Intro to Doctrine
Doctrine is a set of foundational beliefs based on Scripture that a person or church holds.
Some doctrines are upheld by nearly every Christian and denomination: God as creator, Jesus as savior, the means by which we receive salvation, etc. There are many doctrines that are believed across many denominations, but the specifics vary. For example, nearly everyone observes the sacrament of baptism, but one group of people may believe that the sprinkling of water is sufficient, while another may believe full immersion is required.
There are doctrines that are non-negotiable, and others that have nuances that we must make a personal decision on. Our doctrines often end up biased because of the church we grew up in, what our parents or mentors believed, or by how we interpret the Bible. I attended a Bible college that taught cessationism - the doctrine that the gifts of speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing ceased after the early church was formed. I held that same doctrine for many years, but after learning more about the personal experiences of others and examining scripture, my perception began to shift. Bias isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I think it’s important to be open to changes to our beliefs as long as they don’t contradict the Word of God.
However, we should hold firm to foundational doctrines. When my husband and I first moved to Hastings, Nebraska, I waded through the doctrinal statements of local churches to find a good fit for us (you can usually find a list of beliefs on their website). One church held the position that you must speak in tongues as evidence of your salvation. While my beliefs about tongues may have changed, I do not affirm that there is any single gift that all believers must poses in order to prove that they are saved. I was then able to cross off that church on our list.
Theologian Gerry Breshears helpfully organized the weight our doctrine should carry into four categories: die for, divide for, debate for, and decide for.
Die for - theological stances that you would be martyred for defending
ex: lordship of Jesus, salvation, deity of God
Divide for - a theological stance that is important enough that you would not attend a church that holds a different position, or one that a church body may split over
ex: definitions of sexuality and marriage, administration of the sacraments
Debate for - stance that you have a clear position on and believe is important, but you would belong to a body of believers with an opposing opinion
ex: predestination vs. free will, order of Revelation events
Mature congregations should be able to handle these topics with civil disagreement. If the expression of the position is unusually extreme, you can move it to the divide category.
Decide for - not theological, but preferential
ex: instruments used in worship, translation of the Bible the church uses, church size
Every 5th week we will explore a Biblical doctrine. I will try and present them in the most unbiased way possible, leaving room for the stances of different denominations while still holding fast to the unchanging foundations of our faith.