When people investigate a recent church, they typically try its website. Most church web sites include their doctrine, a key factor determining their doctrinal reliability.
But how can we know what’s a solid doctrine? What is its definition?
What Is the Simplest Definition of Doctrine?
Generally speaking, doctrine indicates whatever is taught. For instance, Aristotle’s doctrines include whatever he taught.
In secular contexts, a doctrine is subjective to its teacher and should be true or false. Biblical doctrine (what the Bible teaches) is totally true since it is written by God, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the desire of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
What Is the Religious Definition of Doctrine?
Baker’s Theological Dictionary defines biblical doctrine as “your entire body of essential theological truths that outline and describe that message.” Doctrine affects Christians practically due to this straightforward phrase: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone). Scripture alone is our only final authority for all times and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
As Christians, it’s paramount to our witness for Christ as His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) to know what we imagine and why we imagine it. This is where the essential doctrines of the Christian faith enter. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth as stated in John 16:13-14, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the reality, for He won’t speak on his own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things which might be to come back. He will glorify Me, for He will take what’s Mine and declare it to you.” Ligonier Ministries informs us because we’ve got the mind of Christ, “we all know and imagine His thoughts given to us in His Word and confirmed in us by the Holy Spirit.”
What Traits Define Correct Christian Doctrine?
Because of God’s work in us believers, we are able to discern the reality and, conversely, recognize the error (false doctrine) that doesn’t accord with biblical truth (and subsequently correct biblical doctrine). R. C. Sproul says in his book Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, “Idle speculation about God is a idiot’s errand. If we want to know Him in reality, we must depend on what He tells us about Himself.”
Therefore, the next list includes the biblically defined traits of correct Christian doctrine:
- It has its basis in and on the Word of God. Sound biblical doctrine employs no man-centered philosophies or beliefs. Excellent hermeneutics should be used to find out correct doctrine. Three essential rules in biblical exegesis are context, context, and context.
- Christian doctrine is itself centered on Christ. From Genesis 1:1 to the ultimate Amen of Revelation 22:21, the Bible is all concerning the Lord Jesus Christ—from creation through the Fall to its history toward redemption in Him to the approaching culmination of the dominion (John 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16).
- Doctrine should be biblically pure, with all truth and no sin in it.
- It engages the disciple’s mind in hard, fruitful study. Correct Christian doctrine will not be routinely filtered into us; we’re required to do our part and to learn from God’s Word to us, that the Bible student would “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a employee who has no should be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
- It will not be a people-pleaser in that correct Christian doctrine doesn’t at all times reveal what we would like to listen to. The diligent disciple will bear hard truths and undergo God’s discipline (Proverbs 3:11; Jeremiah 7:28; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:7).
- It is centered on the Word of God and never on the traditions of men (Matthew 15:3; Mark 7:8, 13; Colossians 2:8).
- Submission to its commands and teachings will lead one toward a holy life (when coupled with prayer). Jesus told us we disciples will know false teachers by their fruit, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15-16).
- It finds no discrepancies throughout the whole of the Bible; all parts of sound Christian doctrine depend on the perspicuity and cohesion of Scripture. The Bible is the perfect interpreter of itself; subsequently, the Old Covenant (the Law) and the New Covenant (the Gospel) won’t ever contradict each other.
- Sound Christian doctrine is an image of grace, mimicking God’s gracious kindness to guide us to repentance and faith within the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 2:4). Plus, those that espouse sound Christian doctrine will never charge money for its revelation.
How Do We Define Heresy vs. Correct Doctrine?
Heresies are directly mentioned once within the Bible in 2 Peter 2:1, however the Bible has many instructions for us regarding those that foist false doctrine via heresies. Peter describes the heresies as destructive and even denying Christ.
Biblical scholar W. Robert Godfrey defines heresy in the next way, “Some people use the word heresy simply to mean any error or a reasonably serious error in theology. But classically the word heresy was used to explain those theological errors so serious that it will deprive certainly one of salvation.” You may ask, nevertheless, how can one lose their salvation when the Bible is evident true Christians cannot (Luke 20:36; John 10:28-29; Romans 11:29; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
The second sense by which Dr. Godfrey defines heresy is strictly limited to church tradition and never biblical doctrine. For example, within the medieval period, the Roman Catholic church decided that any opinion that differed from the Catholic church’s teaching (doctrine) was heresy.
