Doctrine is not a dirty word

 

New Age Christianity Part Ten

Start at the beginning. Read Part One  

Those who are committed to the prophetic movement love to tell those who love the Bible that their theology is getting in the way of their faith and spiritual growth. To them the word “doctrine” has become a dirty word, unless it is an ever-evolving, Darwinian, type of doctrine that morphs with each tasty morsel of new light that proceeds from the mouths of the “prophets.”

   If one chooses to follow the leaders of this movement, the Holy Scriptures must be discarded, because the “new light/present truth” that is continuously spewing forth from the mouths of these apostles and prophets contradicts the written Word of God. The followers of these clouds without water choose to reject what is written in favor of “present truth” spoken by present day oracles.

   When Jesus was tempted, he did not entertain Satan’s seductive offers for a second. He was stubborn in his choice of clinging to what was already written.

   We must be just as stubborn in clinging to the written Word of God as our Lord was.

   Satan had a comeback which many fall for despite Jesus’ example. He too said, “It is written.” Satan can quote scripture quite well, and so can his ministers. If we are not doers of the Word, if we are hearers only, we... will... be... duped!

   We are commanded in the Bible to give attention to doctrine. That means read it, study it, act on it, teach it.

   The Bible says that in the last days, people will not endure sound doctrine.

   What is doctrine?

   Is doctrine that complicated incomprehensible stuff that theologians spend their lives analyzing, obsessing with, writing, and debating about? I hope not! For if that is what it is, I do not want anything to do with it either!

   Fortunately, that is not what doctrine is. The word “doctrine” means instruction. That entails a bit more than simply teaching. However, the Bible says that in the last days, sound doctrine will be despised, and people will heap teachers to themselves—specifically teachers whose words make the hearer feel good.

   That is happening now. The time Paul spoke of in 1 Timothy 4:1 and in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 is upon us in force.

   Biblical doctrine is purely and simply what God has to say about any given subject. And he arranged to have that Written. God also promised that his written word—the Bible—would endure forever, and would be preserved to every generation.

   Notice the Psalmist said the written Word of God would be preserved to every generation—not evolved or edited according to Bill Hamon’s or anyone else’s definition of “present truth.”

The reason for that is two-fold:

   1.) The written Word of God is timeless. It is never outdated. It was written by the great I Am, not by the great I Have Been or the great I Will Be.

   Any “time” with our awesome God (the one who inhabits eternity) is always the present time. Therefore, essentially everything written in the Bible is present truth.

   “Present Truth” has already been written and is contained within the pages of scripture.

    2.) The basic needs of humans, who are created in the image of God, remain the same from generation to generation. There really is nothing new under the sun. 

   What is wrong with being clear about our doctrines, which are simply biblical teachings, instructions, and beliefs?  What is wrong with being clear about the authority we base those beliefs upon?

   Do we base them on the unchangeable, rock-solid, foundation of the written Word of God, which is preserved to every generation? Or do we base them on the words of those who build on sand and change with every wind of Doctrine?

Read Part Eleven HERE

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The New Age Coming to a Church Near You: Andersen, Jocelyn: 9798768047900: Amazon.com: Books 

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