Does Doctrine Matter?
By David A. DePra
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was
admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he,
that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
(Heb. 8:1-5)
God commanded Moses to construct the tabernacle exactly as shown to him by the
Lord. This was essential because even though God does not dwell in a house made
with hands, and even though the tabernacle was a SHADOW of spiritual reality –
and not the reality itself – it nevertheless represented the Truth.
In this there is a principle pertaining to true Christian doctrine. Truth is a
Person. Jesus Christ does not dwell in doctrines. In and of itself, doctrine is
not alive – for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. (II Cor. 3:6) But
nevertheless, my doctrine represents Jesus Christ. Therefore, true doctrine is
essential. It rightly represents God and His Son Jesus Christ.
In the NT, doctrine means TRUTH. And there is only ONE Truth. The Bible is the
written Truth. Jesus Christ is the Living Truth. Therefore, how I interpret the
written Truth is what I believe about the Living Truth. This means that true
doctrine states the Truth about God. False doctrine lies about Him. This issue
is just that important.
Those who say that doctrine doesn’t matter are actually stating, “their
doctrine.” And it is nonsense, for it is not possible for a human being to
believe NOTHING. No. If I say that doctrine does not matter then my doctrine is
that doctrine does not matter. I am saying that God does not care about doctrine
and therefore we need not care about it. Nothing could be more contrary to the
NT – and such thinking is usually the result of some point of unbelief.
The fact is, if we are coming into a knowledge and realization of Jesus Christ,
and having our minds renewed accordingly, we will more and more express the
Truth. We will express it through our living and in our relationships. But this
is not going to be mindless. We will THINK the Truth. We will SPEAK the Truth.
We will SHARE the Truth. This will not be merely the letter. It will be an
expression of Jesus Christ through an earthen vessel. We will live what we
believe – and we will communicate what we believe – for what we believe IS our
doctrine.
It is certainly possible to hold to true doctrine as to the letter, but to have
little or no faith in the Living Jesus Christ. But if we are in Christ, and
experiencing Him, our minds will be renewed according to Christ – and what will
emerge is true doctrine. We will either newly discover the Truth or be corrected
by the Truth. In the end, what we believe as to doctrine will rightly represent
God and His plan and purpose in Christ.