Doctrine

Acts 2:42 says, “They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together.” This is the blueprint for the praxis of the church in every age. These newly inaugurated believers committed themselves to four cornerstone principles/practices/values: doctrine (beliefs), fellowship, eating together, and prayer.

The disciples' doctrine was built on Jesus' practical teaching. He mentored and modeled for them. Paul and James give sage advice concerning correct doctrine. “But knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others. In fact, people who think they know so much don't know anything at all. But God has no doubts about who loves him” (1 Cor. 8:1-3). Being right may answer the questions correctly on the Theology 101 final, but it will never help anyone find Jesus. Only love wins the heart and soul. And James writes, “Obey God's message! Don't fool yourselves by just listening to it” (Jam 1:22). Americans love information. This is the age of information. Information is power. But if the information does not lead to transformation, it is useless. Someone has said, “Others do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. The real power of doctrine is not the belief system, but the belief practice.
Errorless doctrine is a worthy pursuit as long as it is a straining towards relationship with Jesus and not the qualifying boundaries of some religious club. Thorough theology and correct creeds may in and of themselves define biblical truth, but if there is no practice of or relationship with the real TRUTH there is empty religion and the façade of Christian spirituality. Commitment to the Apostles’ doctrine is commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior and each other as family.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear the law cannot give a person life. Only the Spirit can. Ministry that flows from organizational charts, job descriptions or the authority and power of titles will subjugate the congregation not set them free. Reciting liturgy without relationship is meaningless gibberish. But when the Holy Spirit fills the heart with the understanding of who He is, reciting the Apostle’s Creed or praying the Lord's Prayer for the umpteenth time will stir the soul and move the emotions and fill the heart with joy and peace. As the Spirit is invited to illuminate the Word in one’s heart: Bible study is no longer an exercise to gain brownie points, or to argue about some theological pet peeve, crucify someone for his or her unscriptural ways; but a delightful plunge into the water of life with fellow desert dwellers.
Doctrine is accepting His way of living as our own. Doctrine is inviting Him to live out His life in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Doctrine is changing a warped worldly value system for the cultural realities of a new world order. Doctrine is not a list of things unacceptable, but about to whom I belong. King David said, “I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against you” (Psa 119:11 Cev) Head knowledge and and heart knowledge are not the same. David was not talking about memorizing information. He was proclaiming a relationship with God. To accept information as transformation is a devious error for the church to make. The letter kills, the Spirit gives life. Hiding the Word in our hearts is about building a relationship with Jesus through the power of the Spirit.