The problem facing the Church is centered on this issue. If we focus completely on loving God and loving each other to the neglect of doctrinal instruction, the people in our churches may be moral but will still miss the true message of Christianity. This is a message that can only be found in sound doctrine. What divides and separates true Christianity from other belief systems are major doctrines such as original sin, substitutionary atonement, justification apart from works, repentance, the reality of a Heaven and Hell, and the need of the new birth as the sole means of entrance into Heaven. These are the issues that divide. These are the major doctrines of Christianity that are being left out of many churches. True Christianity cannot be taught apart from these doctrinal truths.
This leads to a mentality that says ‘what I experience and what I feel is more important than doctrine or Truth’. As Horton puts it, this results in a viewpoint where “sin is not a condition from which I need to be saved, but actions that I can keep from doing with sufficient motivation and instruction. Christ’s death is not an atoning sacrifice that satisfies God’s just wrath, but an example of God’s love that moves us to repentance. Hence, ‘What would Jesus do?’ is the main question, not ‘What has Jesus done?’”
I’m not saying that we should not love God and others. Obviously this is a clear teaching in Scripture. The point I am making is this: focusing on love to the neglect of Truth is dangerous and gives people a false view of true doctrinally-based Christianity. The true message of Scripture is divisive and will be rejected by many. When we try to water it down for the purpose of mass acceptance, true Christianity is not what is being accepted. All that is being accepted is a moral code based on love and good works. Morality is important in a Christian’s life, but morality is not the same as salvation nor does it result in it. God is love and Scripture is filled with examples of God’s love, but the greatest illustrations of God’s love are found in understanding biblical doctrine.
February 12, 2009 at 3:42 pm
The opposite is true also, which I think the church has brutally failed at, maybe more than forgetting doctrine. Having doctrine without loving God or people, as if attributing a mental ascent is sufficient. This is truly the failure of many conservatives within the political world and also within a religious environment. We, as evangelicals, are excellent at telling people that we believe “abortion is wrong”, “feed the hungry”, “care for the poor”, and all the while “God is loving”, “God is holy”, :”God is redemptive”but in reality very little is done aside from writing a check every once in a while. I don’t believe that this expresses the love of God, and truly the foundation for us providing love for people is from a deep understanding of the love of God for us. Therefore, I don’t believe that right doctrine necessitates Mt. 22, but both are truly necessary. However, I don’t boast of accomplishing any more than any other Christian in these areas, but I do believe that each are necessary, and may possibly be mutually exclusive. Loving God is not done within the bounds of a formula, and therefore can be done even with incorrect or wrong doctrine. Especially if what we have with God is truly a relationship. I don’t know fully, my thoughts are scattered this morning, battling sickness ack! Anyways, on a side note, hows the church there doing?
February 14, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Hey Justin, Sorry for the delay in my response, Ive been a little under the weather. I agree with you completely. The church is going well. Growth is slow, but we are growing. We have some needs but God is good.