Does religious doctrine really matter?
By religious doctrine we are simply referring to what a person or religious group believes and practices.
What is the criteria by which we answer this question? May I suggest the only appropriate way is to see what God’s Word says about it. We must answer spiritual questions by seeing what the Holy Spirit has revealed about that question or topic (see Jn. 16:13; 14:26; 2 Pt. 1:20-21; 1 Cor. 14:37).
With this topic, as well as all other topics, we need to be content with allowing the Scripture to determine the answer. Are you willing to do that with this subject and others too?
The methodology of this particular study will be to take inventory of the books within the New Testament that address this topic in some way, beginning with Matthew, simply noting one passage from each book that deals with this subject matter.
In some cases you may wish to consult more of the context than I will provide, but surely these references are sufficient to answer this sometimes debated question.
- Matthew 15:9 – “in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
- Mark 13:22 – “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.”
- Luke 21:8 – “And he said, ‘See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.’”
- John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
- Acts 20:29-30 – “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
- Romans 16:17-18 – “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 – “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 – “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
- Galatians 1:6-7 – “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”
- Ephesians 4:4-6 – “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
- Philippians 3:2 – “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.”
- Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “but test everything; hold fast what is good.”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 – “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
- 1 Timothy 4:1-2 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.”
- 2 Timothy 4:3-4 – “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
- Titus 1:9 – “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
- Hebrews 13:9 – “Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.”
- James 3:1 – “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”
- 1 Peter 4:11 – “whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
- 2 Peter 2:1 – “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”
- 1 John 4:1 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
- 2 John 10 – “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”
- 3 John 3-4 – “For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
- Jude 3 – “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
- Revelation 22:18-19 – “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
It may be surprising to us that only one book of the New Testament does not address the seriousness of doctrinal error. Only the short personal book that Paul wrote to Philemon does not address this matter.
In one sense we have noted twenty-six reasons that doctrine truly does matter, and we didn’t notice the half of it! So many questions are so very easy to answer when we simply go to the Bible to find the answer. To the contrary, confusion and division run rampant when the thoughts and desires of man reign supreme over the Word of the Spirit.
Daren Schroeder
