Is Bible Doctrine Important?

Religious liberals are constantly attacking the idea that doctrine is important. They are saying, "Jesus is important-not doctrine" and they seek to promote unity by urging Bible teachers to merely preach Jesus and forget about doctrinal issues, which is asserted to be unimportant.

Nevertheless, if Bible doctrine is not important what is the meaning of the following passage: "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (II John 9-10). It is argued that “the doctrine of Christ” means “the doctrine ABOUT Christ.” It is further suggested that there are no commandments and no law—just love. Yet Paul wrote, “…The things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37b). Paul also wrote, “…Fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). Thus, doctrine is of utmost importance!

The word doctrine means: "instruction, teaching." Therefore, the "doctrine of Christ" is the instruction or teaching that Christ gave, and his personal teaching continues through the teaching of the apostles as they were inspired in their writings (Luke 24:49; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21).

Just how important is the doctrine or teaching of Christ? Paul told Timothy to "give attendance to...doctrine" and "charge some that they teach no other doctrine" (I Tim. 4:13, 16; 1:3). Titus was told to "speak the things which become sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). Paul warned that some "will not endure sound doctrine" (II Tim. 4:3), that we are as "children" when we are "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Eph. 4:14), and to "mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine" (Rom. 16:17). Elders are to be able "by sound doctrine both to exhort and convict the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9). Every Christian is to "hold fast the form of sound words" (doctrine) and "earnestly contend for the faith" (doctrine) (II Timothy 1:13; Jude 3). Therefore, we see not only the importance of doctrine but also the strict warning to anyone who would pervert or change Christ's doctrine.

If doctrine is unimportant, then we can ignore the doctrine of the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the acts of worship and the plan of salvation? Of course, liberals are diligently contending that these doctrines, and others, are not important and that such issues are not worthy of debate. Nevertheless, we should submit to Christ's doctrine, for therein only do we purify our souls (I Pet. 1:22).

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