Does Doctrine Matter - much?

On this section of the board we discuss all the doctrines associated with the Calvinist vs Arminian differences.

Some times a thread comes up here along the lines "what if you are wrong - what is the "significance of being wrong" on this subject"

I found this on another thread - on a doctrine some might consider trivial by comparison to C-vs-A

(Apologize for getting Dr. Bob's comment back into the Calvinism forum)

I think "doctrine matters" but while pursuing correct doctrine with every and all of our effort - we must not adopt the dark ages mentality of tormenting those who differ with us, via name-calling etc. In the dark ages - it lead to the inquisition.

in Christ,

Bob

 

In Mark 7:6-13 Jesus takes on the doctrine of the Jewish leaders and compares it with the doctrine found in the Bible.

How do you read that? How does He treat the relative importance of doctrine in those verses?

In Gal 1:6-11 Paul speaks to the subject of doctrine. In your opinion is he talking about simply "getting along with others" or what is the focus?

in Christ,

Bob

 

Well thankfully Walter Martin in his book "Kingdom of the Cults" had the good sense to work through that subject and come to some valid conclusions about Seventh-day Adventists (who got at least one of their doctrines started through the help of some Seventh-day Baptists) being within the range of orthodox Christianity.

But you can't expect everyone to read through those details.

In any case even if you choose to engage in name-calling against Seventh-day Adventists - the question in the OP remains valid and should be addressed.

in Christ,

Bob

 

In Matt 22 Christ "debates" the Sadducees on the doctrine of the resurrection.

In Mark 7 here is what Christ said about doctrine.

[FONT=&quot]Mark 7[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
6 And He said to them, ""Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: " THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
7 " BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'
8 ""Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.''
9 He was also saying to them, ""You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.
10 ""For Moses said, " HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER';(Exodus 20:12) and, " HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH';
11 but you say, "If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),'
12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother;
13 thus invalidating the Word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.''

Here Christ contrasts tradition-based false "doctrine" as compared to the "Word of God" - which in this case is the "Commandment of God" as Christ describes this example from the Ten Commandments.

In fact Christ almost seems to argue that false doctrine invalidates worship. (Presumably if it is done in some deliberate or knowing fashion. Certainly the Jews "knew" about the 5th commandment).

(At least one person on BB has recently argued that the teaching of Christ in the Gospels is to be set aside as being in a dispensation that no longer matters or applies - but I think that idea misses a few key Bible details. Hopefully most here will accept the teaching of Christ.)

in Christ,

Bob
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