More on Doctrine

I know this seems to be a little old for some but for this post I am going to do a little digging into the psychology of why we really want to avoid talking about doctrinal issues. There are a couple of reasons that come immediately to mind. The first that comes to my mind is a focus on differences. We really don't want to focus on differences, because relationships are fostered or built up by similarities - so many say. But when we discuss what it is we truly believe about the Gospel and Christ a host of "disputable matters" or "opinions", as the ESV translates the familiar Romans 14 passage, come up as discussion moves onward and most inevitably leads to (all of which all should lead to) a deeper, richer, more profitable friendship with one another. What we have, instead, is a breakdown of communication because one or the other is threatened or afraid of conflict. Many would rather just pretend that there is no distinctions in our belief systems, but the fact remains that we all think just a little bit different from one another. I agree that in discussing minor points, such as the things that do not have eternal significance, such as: homeschooling vs. public schooling, infant baptism vs. believers baptism, integrated family worship, vs. age segregation, speaking in tongues as evidence of the Spirit's infilling vs. the Spirit's infilling the moment we believe, are all moot in the end. But where the real significance comes in, in these types of discussions, is in how we perceive and understand the world around us and what the role Christ has in it. I probably will not explain this adequately but what I am trying to say, as I make another attempt at it, is that depending on our views on such "opinions" as these, will determine our own limited understanding of Christ's relevance and how he empowers us in our lives in the here and now. I personally believe that the Reformed theological perspective does the best at keeping a person in focus to the true nature of who Christ is in relation to who we are. This gives tremendous freedom. But of course since we are all human and are subject to sin, this can lead to licentiousness. But Paul addresses this problem in the book of Romans. Notice that it is sin in man that leads to bad stuff and not the perspective that is inherently at fault. As Reformed believers the doctrine is the eye in which we know the Gospel and come to understand its truth. Any other perspective that is not from the reformed standpoint reveals less than what we ought to know of the grace and mercy of our risen Savior. As J.I. Packer has said, Reformed theology is the Gospel.

But who wants to argue these point with those who are so "closed minded"? On the contrary, I love to hear opposing viewpoints and argue them the best of my limited knowledge and understanding. My problem is letting it go when people do not see it as I do. I admit it. Why? Because even though I believe others, of an alternative perspective from mine, may one day see Christ, I also believe that their alternative perspective is wrong leading to a skewed understanding of the person and work of Christ. It is not that they cannot know him and be known by him, but it is that their knowledge of him is not what it should and ought to be because their beliefs about Christ are influenced and colored by their selfishness instead of by what the word of God truly says. My doctrine, or belief about God, must line up with my worldview perspective (what I believe about the world in which I live and how I work that belief out in action). If it doesn't then I struggle to realign my worldview perspective with scripture. I cannot live in contradiction. So, for example, if I believe that God rewards me with salvation because I made the right choice to choose him, then my worldview perspective will tip heavily towards the belief that my choices in life determine a specific outcome and that changing these outcomes will be very difficult if not impossible. Biblically, my belief about God's sovereign nature will be very limited. This brings me to my second (and final) point about why we want to avoid doctrinal debates.

We want to avoid debates of this nature because we are ignorant at how important they really are and why we must have them. Doctrine helps by constructing a type of framework into which our beliefs are ordered. Without such a framework our beliefs stand independently from one another without really ever connecting the dots. Doctrine helps to connect the dots, so to speak, by showing how all things in Christ are unified and contingent on one another. Our beliefs must stand alone as truth but also stand in proximity to other beliefs without a shred of conflict. When a person has a smorgasbord of disjointed beliefs and we show him, in a Christlike way, why they are disjointed it is a very difficult thing for the one receiving the teaching to submit to the one who knows or recognizes the faults. I am not being proud when I say that it is fairly easy to show how certain groups of Christians are mistaken in their beliefs when their doctrinal positions beg for clarification. Too many cannot see the point at which they err will lead. But nor are they willing to recant them because they have invested so much into their false belief.

One familiar example is the idea that it is God's will that everyone be saved. Well we could pick holes in this misunderstanding of God's Word because these people also believe, generally, that God is sovereign over all things. But God in his sovereignty has failed to save everyone because people have a free will choice to choose or reject God. So our free will is really sovereign over our Sovereign Lord who really is not sovereign after all! Yet the scripture is replete with passages that say, for instance, "You have not chosen me, I have chosen you." An Old Testament passage states that God has chosen Israel not because they were a numerous people but because they were the least. The theme of God's choosing us (Christians) is not scarce in the scriptures but it does take some work to take familiar passages out of context in order to make them align with how we want to believe God to be. It is virtually impossible to convince people to think of these things in a way they have not been taught. Doctrine is important it shapes our worldview and if our worldview is humanistic then our theology probably is as well. Appreciate any thoughts you might have.

-Joe