CONTROVERSIAL!

Tricky Topics for Christians 

Doctrines False and True  

doctrine = teaching/instruction/what is taught

sound doctrine = healthy (fit/complete) doctrine

It’s more than head knowledge!

Doctrine and knowledge are more about how you live your life

(your Christian walk!).

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself

and your hearers. – 1 Tim 4.16

…every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. - Matthew 7:17-18

False teaching & teachers

• Rejection of the narrow road (7:13-14).

• Faith without fruit (7:15-20).• Disobedience to the will of the

Father (7:21).• Confidence in spiritual

experiences (7:22).• Lack of relationship (7:23).

See 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (lack of love).

• Weak foundation, building on the sand (7:24-27).

Be careful not to add!

• We should be wary about adding a system of belief to the Bible:

• Examples:

Bible + Catechism (or Papal edict)

Bible + Book of Mormon

Bible + Baptist Manual

We need to be careful not to twist scripture.

That is, we should not make it mean what it doesn’t mean!

Use of scripture as proof-text

• Example: Catholics use Luke 1:46-48 and John 2:4-5 to support the veneration of Mary.

• Correction: John 2 says nothing about Mary being above Jesus or other believers. In Luke, Mary considers her position as that of a “servant,” and being “blessed” in 1:48 does not mean exclusive stature. Later in Luke 11:27-28, Jesus comments that those who hear and obey God’s word are “blessed” as well! Check 1 Timothy 2:5-6 to see that one should only pray to Jesus, the one and only Mediator.

Use of scripture as proof-text

Luke 1:46   And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,48 for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

Use of scripture as proof-text

• Luke 11:27-28    As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”

• He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Disregard for idiom

• Example: Ang Dating Daan insist that Malachi 1:11 is proof that God will be glorified first in the east and then the west (directional “from”). The Philippines (“east”) is instrumental in bringing greatness to God’s name.

• Correction: The literal expression “from the rising to the setting of the sun” simply means from “east to west,” i.e. the breadth of the world or “everywhere.” See Isaiah 45:5-6 (cf. 59:19, Ezekiel 48:1) for similar usage. The east is never highlighted.

Disregard for idiom

My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty. – Malachi 1:11

Disregard for idiom

I am the LORD, and there is no other;

apart from me there is no God

I will strengthen you,

though you have not acknowledged me,

so that from the rising of the sun

to the place of its setting

people may know there is none besides me.

– Isaiah 45:5-6

Jesus’ point on matters of the law

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. – Matt 23.23

Some things are weightier than others!

Doctrine has different ‘levels’(Levels of Importance)

• Core doctrines are the most essential; usually about basic truths of God and salvation (gospel issues)

• Important doctrines have less weight than core doctrines

• Peripheral doctrines carry less weight than important doctrines

CORE

PERIPHERAL

IMPORTANT

Healthy Attitudes

• Be a learner about God.

• Be a seeker of truth, but don’t be too open-minded.

• Be careful about unresolved feelings in the church. These can make us overly receptive to false teaching.

• Be confident as you answer those who question you:But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have… - 1 Pet 3.15

• Be a living “promotion” of God’s truth.Our knowledge of God should affect our behavior. Remember that sound doctrine is about how you live your life, more than how much you know.

Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the

word of truth. - 2 Timothy 2.15 NLT

 

CONTROVERSIAL!

Tricky Topics for Christians 

Doctrines False and True