Does Doctrine Really Matter?
June 7th, 2007
(By John MacArthur)
Is it enough to “believe in Jesus” in some amorphous sense that divorces “faith” from any particular doctrine about Him, or is doctrine—and the content of our faith—really important after all?
Scripture plainly teaches that we must be sound in the faith—which is to say that doctrine does matter (1 Tim. 4:6; 2 Tim. 4:2-3; Tit. 1:9; 2:1). It matters a lot.
“If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing” (1 Tim. 6:3-4, emphasis added).
Sound, biblical doctrine is a necessary aspect of true wisdom and authentic faith. The attitude that scorns doctrine while elevating feelings or blind trust cannot legitimately be called faith at all, even if it masquerades as Christianity. It is actually an irrational form of unbelief.
God holds us accountable for what we believe as well as how we think about the truth He has revealed. All Scripture testifies to the fact that God wants us to know and understand the truth. He wants us to be wise. His will is that we use our minds. We are supposed to think, meditate, and above all, to be discerning.
The content of our faith is crucial. Sincerity is not sufficient.
Consider, for example, these well-known verses. Note the repeated use of words like truth, knowledge, discernment, wisdom, and understanding:
“Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom” (Psa. 51:6).
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments” (Psa. 111:10).
“Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Thy commandments” (Psa. 119:66).
“Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:2-6).
“The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding” (Prov. 4:7).
“We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col. 1:9).
“In [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3).
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
God’s Word makes it abundantly clear that He wants us to use our minds. And one of the most vital duties facing every Christian—especially in an era (such as ours) when the church is overrun with contradictory ideas and spiritual confusion—is the duty of discernment. As those who would be faithful Bereans of the Word (Acts 17:11), we must be careful to watch our lives and our doctrine closely (1 Tim. 4:16).
As is usual, the Word of God is thought provoking, convicting, and as it says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments” (Psa. 111:10).
Thank you.
Doctrine matters. Truth matters. Less than one hour of reading the post, God provided an opportunity in the neighborhood(because of helping with a car accident in front of our house and then talking with a visitor to the next-door neighbor’s house) ~ to say that it does matter. God never ceases to amaze in how He orchestrates the most intricate details ~ toward His glory. In awe and grateful for God’s early morning encouragement through the stewards of this website.
Let me give a shout out here to Dr. MacArthur, for his championing of the inerrant Word, and to Nate B., for operating a site that takes theology seriously and allows comments, and who meets and discusses objections with amazing patience and thoroughness. Both are good examples of “how it should be done.”
Yes, sound, Biblical doctrine does matter! Wonderful and helpful post!
Blessings!
Tom
Doctrine Matters
It is not just that we believe in Jesus, it is what we believe about Jesus that starts us down either the path of destruction or the path to life.
Thank you so much for highlighting this issue. I wish my fundamentalist brothers would get to their senses and realize that John MacArthur’s ministry has the same priorities as ours. In fact, I am working on an article about that very thing. Everything that has been said against the “new” evangelicalism is right - but the question is who to put in that group. One who writes an article like this one, and practices this principle in his daily ministry is certainly not guilty of “new” evangelical compromise. It is so encouraging to see men like MacArthur, Piper, Dever, Mohler, and others elevate the importance of doctrine. May God bless them and those that hear them.
Doctrine most certainly matters, otherwise which Jesus to you follow? Jesus of the Gospels, a merely ‘good teacher’, Hindu version of Jesus? Muslim or Mormon? Secular, “historical” Jesus?
Bad theology, lived out will result eventually in some sort of bad behaviour. It’s only a matter of time.
Thanks for this topic!
That should read “which Jesus DO you follow”.
If we cannot correctly pick the authentic Jesus out of a police lineup, how could we Possibly follow Him as Paul did?
Doctrine matters, absolutely. We cannot escape it, nor should we. Those churches that water down doctrine, ultimately compromise the faith.
There is no need to distort this issue to such grand proportions. The question is simple, the answer is simple, and all such petty disputation and justification OF scripture BY scripture, which seems fairly circular, could be avoided had your approach been maintained the separate categories in which historical, religious, and literary artifacts reside.
Needless to say, to answer the question, “Does doctrine really matter?” requires that you specify “to what” it possibly matters. The scriptural passages you cite were composed in a different time, under different political circumstances, with different means and speeds of communication, with different exigent realities all around. It is absurd for you to assert that these lines actually correspond to the modern context which has given rise to the question: “Does doctrine really matter?”
The answer to your question is simply this: Doctrine matters to those who partake in systems of religion dependent on doctrine. Clearly! To those who do not partake in those systems, it does not. Otherwise, it seems rather pernicious for you to contend that something matters to people for whom it actually doesn’t. That kind of behavior expresses no human understanding at all.
I completely understand your point of view. I am not asking to argue; I am asking that you accept to understand mine, because you do and because what I am saying to you is not false.
To say that doctrine does not matter is to say the constitution of the United States of America does not matter. Everything of value or importance has rules and guidelines to go by. For example:
It’s like programming in a computer language. You may want to do it your own way but if your writing in a language that has it’s own rules or laws or code. Then it doesn’t matter how you want to do it you must do it according to the code or laws or rules that govern that computer program language. Or else it will not work. The same is with the rules or laws or code of wisdom that governs the Word of God. If you do it His way or by the code wisdom of God or the Mind of Christ, it will work, Period! It always comes down to a choice, your way or His way,
Faith in Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, The Anointed One, does have lawss and rules, code of conduct. Jesus Christ is a personal Savior and so therefore our individual walk will differ, but the Doctrine remains the same for all who have come to know that Jesus of Nazareth is the Sun of the living God!
I really am surprised that anyone would say that doctrine does not matter. It is ONLY by the doctrine taught by the Apostle Paul that we are informed (by doctrine) that Jesus Christ is the way. For without Paul’s doctrine given him by the Holy Spirit of God we would believe in Jesus today and next week the tooth fairy…