When people investigate a new church, they usually check out its website. Most church websites include their doctrine, a key factor determining their doctrinal reliability.
But how do we know what is a solid doctrine? What is its definition?
What Is the Simplest Definition of Doctrine?
Generally speaking, doctrine indicates whatever is taught. For instance, Aristotle's doctrines include whatever he taught.
In secular contexts, a doctrine is subjective to its teacher and may be true or false. Biblical doctrine (what the Bible teaches) is completely true because it is written by God, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
What Is the Religious Definition of Doctrine?
Baker’s Theological Dictionary defines biblical doctrine as “the entire body of essential theological truths that define and describe that message.” Doctrine affects Christians practically because of this simple phrase: Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone). Scripture alone is our only final authority for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
As Christians, it is paramount to our witness for Christ as His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) to know what we believe and why we believe it. This is where the essential doctrines of the Christian faith enter. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth as stated in John 16:13-14, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.” Ligonier Ministries informs us because we have the mind of Christ, “we know and believe His thoughts given to us in His Word and confirmed in us by the Holy Spirit.”
What Traits Define Correct Christian Doctrine?
Because of God’s work in us believers, we can discern the truth and, conversely, recognize the error (false doctrine) that doesn’t accord with biblical truth (and therefore correct biblical doctrine). R. C. Sproul says in his book Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, “Idle speculation about God is a fool’s errand. If we wish to know Him in truth, we must rely on what He tells us about Himself.”
Therefore, the following list includes the biblically defined traits of correct Christian doctrine:
- It has its basis in and on the Word of God. Sound biblical doctrine employs no man-centered philosophies or beliefs. Excellent hermeneutics must be used to determine correct doctrine. Three essential rules in biblical exegesis are context, context, and context.
- Christian doctrine is itself centered on Christ. From Genesis 1:1 to the final Amen of Revelation 22:21, the Bible is all about the Lord Jesus Christ—from creation through the Fall to its history toward redemption in Him to the coming culmination of the kingdom (John 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16).
- Doctrine must be biblically pure, with all truth and no sin in it.
- It engages the disciple’s mind in hard, fruitful study. Correct Christian doctrine is not automatically filtered into us; we are required to do our part and to learn from God’s Word to us, that the Bible student would “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
- It is not a people-pleaser in that correct Christian doctrine doesn’t always reveal what we want to hear. The diligent disciple will bear hard truths and submit to God’s discipline (Proverbs 3:11; Jeremiah 7:28; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:7).
- It is centered on the Word of God and not on the traditions of men (Matthew 15:3; Mark 7:8, 13; Colossians 2:8).
- Submission to its commands and teachings will lead one toward a holy life (when coupled with prayer). Jesus told us we disciples will know false teachers by their fruit, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15-16).
- It finds no discrepancies within the whole of the Bible; all parts of sound Christian doctrine rely on the perspicuity and cohesion of Scripture. The Bible is the best interpreter of itself; therefore, the Old Covenant (the Law) and the New Covenant (the Gospel) will never contradict one another.
- Sound Christian doctrine is a picture of grace, mimicking God’s gracious kindness to lead us to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 2:4). Plus, those who espouse sound Christian doctrine will never charge money for its revelation.
How Do We Define Heresy vs. Correct Doctrine?
Heresies are directly mentioned once in the Bible in 2 Peter 2:1, but the Bible has many instructions for us regarding those who foist false doctrine via heresies. Peter describes the heresies as destructive and even denying Christ.
Biblical scholar W. Robert Godfrey defines heresy in the following way, “Some people use the word heresy simply to mean any error or a fairly serious error in theology. But classically the word heresy was used to describe those theological errors so serious that it would deprive one of salvation.” You may ask, however, how can one lose their salvation when the Bible is clear true Christians cannot (Luke 20:36; John 10:28-29; Romans 11:29; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
The second sense in which Dr. Godfrey defines heresy is strictly limited to church tradition and not biblical doctrine. For example, in the medieval period, the Roman Catholic church decided that any opinion that differed from the Catholic church’s teaching (doctrine) was heresy.
The warning about how heresy historically meant anything that deprives people of salvation provides a key point: does the doctrine change how we see the gospel? Writer and theology professor Marc Cortez states, “Within Christianity, [heresy] is any belief or practice that explicitly undermines the gospel. It is a threat to the unity and orthodoxy of the faith, and historically, the identification and condemnation of heresies have played a significant role in shaping the development of Christian theology.”
How Do We Define Blasphemy vs. Correct Doctrine?
As one Christianity.com article explains, “Blasphemy is generally defined as the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things, synonymous with irreverence and disrespect of God or Christ” (Luke 12:10). The passage in Luke speaks to specific blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and the above definition fits because God is Christ is the Holy Spirit (the Trinity).
Jesus tells us blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (Matthew 12:31). In its context, we see the Jewish religious leaders giving credit to Satan for the work of the Holy Spirit.
Peter also addressed blasphemies in 2 Peter 2. In 2 Peter 2:2-3a, he adds blasphemies to his litany of what false teachers would do, “And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.” Blasphemy is a frontal and willful assault against God—taking what rightfully belongs to God and giving credit to the evil ones.
Correct doctrine has Christians abide in Christ and His Word. If we stray from its precepts and make a claim for the devil, which surely and pointedly belongs to the Lord, we commit blasphemy.
Why Is it Important We Know What Defines Correct Doctrine?
Isaiah 7:9b reminds us of an important stance to take as Christians in a world full of shifting sand, “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”
Our pastors, elders, and teachers are held to a stricter standard by virtue of their roles as overseers in the church. Pastor Tom Ascol relates this instruction, “Pastors must be radically committed to teaching the Word of God in all of its fullness and simplicity. This is why Paul repeatedly emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine in his letters to Timothy and Titus on pastoral ministry (1 Timothy 1:3, 10, 4:6, 16, 6:3; 2 Timothy 3:16, 4:3; Titus 1:9, 2:1). This is also why no Christian should settle for anything less.”
Pursuing correct doctrine is an individual and communal activity. As a church, we must take the utmost care to ensure God and His Word are revered and obeyed. To do anything else would open church members to heretical and blasphemous teachings.
How Do We Define and Pursue Correct Doctrine?
When faced with new ideas, we must first look to God’s Word (Psalm 119). It behooves us all to do what Pastor Chris Rosebrough does, “Compare what people are saying in the name of God with the Word of God.” God’s Word warns us about false doctrine; the Bible tells us we are to beware and identify false doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
We are never told this will be an easy process. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary makes an important point in its definition of heresy about why discussing doctrine is complicated: “The Scriptures being the standard of faith, any opinion that is repugnant to its doctrines, is heresy; but as men differ in the interpretation of Scripture, an opinion deemed heretical by one body of Christians, may be deemed orthodox by another.” Herein lies the problem: heresy (and, for that matter, blasphemy) is a moving target based upon differing views of Scripture. So, we recognize that discussing correct doctrine is complicated.
Since we must pursue correct doctrine, we must be willing to make that search a lifelong journey. We must be strong students of the Bible—as the Bereans were praised for being in Acts 17:11. We not only look at the Bible whenever we have questions. We study it regularly to immerse ourselves in truth and cultivate a biblical worldview.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/Oakozhan
This article is part of our Christian Terms catalog, exploring words and phrases of Christian theology and history. Here are some of our most popular articles covering Christian terms to help your journey of knowledge and faith:
The Full Armor of God
The Meaning of "Selah"
What Is Grace? Bible Definition and Christian Quotes
What is Discernment? Bible Meaning and Importance
What Is Prophecy? Bible Meaning and Examples
