Why is preserving sound doctrine so important?
Sometimes we think that maturity means we must always be tolerant—even to the extent of condoning false teaching.
But that is not the stance adopted by apostles Paul, Peter and John. They made sure they took a strong stand against destructive heresies.
The following three instances in the New Testament underscore the need to stand up for the truth:
- Those who pervert grace incurred the censure of Jude
- Paul’s warning about vicious wolves (false teachers) in his farewell message to the church elders at Ephesus
- Paul’s charge to young Timothy to preserve sound doctrine amid “feel good” teaching that tickles itching ears
Jude found it necessary to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For ungodly people have wormed their way among believers and perverted the grace of our God into a license for immorality (Jude 1: 3-4).
Before he left the church elders at Ephesus to go to Jerusalem, Paul shared with them a poignant farewell message:
“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following” (Acts 20: 28-30).
“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following” (Acts 20: 28-30).
Paul’s last words to Timothy have a strikingly similar tone. The former, who was then holed up in a damp and chilly dungeon, charged the young disciple to preach sound doctrine and defend the truth amid false teaching.
“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths" (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
Why the great need to preserve sound doctrine?
Sometimes we think that maturity means we must always be tolerant—even to the extent of condoning false teaching.
But that is not the stance adopted by apostles Paul, Peter and John. They made sure they took a strong stand against destructive heresies (2 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1).
Love alone without truth is compromise. http://bit.ly/1f0RuXH
"The early Christians condemned false doctrine in a way that sounds almost unchristian today." - Vance Havner
Truth is not just about morality—integrity in thought, word and action. The oft neglected aspect of truth is doctrine, to which we must hold fast.
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).
“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16).
"Faith is good only when it engages truth; when it is made to rest upon falsehood it can and often does lead to eternal tragedy." – A. W. Tozer. http://bit.ly/1qGIyye
Fighting the good fight of faith is not just about keeping our personal faith and finishing the race. http://bit.ly/1deSgkU
It is also about contending for the faith, keeping believers safe from enticing words of man’s wisdom that delude many and send them to destruction. http://bit.ly/1g2CpED
As such, it is imperative for leaders to confront false teaching during these perilous end times. If they can identify with Paul the seriousness of the task they have been entrusted with—to feed the flock with solid teaching from the whole Word of God (Acts 20:27) as well as to correct and rebuke heresy (2 Timothy 4:2)—then people will not be so easily led astray from the faith.
To recap, leaders need to uphold sound doctrine, identify heresy and rebuke it. They have to make sure that the truth is well communicated to the flock.
To recap, leaders need to uphold sound doctrine, identify heresy and rebuke it. They have to make sure that the truth is well communicated to the flock.
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WITHOUT FEAR OF FAVOUR
ReplyDeleteOur responsibility is to tell the truth as the Spirit leads us based on His word. We are in no position to regulate how people respond, whether they take offence or not, concerning what we share. If we think beforehand we will be offending someone by what we share and then shrink back, we will not be fulfilling our duty in contending for the truth. If that is so, we will be cowering in fear of man, and political correctness has become the main determinant controlling what we share.