All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
Doctrine vs Preference
We often see people existing in one extreme or another. There are some who would ignore doctrine for the sake of unity, but can there really be unity in the body if doctrine (teaching found in God's Word) is ignored? There is another group that has taken mere prefernces and elevated them to the level of doctrine, at least in their teaching. An example of this can be the style of worship. Some are more demonstrative than others, but neither is wrong if the heart is right. Style of worship is a preference, not a doctrine.
What do you think about the importance of sound doctrine in one's life and in the church? Have you seen things that are preferences turned into doctrine? If so, give an example, but leave names and organization names out of the comment. How do we stay centered on Christ in the midst of the chaos?
Lord Bless,
LT
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
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Divisions and separations are most offensive in religion. They weaken the cause of true Christianity.- But before we blame people for them, we must be careful that we lay the blame where it is deserved. False doctrine and heresy are even worse than divisions. If people separate themselves from teaching which is positively false and unscriptural, they ought to be praised rather than reproved. In such cases separation is a virtue and not a sin.
The old saying must never be forgotten, "He is the deviser who causes the division"... Controversy in religion is a hateful thing... But there is one thing which is even worse than controversy, and that is false doctrine, allowed, and permitted without protest or molestation. ... " Iain Murray . . .
Some among the Family of Christ feel doctrine is not important or maybe that is not the most important thing in our Christian life. They claimed love is above all. I agree that love is our highest calling and that we can have many right doctrines and not have love, which is a travesty, but without the right doctrines/beliefs, we cannot love God or our neighbor according to God's will. God gave us intelligence, the ability to reason and the ability to choose. We are to love Him with our whole mind, so why would we neglect loving Him according to His will (His word), His doctrines?
If we believe erroneous doctrines we will practice the wrong attitudes and beliefs.
Mattew 16:12 (New King James Version) 12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Rom 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.
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
1Ti 1:3 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,
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 TimothyI know I did not really deal with your topic, hopefully i will have sometime later to do so..
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Christine,
Keep in mind that doctrine simply is another word for "Teaching" and often refers to a subject matter such as the Doctrine of Salvation or the Doctrine of Grace. The key to al of this is to differentiate between manmade doctrine and Biblical doctrine. Manmade doctrine will often use the same title, but at some point divert from Scripture. This diverting from Scripture is at times intentional and at other times a mistake. None of us have it all correct, but we must be ever vigilant seeking to remain true to Scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit. One without the other is dangerous. There are whole movements that elevate the Spirit over the authority of the Word and others who squelch the Spirit by seeking to follow the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law.
I am convinced and completely sold out to the truth that it must be me (us) surrendered to the Word and the Spirit in order to walk as Jesus would have me (us) walk.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by Amanda on
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One that bothers me is that the preference of KJV only has been elevated to a doctrine in many churches. I visited a church a year ago for about 6 weeks and was told that they only use the KJV. I asked why and was told it is the only authorized version of the Bible and there must be only one authority. It seems the reasoning is that all other translations and versions of the Bible made after the 1611 KJV have eroded the authority of God's Word in the English language.
But what about before 1611? If it is an essential doctrine then before we had it were all the people who had a Christian profession of faith really lost because they didn't have the KJV?
It is said that when we want to know what God says, we should go to our Authorized King James Version and read the words of God. These people also say that when we read whatever translation we prefer, then we undermine all biblical authority and become the authority ourselves. But aren't they doing the same thing by preferring only the KJV?
God is the only Authority, isn't He? Is the KJV God?
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Amanda,
Versions of the Bible is a hot topic that usually ends ugly and often has caused me to ban people who get really out of hand. I wish this were not so, but time after time people have demonstrated open hostility over this subject.
I am placing this comment as a warning to any who wish to respond regarding versions. Thus, if anyone wants to respond they must keep it civil or I will either shut the discussion down or ban the hostile person from AAG! This is an attempt to keep things civil.
Lord Bless,
LT
TheNET Coordinator
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Permalink Reply by winter mckinney on
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Amanda,
Nope you didn't sound hostile at all! I am concerned on the matter of the subject at hand because, I have heard the same in a church that I've attended. Only the K.J.V is right and is the only version with few errors...What? I mean how can anybody really say this without studying the original manuscripts? I think they would also have to have some knowledge in knowing Aramaic, Greek, and Hebrew for translation. Interesting subject I know not much about, but it seems like it would be common sense for me. In my opinion:)
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Winter,
I don't have much common sense and I'm not joking but this subject does appear to be relatively simple and I feel no conviction for wrong doing when I read the NIV or the NLT or the KJV, etc... I wouldn't think God would care as long as we are focusing on Christ and asking Him to help us understand His Message.
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Permalink Reply by Tammy on
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Wow LT. I didn't realize people had such heated arguments about it. Personally, if someone is growing in the Lord, read whatever version is helping that growth.
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The heat usually comes from one particular camp ... and it can get really ugly!!!
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