I Must Have A Doctrine?
In response to those who tell me that I must have a "doctrine" and that it is important to a Christian and one cannot be saved without it...
My first response is; "Huh?".
Ok, so that may not be the most intelligent response....
But really, using more words and adding to the simplicity of Christ isn't the most intelligent response, either!
Why can't we have the simplicity of Christ?
But I fear, lest by any means,
as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Cor 11:3 KJV
Main Entry: doc·trine
Well, I gotta skip this one since it's no longer in use ("archaic"). Next....
2 a : something that is taught
Wrong! Christianity is Someone, not something and that Someone is Christ!
You'll remember, friends,
that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke,
I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy.
I deliberately kept it plain and simple:
first Jesus and who he is;
then Jesus and what he did--Jesus crucified.
1 Cor 2:1-2 The Message
b : a principle or position or the body of principles
in a branch of knowledge or system of belief : dogma
Ok, so that's simple enough!
While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations
and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom,
we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified.
Jews treat this like an anti-miracle--and Greeks pass it off as absurd.
But to us who are personally called by God himself--both Jews and Greeks--Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 The Message
c : a principle of law established through past decisions
Too many religions go by this one! But the Bible says:
Howbeit in vain do they worship me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
For laying aside the commandment of God,
For laying aside the commandment of God,
ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups:
and many other such like things ye do.
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God,
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God,
that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mark 7:7-9 KJV
d : a statement of fundamental government policy
especially in international relations
I'm pretty sure that this definition has nothing to do with the Church! But just in case.....
Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk.
They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything.
They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings.
But that's not the way of Christ.
Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly.
You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him.
Colossians 2:8-9 The Message
If it's still important to folks to know my "doctrine",
I'll quote from a former Muslim to sum it all up:
"The important thing is not how we worship
or what words we use,
or what tags we tie on,
but do we love our neighbors?
Are we guided by His Holy Spirit?
Do we obey Him implicitly?
Do we weep for those who do not know Christ?
Do we long to share our knowledge of Him?"
~Bilquis Sheikh
from: I Dared to Call Him Father
That is my doctrine!
posted by Michele | 7:03 AM
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