Few people realize that ideas have consequences. Sometimes, I hear Christian’s say “I don’t want to study doctrine, I want to study the things that I deal with in day to day living.” That sounds good but the fact is people live the way they think. It is not enough to merely talk about how we ought to act in this or that situation. We need to understand the underlying motives. If you look at the writings of Paul, you will see that he spent much of his time on doctrinal truths. Every doctrinal teaching has a “therefore” that applies directly to Christian living. But rob the house of its foundation and it soon falls: “Being good for goodness sake” may work around Christmas time, but if it is not bolstered by an understanding of what’s behind it, it will wear thin after awhile. It is not enough to know that racial prejudice is sinful. We should also understand that all men were created equal and that the reason for that is the Creator is just. Things are not right because we all agree that they are right; they right because they are right. This is Just-A-Minute with Ed Boggess
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Ed Boggess
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Don Ruhl 9:57 am on June 1, 2012 Permalink |
I like the part where you say, “people live the way they think.” Jesus said, “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt 12.34). Later, He said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man” (Matt 15.18). And Solomon declared centuries before, ” Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Pro 4.23).
Therefore, you are correct that doctrine matters!