IS THEOLOGY HINDERING THE GREAT COMMISSION?

   

   How in the world does this happen in the        name of God?  What insanity would     
    allow anyone to think this is ok?  

 How in the world does a church bar people because of skin color?  How can so called people of God get it so wrong so often - the answer is bad doctrine. 

     There is a growing argument among Christians concerning theology and doctrine.  Some say we need to forget doctrine because of the division it causes and focus on Christ's love.  Others say we have to know what we believe and why we believe it in order to share our faith effectively.  Who's right,  can both be right, or are both wrong?        

     What good is theology when millions of people are heading for hell?   What good is theology when, what people really need to know is Jesus loves them?  What purpose does it serve arguing the mode of baptism if we are not actually baptizing anyone?  Arguing free will vs. God's sovereignty, while ignoring the lost, is a tragic misdirection of Satan.  The cliche, "no one cares what you know, unless they know you care," is true, but does it negate the need to actually know doctrine?  

Doctrine: A belief or set of beliefs held by a group.

      So is doctrine important, or are we majoring on the minors and missing the point of our faith?  

     What distinguishes denominations? Doctrine.  Do we then declare doctrine divisive and abandon it all together?  

     What if division is caused by man's attempt to use theology as justification for pre-conceived ideas about God?  What if pride, jealousy, greed and hate were the driving forces behind the development of many false doctrines held by many denominations and congregations?  

       Last week, I attempted to demonstrate some of what we erroneously believe about Satan is a result of Anti-Semitism in the early Church.  Much of what we get wrong about end time theology is attributed to the same thing.  

        You may be surprised to know John Calvin had his detractors burned at the stake and Martin Luther, a rabid hater of Jews, advocated burning down Jewish synagogues and homes.  How could these men have strayed so far from the clear teachings of scripture?  Bad doctrine.  

         The point: doctrine is important.  Knowing what you believe and why you believe it is the responsibility of every believer.  We are not all called to be theologians, but we are all called to study scripture that we may know God.  

           Bad doctrine leads to all kinds of heresy.  Just listen to the ridiculous lies that spew forth from the mouth of Pope Francis, who makes many a Vatican official cringe, and you can see how important it becomes we know what the Bible teaches.  

            The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the Salem witch burnings, Waco Texas, the Jonestown Massacre - all can be attributed to bad doctrine.  Snake handlers, charlatan faith healers and televangelists all are fueled by bad doctrine.  Bad doctrine kills.
    

   How can we ensure our theology is good and accurate?

1.  Study the Bible as a whole document, rather than picking and choosing the stuff that seems to agree with what you already 
think.  

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what the scripture says.

3. Study the Bible in context.

4. Make sure what you believe lines up with the teachings of Jesus.

5. Know anything  promoting hate or violence against others is not of God.

      One of the most misused and taken out of context chapters of the Bible is 1 Corinthians 13 - the love chapter.  While it is nice to preach from at weddings and the second Sunday in February, the intent of the passage, sandwiched between two chapters on the proper use of spiritual gifts, is to be a guide for checking your doctrine.  The basic message presented: everything we believe should cause us to love sacrificially for the sake of the Great Commission.

    We find this kind of love spoken addressed, at length, in the first epistle of John.  If your theology does not cause you to love others above your own wants and needs, your theology is worthless, according to the 1 Corinthians 13.  

     Doctrine matters and we are commanded by scripture to study and learn: 2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth  Clearly we are told to learn doctrine.  

Know what you believe and why you believe it. Test what you believe by the Bible, test what you believe by 1 Corinthians 13.  Do not throw away doctrine because others misuse it, apply it correctly and be the difference.

Now, go live as Christ... and give the devil hell!