5:17
“Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.”
[i.13]
But those who don't concern themselves in the matter of sound doctrine are proud and prompt divisions by casting down the truth. Such men should be avoided.
1 Timothy 6:1-5
1 “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
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Paul warns Timothy to hold tightly to the doctrine that he taught him in faith and love.
2 Timothy 1:13
“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
[i.15]
Healthy Doctrine
As Christians we must always remember that God's word, the Bible, is given to us and inspired by God and it is, in its entirety, sound doctrine.
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:”
[i.16]
It is our uncorrupted knowledge of God's word that may convince those who are less enlightened.
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.”
[i.17]
This type of instruction benefits all who hear. It teaches righteous living to both men and women, old and young, as outlined in the second chapter of Titus. It was by this same sound doctrine that we ourselves were brought as sinners into the household of faith.
Romans 6:17-18
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.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
[i.18]
Contrary to what many believe, sound doctrine is not at fault for dividing the body of Christ. It is our twisting of it, adding to it or simply ignoring it that has caused walls to be erected between saints. We must be careful not to accept any doctrine that cannot be fully substantiated in God's word. We must not assume that all the doctrine we've received is free of error. We must examine all hand-me-down doctrine very carefully before accepting it no matter how reliable the source that taught it may be. We must be as the Bereans and accept nothing out of hand or second hand.
Acts 17:11
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
[i.19]
When we find anyone who teaches doctrine not according to scripture; doctrine that causes division, we must disassociate ourselves from them and the false doctrine they teach.
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.”
[i.20]
The doctrine of Christ is so important that failure to follow it would mean separation from God.
II John 1:9-10
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.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.”
[i.21]
The Doctrines Of Christ Unify
When men no longer choose to allow pride to interfere with their search for truth, they'll discover the unifying power of sound doctrine. What God says is important, not what we wish He said. There were many times in our lives when we didn't like what our parents said, but it didn't prevent us from getting it right, because there were consequences to be paid for getting it wrong. The consequence that we, as a church, have paid for interpreting God's word to suit ourselves has been the division which now separates one brother from another and cuts us off from the power of God, the power that could have been ours through unity. Remember, the gifts of the Holy Spirit didn't come until the one hundred and twenty that met in the upper room were unified. If we desire these same blessings, then we must be of the same mind and possess the same understanding.
Acts 2:1-4
1 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
[i.22]
Private Interpretation
Most of us who are citizens of a country speak the language of that country. The bibles we read and study are written in our own language, each word having been carefully translated to our tongue by an average of over fifty experts per translation. If we are English speaking, our bibles are written in English, so arriving at the same conclusion as the author should be easy. When explaining a particular biblical doctrine to another, we often hear them say, "That's your interpretation," as though we were interpreting the doctrine from another language. This makes no sense.
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If my mother sent me to the store with a note to buy bread, milk and butter, do you think she'd accept my interpretation of her note as soda, gum and candy? Let's say a student brought a failing test paper to a teacher claiming that each question failed was merely a matter of differing interpretations of the questions. Should the teacher re-grade the test to reflect the students understanding rather than the teacher's meaning? I doubt that such a request would be considered. The word of God can only be interpreted two ways, the right way and the wrong way; God does not speak with a forked tongue. Those who fail to understand the word of God correctly and teach it incorrectly will flunk God's test and pay the price of failure.
James 3:1
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
2 Peter 3:16
“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
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The word of God is God's divine, prophetic revelation to man and is not open to private interpretation; not now, not ever.
2 Peter 1:20-21
20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Philippians 2:1-5
1 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
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God says what he means and means what he says. There are not two right ways of understanding God's word, there is only one. His way! God's church is not a fast food restaurant; you can't have it your way.