Why bother studying about doctrine?
The CEII Doctrine Class that we are currently having may seem to some, challenging at best, and intimidating at worst. Instead of trying to grapple with teachings that appear to fly by the top of our heads, wouldn’t it just be easier to not have to learn about difficult, “cheem” issues, and just be content with living life with simple faith? Don’t get me wrong, not that simple faith is not something desirable, but the question here is that is developing our theology, or the study of our beliefs about God, a total necessity for us as Christians? Or is it an option, perhaps for those at a “higher level”, or those who are “more intellectual” or “more spiritual”?
I believe we all agree that we are living in the last days; in perilous times where men are “lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (II Timothy 3:2-4). The picture that Paul paints in his letter to Timothy is a pretty accurate depiction of the times we are living in. However, contrast this with what God has made to stand firm even to the end of time in verse 15 of that same chapter. It is His Word – “the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
In a post-modern world where everything is deemed to be relative and everyone is entitled to their own opinions about issues such as religion and moral standards, it is the Word of God that will give us as Christians, the surety of our values and beliefs. We need more than ever, to go back to the Word of God, to study it, to understand and draw our beliefs and convictions from it. Whether we like it or not, this is the universal standard that all man are bound by – the standard which we appeal to when we deal with our own lives, our fellow human beings, and just about everything else! We need to honestly examine and find out for ourselves if the world, the media, our environment, or the Word of God, has a greater influence on our notion of right and wrong...
This brings us back to the question raised in the first paragraph: is it necessary for us to study and understand our beliefs about our God – the Creator of all things in whose image we were made in? Given the privilege of opportunity and the privilege of resource, I believe the study of doctrine is not reserved solely for scholars and pastors, but it is also our responsibility as true believers. Just as Paul exhorts Timothy to “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (II Timothy 3:14), we too are to do likewise.
However, that being said, we must not fall to the other extreme of being preoccupied with gaining mere head knowledge about God. Paul says of “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (II Timothy 3:5) and similarly James exhorts us in James 1:22 to “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
Our study of the Word must ultimately lead to reverential worship – worship of the most High, with our bodies, our service, our lives, our all; to the glory of God in whom we breathe and move, and have our being.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
II Timothy 3:16-17
