Doctrine & Theology Matter

Doctrine and theology matter, they really do. They are there for our sake – so that we will live out our faith deliberately and intelligently. Doctrine and theology informs our thoughts, words, and actions. If we are rooted in bad soil – our fruit – words – will reflect it. Our words expose what we believe, and think about. Doctrine and theology are essential to a knowledgeable and mature Christian walk.

Have you ever been a part of a discussion group outside of your like-minded church or fellowship community, where one of the members makes statements about the Lord, and His involvement in their day to day life – and what is said is wrong? They speak with such confidence and assurance of what they are saying yet it exposes how wrong they are.

This happened to me this week when I participated in a three day workshop. A colleague had an accident – she fell, splintering a bone in her arm. The next day she shared with us her thoughts and prayers after the injury. It was so sad. She spoke in a way that many would commend. I am sure that those who heard her would agree with what she was saying and how she was saying it. I did not. I listened and my heart sank.

Her words revealed she placed more value in emotional relevance than in Scripture. Her word for word recount of her prayers did not show me she knew who the Lord is and what He truly accomplished for her – it showed how poorly she has been taught.

Are you like her, do you pray and plead and beg the Lord based on your own understanding of who He is, or do you pray to the Lord of the Bible? Do you know who He is? What do your thoughts and prayers reveal about who you are – who you truly are in light of Scripture?

I did not correct her words. It was not the correct forum to do so. However, it enforced in me the responsibility I have in counting my own words, of speaking up only when it is right and honoring of the Lord, and not so that I can be right.

My response to the three days, and what I learned about the weak theology and doctrine in this community is to pray for them – for her, and ever so many like her. How would you respond? What would you do? How would you pray for the person who spoke so freely revealing their poverty of heart? How would you pray for those who heard her words? How would you pray for her pastor and her church? How would you pray for the community you find you are now a part of?

• You will recognize them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16).

• A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver (Proverbs 25:11).

• The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught (Isaiah 50:4).

• To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! The path of life leads upward for the prudent (Proverbs 15:23-24).

#doctrine #theology