I believe that we must test doctrine rather than simply believe what men say is true.
And in order to test doctrine we have to have an objective standard. As Christians we know that Scripture is perfect, is good for doctrine, and is the actual teachings of God. So my suggestion is that we test doctrine against the words of God.
Obviously there will still be divisions over foctrine as interpretations differ. But I believe the more essential or foundational to other doctrines the closer that doctrine has to mirror Scripture.
But just because something is not in the biblical text does not mean it is false.
So, obviously, a stated belief that is Scripture (e.g., "Jesus died for our sins") is true. Yet there are doctrines that may be true. How do we test these?
We could say go to other Christians and ask what they believe. But then we are the ones choosing the person. One coukd choose a Calvinist and another a Methodist, and another a Pentecostal...all saying different things.
We could look to confessions, but which ones? Reformed, Arminian, Methodist, Anabaptist? This is the same issue as with picking other men. It all comes down to the one doing the choosing.
My suggestion -
First, I do not believe we should go beyond Scripture in doctrine. Nothing else is objective. If a passage does not make sence then mark it and continue reading. Most likely it will make sence as you go one as Scripture interprets Scripture.
IF we look at doctrines beyond God's words then we have to know how the conclusions came about. We have to know how one gets from God's words to the doctrine God's words supposedly teach. This includes (obviously) the passages involved. It also includes historical information, philosophy, worldviews, et . (anything used in ghe process of moving from the biblical text to the conclusion).
Often, when you start at a doctrine and work backwards to unpack it you will find that problems in the process between the conclusion and God's words they supposedly represent.
IF we agree with the process and the conclusion and decide to adopt the doctrine then we have to remember it is our understanding znd not actually God's Word. We have to be careful not to teach it as objective truth but to hold it at arms length as an understanding.
And in order to test doctrine we have to have an objective standard. As Christians we know that Scripture is perfect, is good for doctrine, and is the actual teachings of God. So my suggestion is that we test doctrine against the words of God.
Obviously there will still be divisions over foctrine as interpretations differ. But I believe the more essential or foundational to other doctrines the closer that doctrine has to mirror Scripture.
But just because something is not in the biblical text does not mean it is false.
So, obviously, a stated belief that is Scripture (e.g., "Jesus died for our sins") is true. Yet there are doctrines that may be true. How do we test these?
We could say go to other Christians and ask what they believe. But then we are the ones choosing the person. One coukd choose a Calvinist and another a Methodist, and another a Pentecostal...all saying different things.
We could look to confessions, but which ones? Reformed, Arminian, Methodist, Anabaptist? This is the same issue as with picking other men. It all comes down to the one doing the choosing.
My suggestion -
First, I do not believe we should go beyond Scripture in doctrine. Nothing else is objective. If a passage does not make sence then mark it and continue reading. Most likely it will make sence as you go one as Scripture interprets Scripture.
IF we look at doctrines beyond God's words then we have to know how the conclusions came about. We have to know how one gets from God's words to the doctrine God's words supposedly teach. This includes (obviously) the passages involved. It also includes historical information, philosophy, worldviews, et . (anything used in ghe process of moving from the biblical text to the conclusion).
Often, when you start at a doctrine and work backwards to unpack it you will find that problems in the process between the conclusion and God's words they supposedly represent.
IF we agree with the process and the conclusion and decide to adopt the doctrine then we have to remember it is our understanding znd not actually God's Word. We have to be careful not to teach it as objective truth but to hold it at arms length as an understanding.