Why Should I Study "DOCTRINE"??!!

An Article by:  Dan Mcwhorter

Many people claim that the study of the various doctrines in the Bible is boring, insignificant, and not needed...they claim that doctrine "divides".  Well, I don't agree that studying doctrine is boring, insignificant, or not needed; however, I do agree that doctrine divides...and it should!

What is "doctrine"? Basically, the word doctrine means a principle of belief and instruction.  In other words, doctrine is what you believe and is taught to others.

So, why study "doctrine"?

Let's look at two important reasons as laid out in the Bible...

Colossians 2:1-8
1  For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4  And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5  For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Here we have the "good" and the "bad".  First, the good...

In Colossians 2:7, we find three reasons why it's good to grounded in correct doctrine...

• To be rooted - "Rooted" means stable.  If we know correct doctrine, we will be stable and firm in what we believe and why we believe it.  We won't be like the ones that Paul speaks of in Ephesians 4:14...
  Ephesians 4:14
  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
• To be built up in Christ - Jesus is our foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11).  We need to know correct doctrine so that our lives will become more Christ-like and pleasing to the Lord.  Our lives should be a reflection of his!
• To be stablished in the faith - "Stablished" means confirmed.  When we follow correct doctrine, our faith will grow and be confirmed.

So, we need to study correct doctrine to be stable and firm in what we believe.  Being correctly rooted helps us know and avoid false doctrine, and it helps to build up our faith and be pleasing to the Lord; thereby, our faith will be confirmed in Christ...not only in our own lives and eyes but in the eyes of others...and most importantly, in the eyes of the Lord!

Now, the bad.  In Colossians 2:8, Paul gives some warnings about those who want to lead others into false doctrine...these false teachers have four things they want to do...and they do this by "spoiling" others.  Spoil means to lead away or seduce.

• Philosophy - One way they do this is through "philosophy".  Philosophy means the love and pursuit of wisdom.  Often, false teachers want to impress others with their "knowledge"...the "deeper things" they have learned, and they love to be acknowledged for their so-called "wisdom".  Can anyone say, "Calvinism"?
• Vain deceit - Next, false teachers offer their vain deceit.  Vain deceit means "empty lies".  This is so prevalent today...especially among the "health and wealth" preachers! They promise the moon and deliver nothing, and untold thousands are deceived by their lies.
• Tradition of men - Just as Jesus condemned the Pharisees for placing their traditions above God's word, false teachers do the same today.  The Catholic church is notorious for this; however, we have others that claim you must do certain things in order to be saved...you must do certain things, or you're not right with God.  They bring you under the bondage of their traditions and steer you away from the word of God.
• Rudiments of the world - Finally, false teachers steer their followers toward the "rudiments of the world".  Rudiments of the world means the principles of the world.  They get their followers to be worldly minded.  They think that we must adopt the world's philosophies in order to "reach the world".  Can anyone say "Rick Warren" and "Emerging Church"?

So, we have a warning.  We need to study correct doctrine because there are false teachers who want to lead people astray.  They do this through trying to impress people with their wisdom.  They lie to impress others just for self-promotion and self-gain.  They impose their traditions above God's word, and many of them run their so-called "ministries" by worldly principles rather than godly principles (read the book of Jude!).

Unfortunately, cults and some denominations have become rooted, built up, and stablished in false doctrine.  They've built their doctrine on man's wisdom, philosophies, beliefs, and traditions.  Often, they pick a single Bible verse, take it out of context, and build a whole set of doctrines around it.  That's why our doctrine MUST come from the word of God alone!

Doctrine must agree with the Bible! Look at Isaiah 28:9-10...

Isaiah 28:9-10
9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Precept means command, and line means a cord that connects.  In other words, our doctrine must agree with the Bible as a whole! We should be able to connect our doctrine throughout the whole Bible.  We should never take a verse (or even a few verses) and twist the meaning in order to make it mean what WE want it to mean!

God warns us over and over not to even listen to false doctrine! Here's just a few...

Romans 16:17-18
17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

1 Timothy 1:3-11
3  As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4  Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6  From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7  Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

1 Timothy 4:1-13
1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7  But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11  These things command and teach.
12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

2 Timothy 3:10-17
10  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

2 John 1:7-11
7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.


Why Study "Doctrine"?