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Theology. Doctrine. Our Faith stands not on cunning fables and stories, but upon history and evidence.
Theology is man’s thought applied to doctrine. It is doctrine that we choose to stand upon, and which we cannot compromise. It is theology to say that Jesus will come back before a 7-year tribulational period. It is doctrine to state that Jesus will return.
What doctrines are important? What is non-negotiable?
Without Compromise
Bob Jones University has a creed that all students memorize, that it considers non-negotiable:
I believe in the inspiration of the Bible (both the Old and the New Testaments);
the creation of man by the direct act of God;
the incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ;
His identification as the Son of God;
His vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross;
the resurrection of His body from the tomb;
His power to save men from sin;
the new birth through the regeneration by the Holy Spirit;
and the gift of eternal life by the grace of God.
These are the pillars by which you may judge what people say. If any Bible, preacher or laymen violate these doctrines, they’re wrong.
Why is Doctrine Important?
Doctrine is important because we are admonished in the Scriptures to be aware that there will be false teachers in our midst, just as there was at the time of the early church. There were extra books added to the Cannon of books. There were false teachings about whether Christ was physically a person. There were different sects that believed that Gentile converts needed to become Jewish in practices.
Just like today, there were many different flavors, and the question for the believer is whether they can, like Paul, say “I don’t approve of everything they are doing, but they are sharing the Gospel and for that I’m happy” or whether we need to separate from them, or worse—condemn them, as Galatians commands us to do.
- The Fundamentals of the Faith
- The Burden on King James Only Advocates
- Skeptics and the Bible
- Wouldn’t It Be Better To Only Have One Bible?
- Why Are There So Many Translations Anyway?
- Which Bible Should I Use?
- 3 Weak Arguments Not To Use To Support the KJV
- Gender-Neutral Bible–NIV 2011
- Who Is Esaias Anyway?
