Mention the word “doctrine” among some church people, and you will get a dirty look. There are those who treat doctrine as if it were a bad word. They hold idea that “It really doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere.” To them, doctrine is not “politically correct.” This notion is very dangerous, as it undermines authority of God’s Word.

Except for the Book of Philemon, every Book in the New Testament contains some sort of exhortation to pursue sound doctrine. Scripture also tells us that a person who does not have the doctrine of Christ does not have God (2 John 9,) and that a person who teaches doctrine contrary to that of the apostles is to be accursed (Galatians 1:9!) That is pretty strong language! To say that doctrine is not important is to say that God is not important. God is doctrine, and He relates to His people based on that doctrine. What we believe ABOUT God’s doctrine has everything to do with how we relate TO God.

Jesus understood this when He said, “My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine...” (John 7:16, 17a).