RESPONDING TO A THEOLOGIAN

RESPONSE TO A STATEMENT MADE ABOUT DOCTRINE

A theologian made this very deceiving statement regarding the relevance of doctrine, “It does not matter to which religion or denomination you affiliate yourself to. It‟s not only one church that has the truth. Doctrine does not matter.” In the following paragraphs is my response to the theologian‟s statement.

 I find that statement very inconsistent with the scriptures that, apparently the writer professes to uphold. A closer look reveals that it speaks very ill of the Character of God. While it is very true that God has “Faithful” Children in all churches, denominations and religions, it very true too that doctrine matters. If it mattered not to what religious group or church one affiliated the direct implication would be that it matters not with what teachings the people are feed. If church and doctrine never mattered, I wonder why God would call out a nation to train them to be depositories of His Grace through their teachings. I wonder why the Apostles would have to travel such toilsome journeys to plant churches. The argument here maybe, the churches were in different places, true! But the church was built on the same teachings (Doctrines). Whether in Rome or in Corinth! 

That statement does not only go against the bible teaching of soul winning (Clearly exemplified in the Old and New Testament), but it certainly accuses God of desiring His children to die in ignorance. Apparently, that‟s an accusation to our God, “Seeing it is God who said, „Light will shine out of darkness,‟ who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). It most certainly goes against many passages of scripture which call men to the full knowledge of God. How then can men come to the full knowledge when they feed on the
unpalatable or at least say chicken‟s change? The very thought on that is impotent. That is arresting the conscience of men as the Romans did before the dawning of the reformation. 

Doctrine matters, because it shapes the behavior of men toward their God and their fellow men. If men are taught that God required nothing of them after their convention, they will live their lives as careless as before their conversion. I know some may say it‟s the Holy Spirit who brings about the change, very true! But the Holy Spirit does not work in a vacuum. Doctrine matters, and if doctrines matter then, it also matters to what church an individual belongs because their relationship with God is directly proportional to the messages they are feed on. Strong churches are not built on weak pulpits. Ask the Apostle Paul about the Macedonians! 

The thought that it does not matter to what church you belong to is a liberal thought, highly inconsistent with scripture and can only be justified by those that seek to make “a light matter” of the standards of Christ. Of what importance would conversion be if men remain the same afterwards? Does that even fit to be called conversion or it is a much worse version of Pharisism.

By: Muunda Mudenda

Download your free copy here...ABOUT DOCTRINE.pdf