Mine must be higher...
Doctrine – the explication and officially acceptable version of a religious teaching. The development of doctrines and dogmas has significantly affected the traditions, institutions, and practices of the religions of the world. Doctrines and dogmas also have influenced and been influenced by the ongoing development of secular history, science, and philosophy.
And from the American Heritage Dictionary:
Theology –
- The study of the nature of God and religious truth; rational inquiry into religious questions.
- A system or school of opinions concerning God and religious questions: Protestant theology; Jewish theology.
- A course of specialized religious study usually at a college or seminary.
(In this discussion I often group the concepts of doctrine and theology together and refer to both when the word “doctrine” is used except when noted otherwise.)
We humans are limited, God is unlimited; our knowledge limited while God is omniscient. We form theologies to try to understand an infinite Being and doctrines to try to explain how He relates to us and how we should relate to Him. Because we are limited in our knowledge these doctrines and theologies fall far short to describe this wonderful unlimited Being we know and recognise as God almighty. Yet we claim our doctrine or theology better and more perfect than the next person’s. We group ourselves with others with the same doctrine/theology and the more people we assemble around the same the more perfect we claim it to be. If someone dares to question some small part of our sacred doctrine we launch out in full attack and claim their doctrine to be at worst heretical or best erroneous. We are like children building towers with building blocks and the highest claims to be best. When another threatens to be higher we’ll throw a tantrum and try to knock theirs over.
We have an inherent need for God and try to reach out to Him and His perfection (Acts 17:27). With these doctrines and theologies we try to reach the perfection of God just like the people who built the tower of Babel. We try to reach to the heavens.
Genesis 11:4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (NIV)
Now here is the catch. God stooped down from heaven, became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, walked among men, died on a cross and rose from the dead. All that is needed to reach out to God is belief in Christ Jesus and submitting under His Lordship. That is it. Nothing more than this.
In building our towers of doctrine higher we are missing the point. God is not to be found somewhere up there where the highest, most perfect tower can reach. He is to be found in the humility of surrender.
Doctrine and theology is useful because it help us understand (to a certain extent) what we belief. It is useful in figuring out how we should live out this submission to Christ and conduct ourselves while we do not know in full (1 Corinthians 13:12). But it is not essential for salvation.
My prayer is that God will knock us off of our towers of doctrine and that we will fall into His grace that is able to save and restore.
Eugene Roberts's Weblog 
July 25, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Here is a legitimate question: Can we assume that much of the body of professing believers are not really students of the Word, and specifically students of doctrine. So, for example, when the average pew dweller says they believe a certain doctrine but they could never pull out a Bible and personally show you why, does that really count as authentic?
In such cases are they actually believing what someone told them and not particularly God’s Word? They have been talked into some doctrine and really not flushed it out for themselves. And the end result we have what the Corinthian Church had, I’m of Paul, I’m of Peter, etc..
Perhaps a deeper study of the Word would give them a sense of balance and additionally show them some direct commands about humility, meekness, mercy, and words of grace to the edification of the hearers. One more distinct disadvantage of mimicking your favorite preacher is some take on the same self righteous tone.
July 28, 2008 at 1:09 pm
With regards to Rick’s suggestion that we need to study the word more deeply and by doing this it will help with our formulation of dogma/theology. It is my opinion that the Bible is very problematic for the formulation of theology. Robert Carol in his book ‘Wolf in sheepfold’suggest that Jahwe in the Old Testament is only known to us as a character of ideology on the writers behalf. Therefore the many contradictory discriptions of God.This is the problem then with using only the bible as canon for our theology. Theology can also be experiential. What we are doing now – we are engaging in theology/dogma even if there is no chapter and verse?
July 30, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Eugene-
Excellent word. I especially love this line:
“God is not to be found somewhere up there where the highest, most perfect tower can reach. He is to be found in the humility of surrender.”
Interestingly, Jesus did not come preaching the Bible (or doctrine) but the gospel. His first sermon in Luke 4 says pretty well what that gospel embodies. Rather than building our own ivory towers perhaps we would do better to join together simply as people who believe God has done something amazing in and through Jesus Christ and build havens of love for the “least of these.” It would seem to me that by doing that we would be living out the gospel far more than getting our heads straight ever would.
