Comments on: Does Doctrine Really Matter?

By: Mark S. Valentine

Mark S. Valentine — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 05:43:37 +0000

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…

By: Daniel Gabriele

Daniel Gabriele — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:01:39 +0000

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.

By: MattK

MattK — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:58:13 +0000

Doctrine matters, absolutely. We cannot escape it, nor should we. Those churches that water down doctrine, ultimately compromise the faith.

By: Wes Walker (Theophilus)

Wes Walker (Theophilus) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:18:05 +0000

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?

By: Wes Walker (Theophilus)

Wes Walker (Theophilus) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:16:25 +0000

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!

By: Damien T. Garofalo

Damien T. Garofalo — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:57:45 +0000

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.

By: Morris Brooks

Morris Brooks — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 03:49:03 +0000

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.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:22:15 +0000

Yes, sound, Biblical doctrine does matter! Wonderful and helpful post!

Blessings!

Tom
Doctrine Matters

By: jsb

jsb — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:33:47 +0000

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.”

By: Mrs. Burrows

Mrs. Burrows — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:27:12 +0000

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.