Importance of Doctrine

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aspen

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Come again! Not sure what you tried to say here.
?

Doctrine helps us to not wander off from the flock. Heresy is a real threat to our relationship with God and our sanctification
 

Stranger

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Consider the words of a former President of the United States:



It might be possible for a person to precisely state his beliefs definitely, but if he is growing, would not his beliefs be likely to change or to be changed so they no longer fit the stated definition anymore?

Did you consider the Scriptures I gave concerning 'doctrine'? Which do you prefer, the words of a president or the words of God.

Was Lincoln even a Christian? But, what does that matter....right?

Stranger
 

Helen

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Did you consider the Scriptures I gave concerning 'doctrine'? Which do you prefer, the words of a president or the words of God.

Was Lincoln even a Christian? But, what does that matter....right?

Stranger

The Holy Spirit wins every time. BOL said that we each interpret the bible passages according to OUR belief system , I agree we do, we can't help ourselves!!.
So, what I hear you saying is ..whatever
you believe about any given doctrine, is the "right" and good one...and here we go again, right back to the Tree in the Garden, deciding via the intellect what is "good" and what is not!!!
 
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Stranger

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The Holy Spirit wins every time. BOL said that we each interpret the bible passages according to OUR belief system , I agree we do, we can't help ourselves!!.
So, what I hear you saying is ..whatever
you believe about any given doctrine, is the "right" and good one...and here we go again, right back to the Tree in the Garden, deciding via the intellect what is "good" and what is not!!!

Well, are you saying then that you have a 'doctrine'?

No, I never said whatever you believe is a right and good doctrine. Because one can have a false doctrine. (Matt. 16:12) But just because the Pharisees had a false doctrine, did not mean that Jesus didn't have a doctrine. As I showed.

Stranger
 

Helen

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But just because the Pharisees had a false doctrine, did not mean that Jesus didn't have a doctrine. As I showed.

Stranger

Wow...Jesus didn't "have" anything...He WAS and is all things...He just IS...as just like His Father ...God IS. period.
 

FHII

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My take on doctrine is that it is seriously important and it is equally as important that it be in truth.

Everyone has a doctrine if we call doctrine a system of beliefs. Even if you believe we must just love one another and not bicker about what is or isn't truthful in the bible or in a doctrine: that is a doctrine.

As a sidenote, I don't look to argue about what is in an individual's heart. I agree that the must love the lord with all their heart... But I am not going to debate about it because I don't kbow hat is REALLY in one's heart. But doctrine and truth... We have a book full of the facts we can discuss.

Here is one of my favorite verses on the matter:

John 4:24 KJV
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

There is no gray area with the word "must". Its not a suggestion, choice or request. You have no choice: you have to do it. Remember that this verse is only talking about true worshippers (via verse 23).

You must worship (show value and do service) in spirit....

So absolutely your heart must be right. Otherwise it doesn't count. I reckon only God truly knows the heart. This is why I won't argue about what is in a person's heart. I may discern... But I may do so incorrectly. Some of the people on this board (many of them) I discern to have a great heart and spirit. Others.... Well, I think they need some work and can improve. But thats my perspective.

...and in truth. You must worship also in truth. This is where correct doctrine comes in.
 
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FHII

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Wow...Jesus didn't "have" anything...He WAS and is all things...He just IS...as just like His Father ...God IS. period.

Matthew 28:18 KJV
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Jesus said he had all power.
 

Helen

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Here is one of my favorite verses on the matter:

John 4:24 KJV
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

There is no gray area with the word "must". Its not a suggestion, choice or request. You have no choice: you have to do it. Remember that this verse is only talking about true worshippers (via verse 23).

You must worship (show value and do service) in spirit....

So absolutely your heart must be right. Otherwise it doesn't count. I reckon only God truly knows the heart. This is why I won't argue about what is in a person's heart. I may discern... But I may do so incorrectly. Some of the people on this board (many of them) I discern to have a great heart and spirit. Others.... Well, I think they need some work and can improve. But thats my perspective.

...and in truth. You must worship also in truth. This is where correct doctrine comes in.

Thanks for that...I liked it very much.
In my own life I have had so much legalism thrust at me...I tend to lean a bit far over the other way..some use the word "doctrine" as strong control...therefore the word doctrine makes me cringe. Maybe one day I will find some kind of balance to this..but the first thing that pops into my mind is:-
" Be not entangled with the yoke of bondage..."
Bless you....H
 
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ScottA

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Scripture and doctrine are the baseline, the academic module to the greater truth of God.

Is it a must? Yes.

Is it the final word? No. As others have mentioned and as we have been told in the scriptures themselves, it is the Holy Spirit who leads us in to [all] truth.

But there are dangers:
  • Interpretative license
  • Other spirits
  • The blind leading the blind
  • And the Lawyer and Pharisee problem of making a god of the scriptures
 
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FHII

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Thanks for that...I liked it very much.
In my own life I have had so much legalism thrust at me...I tend to learn a bit far over the other way..some use the word "doctrine" as control. According obviously as to what they choose as correct doctrine...therefore the word makes me cringe. Maybe one day I will find some kind of balance to this..but the first thing that pops into my mind is:-
" Be not entangled with the yoke of bondage..."
Bless you....H
I understand what you are saying but don't comphrend or grasp it. I was never in a legalistic situation.

Doctrine is not synonymous with legalism. It appears that legalists beat you over the head with the term. But that doesn't mean all doctrine is legalism.

I believe the Bible and all of it. Yet I see it as a forest and not as a bunch of individual trees.

Let me explain that. Folks latch onto one verse which is absolutely true. That is a tree. But they make a conclusion based on that one truth (tree) without looking at the whole ecosystem (the forest and all verses of the bible).

A working example: I have tangled with legalists who believe that music must be accopelo (sp?). Without instruments because they say the NT never allows it (they are wrong, by the way). They say love not the things of the world and musical instruments are wordly....
Ok. Bad example! But they latch on to one or two things and consider not the whole matter.
 
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Helen

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I believe the Bible and all of it. Yet I see it as a forest and not as a bunch of individual trees.

Let me explain that. Folks latch onto one verse which is absolutely true. That is a tree. But they make a conclusion based on that one truth (tree) without looking at the whole ecosystem (the forest and all verses of the bible).
.
Wow..thank you...I love that illustrstion...and that is one that I am going to log-up and remember.
I can see what you are saying.
I see that we have splintered off , because of the so many " trees" , that have become as it were , our 'special Christmas tree' ..and we built a doctrine around that one tree, built on that one verse. :(
Thank you.
 
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Stranger

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Wow...Jesus didn't "have" anything...He WAS and is all things...He just IS...as just like His Father ...God IS. period.

I have showed where Scripture says Jesus Christ had a doctrine. Are you denying that?

Stranger