The warning about how heresy historically meant anything that deprives people of salvation provides a key point: does the doctrine change how we see the gospel? Writer and theology professor Marc Cortez states, “Within Christianity, [heresy] is any belief or practice that explicitly undermines the gospel. It is a threat to the unity and orthodoxy of the religion, and historically, the identification and condemnation of heresies have played a big role in shaping the event of Christian theology.”
How Do We Define Blasphemy vs. Correct Doctrine?
As one Christianity.com article explains, “Blasphemy is mostly defined because the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things, synonymous with irreverence and disrespect of God or Christ” (Luke 12:10). The passage in Luke speaks to specific blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and the above definition suits because God is Christ is the Holy Spirit (the Trinity).
Jesus tells us blasphemy against the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven (Matthew 12:31). In its context, we see the Jewish religious leaders giving credit to Satan for the work of the Holy Spirit.
Peter also addressed blasphemies in 2 Peter 2. In 2 Peter 2:2-3a, he adds blasphemies to his litany of what false teachers would do, “And many will follow their sensuality, and since of them the best way of truth shall be blasphemed. And of their greed they are going to exploit you with false words.” Blasphemy is a frontal and willful assault against God—taking what rightfully belongs to God and giving credit to the evil ones.
Correct doctrine has Christians abide in Christ and His Word. If we stray from its precepts and make a claim for the devil, which surely and pointedly belongs to the Lord, we commit blasphemy.
Why Is it Important We Know What Defines Correct Doctrine?
Isaiah 7:9b reminds us of a very important stance to take as Christians in a world stuffed with shifting sand, “If you should not firm in faith, you won’t be firm in any respect.”
Our pastors, elders, and teachers are held to a stricter standard by virtue of their roles as overseers within the church. Pastor Tom Ascol relates this instruction, “Pastors should be radically committed to teaching the Word of God in all of its fullness and ease. This is why Paul repeatedly emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine in his letters to Timothy and Titus on pastoral ministry (1 Timothy 1:3, 10, 4:6, 16, 6:3; 2 Timothy 3:16, 4:3; Titus 1:9, 2:1). This can also be why no Christian should accept anything less.”
Pursuing correct doctrine is a person and communal activity. As a church, we must take the utmost care to make sure God and His Word are revered and obeyed. To do the rest would open church members to heretical and blasphemous teachings.
How Do We Define and Pursue Correct Doctrine?
When faced with recent ideas, we must first look to God’s Word (Psalm 119). It behooves us all to do what Pastor Chris Rosebrough does, “Compare what persons are saying within the name of God with the Word of God.” God’s Word warns us about false doctrine; the Bible tells us we’re to beware and discover false doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
We are never told this shall be a simple process. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary makes a very important point in its definition of heresy about why discussing doctrine is complicated: “The Scriptures being the usual of religion, any opinion that’s repugnant to its doctrines, is heresy; but as men differ within the interpretation of Scripture, an opinion deemed heretical by one body of Christians, could also be deemed orthodox by one other.” Herein lies the issue: heresy (and, for that matter, blasphemy) is a moving goal based upon differing views of Scripture. So, we recognize that discussing correct doctrine is complicated.
Since we must pursue correct doctrine, we should be willing to make that search a lifelong journey. We should be strong students of the Bible—because the Bereans were praised for being in Acts 17:11. We not only have a look at the Bible each time we’ve got questions. We study it repeatedly to immerse ourselves in reality and cultivate a biblical worldview.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/Oakozhan
Lisa Loraine Baker is the multiple award-winning writer of Someplace to be Somebody. She writes fiction and nonfiction. In addition to writing for the Salem Web Network, Lisa serves as a Word Weavers’ mentor and is an element of a critique group. She is also a member of BRRC. Lisa and her husband, Stephen, a pastor, live in a small Ohio village with their crazy cat, Lewis.
This article is an element of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are a few of our hottest articles covering Christian terms to assist your journey of information and faith:
The Full Armor of God
The Meaning of “Selah”
What Is Grace? Bible Definition and Christian Quotes
What is Discernment? Bible Meaning and Importance
What Is Prophecy? Bible Meaning and Examples
