My friend, Dan Erickson, recently posted this on Facebook. It is his latest post in a series titled the ABC's of the Gospel.
"D--Doctrine: A body or system of beliefs about God, man, the future, etc. Doctrine seems boring to some but is extremely important. After all, what if your doctrine is wrong? With so many religions and churches someone has to be wrong! You will find out that the more people adhere to their Bibles the more they agree on doctrine, especially on the fundamentals. On the other hand, the more people let man define beliefs through the lens of culture and preconceived beliefs, the more bizarre doctrines get. Stick to the Bible. It is our handbook and was written to give us foundational truths and keep us in the truth."
Pr 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Many will sight this verse, but at the same time reject its message. Lets briefly dissect the second half.
Reproof translates: chastisement, correction, refutation, proof, argument, chastened, correction, reasoning, rebuke, reproof, reproved.
Instructions translates: chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction, chastening, chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
So it is well translated "reproofs of instruction are the way of life", but could also be translated: adjustments (corrections) by discipline, corrections by doctrine or even corrections or adjustments in doctrine. Corrections to our life and even what we think about God and who He is, is a way of life. It is a process of growth. Get used to it.
I often encounter people, who having accepted doctrines without knowing why or understanding them, when presented with something different will respond to the differing thought or enhancing thought or doctrine by either shutting down (not really listening and looking for an escape so they can get on with other things), getting angry (a common defensive stance, especially when they cannot justify what they believe, because they have not taken the time to know their God and scripture), very seldom will you find someone who will honestly hear you out and will add their own "Well, how about this verse then". Few, if any, church body's have their doctrines all together, I know of none anyway, Not even mine! It is not that we should be changing our doctrine like we change channels on a tv. However, when presented with scriptures that oppose or enhance a doctrine, we need to carefully and prayerfully consider the possibility that we were (can I say it?) WRONG, or inadequately informed. Most of these doctrines that need adjusting are ones that can come as hand me downs from parents, created by our own life's experiences or oddball teachings or sermons that we hear. One such "doctrine" that is out there is that everyone will be saved or live eternally in heaven. This can come from any of the previously stated reasons, or for this particular one, personal errant thinking and emotions about a "loving God". This person is usually a loving person who is empathetic to the feelings of others and has a low scriptural knowledge and refuses to consider that we all make our own decision to follow Him or our own ways and will ignore verses like where Jesus looks at some and says "Depart from me you workers of iniquity, because I never knew you". He goes on to say "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out."
Paul says it this way: 1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
The word prove can also be translated: to test, discern, examine. You prove something by using the Word of God not your thoughts, feelings, somebody else's experiences, or written pamphlets. These can act as support, but the truth will come and be proven out foremost by the Word.
Ac 17:11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
Notice the praise that was directed toward these people who heard what was being preached then studied it out to see if what was said was true. In other words they proved it. How sad it is that people are either to lazy or more loyal to their pastor or denomination to see if they have a right perspective on God.
One last verse, Ho 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...
"D--Doctrine: A body or system of beliefs about God, man, the future, etc. Doctrine seems boring to some but is extremely important. After all, what if your doctrine is wrong? With so many religions and churches someone has to be wrong! You will find out that the more people adhere to their Bibles the more they agree on doctrine, especially on the fundamentals. On the other hand, the more people let man define beliefs through the lens of culture and preconceived beliefs, the more bizarre doctrines get. Stick to the Bible. It is our handbook and was written to give us foundational truths and keep us in the truth."
Pr 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Many will sight this verse, but at the same time reject its message. Lets briefly dissect the second half.
Reproof translates: chastisement, correction, refutation, proof, argument, chastened, correction, reasoning, rebuke, reproof, reproved.
Instructions translates: chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction, chastening, chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
So it is well translated "reproofs of instruction are the way of life", but could also be translated: adjustments (corrections) by discipline, corrections by doctrine or even corrections or adjustments in doctrine. Corrections to our life and even what we think about God and who He is, is a way of life. It is a process of growth. Get used to it.
I often encounter people, who having accepted doctrines without knowing why or understanding them, when presented with something different will respond to the differing thought or enhancing thought or doctrine by either shutting down (not really listening and looking for an escape so they can get on with other things), getting angry (a common defensive stance, especially when they cannot justify what they believe, because they have not taken the time to know their God and scripture), very seldom will you find someone who will honestly hear you out and will add their own "Well, how about this verse then". Few, if any, church body's have their doctrines all together, I know of none anyway, Not even mine! It is not that we should be changing our doctrine like we change channels on a tv. However, when presented with scriptures that oppose or enhance a doctrine, we need to carefully and prayerfully consider the possibility that we were (can I say it?) WRONG, or inadequately informed. Most of these doctrines that need adjusting are ones that can come as hand me downs from parents, created by our own life's experiences or oddball teachings or sermons that we hear. One such "doctrine" that is out there is that everyone will be saved or live eternally in heaven. This can come from any of the previously stated reasons, or for this particular one, personal errant thinking and emotions about a "loving God". This person is usually a loving person who is empathetic to the feelings of others and has a low scriptural knowledge and refuses to consider that we all make our own decision to follow Him or our own ways and will ignore verses like where Jesus looks at some and says "Depart from me you workers of iniquity, because I never knew you". He goes on to say "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out."
Paul says it this way: 1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
The word prove can also be translated: to test, discern, examine. You prove something by using the Word of God not your thoughts, feelings, somebody else's experiences, or written pamphlets. These can act as support, but the truth will come and be proven out foremost by the Word.
Ac 17:11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
Notice the praise that was directed toward these people who heard what was being preached then studied it out to see if what was said was true. In other words they proved it. How sad it is that people are either to lazy or more loyal to their pastor or denomination to see if they have a right perspective on God.
One last verse, Ho 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...
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