In the first blog post, I gave a basic introduction to doctrine as well as dealing with the fact that how we address false teaching or theological misunderstanding is of utmost importance. We need to be patient, kind, and holy.
In this post I would like to address how we watch over our doctrine to make sure that it is indeed inline with the Biblical truths, historical creeds and church traditions. In the next blog post I will address how we can “contend for the faith” when other people around us are continually assaulting and trying to undermine the truth which has been given by God.
How can we know whether what we are hearing, believing or passing on to others is in fact right and true? How can we make sure that we are not allowing our doctrinal understanding to drift into heresy?
First of all, all doctrine must find as its starting place, the Word of God. The point of doctrine is that God is revealing the salvation He is offering to humanity as recorded in the pages of the Bible. Scripture must be the foundation. Furthermore we must understand that Scripture is inerrant regarding all things for salvation. Because the Bible contains what we need to know about God’s holiness and truth and about our sin and need for salvation, all doctrine must begin and find explanation and further interpretation in the Bible.
Second, doctrine is not simply what I think the Bible means or what you think the Bible means. Humans (and the devil!) have misinterpreted, misconstrued and misapplied the Bible for millenia. To understand the Bible, we must have the Holy Spirit who gives us understanding, but our understanding, interpretation and application must also come to life through the traditions and creeds of the Judeo-Christian faith which have been handed down to us from the beginning. Our interpretation of Scripture must also be examined in light of the gifts of the collective conscience and experience of the historical church and through the gifts of wisdom and reason. Of course it is not merely my own experience or my own logic, but rather the collective, prayerful, Biblically-based reason and the collective corporate experiences of worship, prayer and listening to God throughout Judeo-Christian history that helps to give explanation to what the Bible is saying. If a so-called doctrine is contrary to the history or tradition of the faith or in opposition to the historical reason and experience of the saints, people and churches of God, you can be reasonably assured that it is a false teaching.
Finally, there are layers upon layers to the depth of who God is and what He has done and there is mystery surrounding His heavenly wisdom. As Scripture says. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts and we need the Holy Spirit to give us spiritual words for spiritual understanding (see Isaiah 55:8-9 and 1 Cor 2:10-14). So if we don’t understand what has been handed down to us by previous generations, let us not arrogantly throw it out and presume they were wrong and we are right. Instead, let us carefully and prayerfully examine what they have given to us, pre-supposing that if it has been established, accepted and promoted throughout Judeo-Christian history, they may indeed understand something more about the depth and breadth of God and His truth, than we personally do yet. I think of Jeremiah 6:16 and the fact that if we would be willing to go to the ancient paths God would show us what is true and confirm the doctrine we have received and give us understanding in it. Let us guard carefully against any teaching that invites us to disregard that which has gone before in favor of new wisdom or ideas that only our current generation could finally understand.
Please, if you have questions about what is orthodox, true, right teaching and what is false, seek the Lord in prayer, study diligently His Word, but also especially go to the ancient creeds of the church and seek Godly counsel from a pastor (who holds firmly to the authority and primacy of Scripture) to help you discern false teaching and to watch over your own doctrine closely and carefully.
Pastor Michael Johnson 