Eugene, your the best 🙂
peace,
Chad
July 31, 2008 at 11:00 am
Sorry for only getting back to you guys now…
Rick, yes I agree that the average Christian knows very little about doctrine and often just eats up what is taught from a pulpit. And the sad thing is that the more convincing a teacher can string together a bunch of verses, often out of context with the rest of scripture and the culture of the time, the more it is held as perfect (the higher the tower). I agree with you that deeper study of the Word should be done. But I want to add to that that conversations like these are paramount in forming our theology and doctrine. Being humble and open is prerequisite even before approaching the Bible for doctrinal study. (1 Cor 8:1). When we start comparing our knowledge of the Bible we tend to “puff up” (This is my main issue with the ODM’s).
Johan (Serf),
I am trying to get what you are saying. Can you explain?
I agree but think that a sound knowedge of te Bible is essential. We do not have to quote chapters and verses for every point we make if we have a good understanding of the Bible. Is that what you are saying or haven’t I drank enough wine yet to get what you are saying?
Chad, thanks! It is truly the gospel that changes us and when joined together we can effectively take this GOOD NEWS to the “least of these”. I think the doing, the living out of the gospel, should be part of forming our doctrine as well as the other way around. A two way interaction kind of mystery.
July 31, 2008 at 11:02 am
Rick and Chad,
Serf(Johan) is my bestest of best friends here in SA. He just finished his Masters in Theology in Old Testament studies.
Congratulations Johan!
July 31, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Johan – congrats! So tell us – what is a guy as smart as you doing as the “bestest of best friends” of Eugene? 😛
hehe..
Round of drinks on me when I get to SA.
peace,
Chad
September 27, 2008 at 6:15 pm
At risk of being labeled one of those unloving people who constantly teach doctrine (and I do suffer such a title), I wish to say that it pains me when the church describes her “doctrine” as having little use other than to hold us back. Besides, we don’t hold church doctrine as a means to describe God and get close to his majesty (whatever that means)—we teach what Christ has done for us and what he continues to do for us to this day. This is “doctrine”! Doctrine consists of the preaching of Christ crucified, in the Apostolic teaching, in his Sacraments, and in God’s Holy Word.
What, then, do we hold the teachings of his Word to be? We speak of Christ as if he was a law giver, another Moses: telling us what needs to be done. He tells us what has been done, what is finished. The law constantly says: “Do this,” and it is never done. The Gospel says: “It is finished!” and all has been accomplished. Doctrine is merely the articulation, in articular form, of this proclaimation.
Neither do we say doctrine “tells us what we believe”, nor does it tell us how to “live out submission in Christ.” Church doctrine tells us what Christ lived out for us in his saving and redeeming work and how that saving work comes to us today. Doctrine is NOT man reaching up to God, it is the very embodiment of the Gospel reaching down to us, down to comfort terrified consciences.
Doctrine is not dull, dry, and boring. It is Christ. It is Christ at work for and in his church. Therefore, doctrine is everything Christ is: loving, caring, complete, and in no need of reformation or apology.
P.s. I say none of this as an attack. I pray the church to find her glorious gift that is the Apostolic doctrine.
September 29, 2008 at 9:22 pm
O.H., thank you for visiting. I had a busy day and am a bit brain dead. I want to chew on your comment a bit before answering. One thing I would say now is that if I must sum up my post in one sentence it would be that we should worship God alone and not our doctrine about Him and the Gospel as some people seem to be doing.
May God’s mercy and goodness stalk you day after day.
September 29, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Take all the time you need. I’m here for you man! I’m pretty much slammed today, too.
I posted because I saw you thoughtfully comment on a website of a pastor, a member of my own denomination (who is often on my side of things), who can also–in my estimation–tread the verge of what you just said: worship doctrine as the thing in itself. This is a dangerous temptation.
But I look forward to talking about why doctrine (orthodoxy) matters–even when it gets abused from time to time.
October 1, 2008 at 10:39 pm
O.H., I agree with you that doctrine matters. I think it is very important that we talk about it. When discussing/formulating doctrine I think there are a few very important things to keep in mind:
1. Humility (I may be wrong, you may be right, so I will listen with an open mind and not form a counter argument before I understand completely what your view is)
2. Understanding Scripture in its context (In relation to the rest of scripture and the culture or original audience)
3. Application in today’s context (Contextualization I think is the word???)
4. Keeping Jesus Christ central (not some dead or any other theologian’s view or my own ego or… )
5. Discussion Discussion Discussion
6. Love the people you are having conversation with and never call them unsaved, Nazis, Pharisees or any other derogatory name.
We can probably add many more points but I think you get what I am saying.
Again thank you for your comments. I hope we can become friends out of this.
October 17, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Eugene,
Sorry for writing back so late. The quarter here was really picking up and I was just putting off most of my blogging activities.
But, certainly, we are friends. I told my wife I felt a certain kinship with “some Eugene guy I met online.” So, you just made friends with a confessional dead-orthodox Lutheran seminarian!
Hereas my wife and I are packing to leave town in a few minutes, let me respond with a question that has its source in my first post; and with your answer/thoughts, we can see wehre this thing takes us. Here we go:
Can doctrine be pure, correct, and unerring on every single point?
If not: Why not.
If so: What does that mean for the Church in conflict (as we have always been).
VDMA!
October 20, 2008 at 9:48 pm
O.H.,
Friends you are then – with a semi-Pentecostal/Charismatic/seeker sensitive worship leader who likes to discuss theology and doctrine and hopes to learn more about the God he loves along the way. 🙂
Now to answer your question:
The first scripture that came to mind as I thought about your question was 1 Cor 13:8-12
(Emphasis mine.)
As I read it struck me that love is the one thing that will remain. All our arguments, doctrine, theology and even childish ways will be one day superceded by the full knowledge of God. Until then we have this reflection in a mirror… So while on this side of eternity I do not think any one person or one church can have doctrine that is pure, correct and unerring on every single point. Why? Because of our earthly bound bodies which are so prone to sin. What does it mean for the church in conflict? Well, I think that is in part what I was trying to say in my post. I think part of the problem is that our egos (who we think we are) are not separated from our thoughts or arguments. So when we form our doctrine we find it hard to separate it from our identity and so we get defensive of it to the point of calling other Christians unsaved as can be seen on many blogs. So my suggestion is discussion on forums like these and conversation between people who have different perspectives all done with the highest value, the one thing that will last – LOVE!
Church in conflict… It saddens me to see so much of this on the internet. I often think of Jesus’ prayer in John 17 for us to be one as He and the Father are one. I have pleaded many times for unity and love on blogs but people seem to rather cling to some point of their doctrine even at the cost of unity and would rather win an argument than win a brother. Sometimes people can be so wrong while they are being right! To quote Lenny Kravitz: “Where’s the love?”
October 20, 2008 at 10:28 pm
It took me a while to figure that out 😆
October 21, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I’ll write back, but today I read a paper that reminded me of our discussion. It (the paper) is one of those interesting segments of theology that is intended to give both sides pause. I think you’ll find it as challenging and thought-provoking as I did. You can find the paper here:
http://www.modernreformation.org/default.php?page=articledisplay&var1=ArtRead&var2=962&var3=main
VDMA! (I prefer: The Word of the Lord endures forever!)…the famous battle cry of the Reformation.
October 21, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Really enjoyed the article Eugene. I left the Lutheran church in my area, for a very similar reason. They worship the building they meet in and their doctrines and theology to the point that Christ seems very small and almost non-existent.
Of course this is just one church, but they were the only Lutheran game in town, so I attend a non-denominational church now. I was really nervous going there at first, but worship is all about Christ’s love for us and Biblical passages are studied, not excerpts. It’s so refreshing.
Glad I linked over here from extreme theology.
-Blessings
October 22, 2008 at 10:05 am
Thank you for the visit Mike. I am glad that my article meant something for you.
May you grow in the grace of God where ever He leads you.
October 23, 2008 at 2:56 pm
O.H.,
Thank you for that article. I’ll get back to you as soon as I’ve read it. Things are a bit hectic today as I’m gettig everything ready for tonights band rehearsal…
November 25, 2008 at 10:45 am
Hi there Eugene
Thanks for this posting. I totally get it!!
It reminds me of this quotation from Meister Eckhard:
” God is neither this nor that.”
Be blessed
Andrew
November 26, 2008 at 8:41 am
Hi Andrew
I’m glad you got it. 🙂
Thanks for the visit