Sound Doctrine?
The teaching of the Bible is what gives the church substance and identity. The Christian faith is based upon a specific message—the life and teachings of Jesus. Some will claim that doctrine doesn’t matter, that we should just try and live like Jesus. Ironically, this very statement is a doctrine: salvation by your works (which is anti-gospel). The word doctrine simply means “teaching.” Everyone espouses some type of teaching, so belief in doctrine is unavoidable. Paul charges Titus to “teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). The word translated “sound” here literally means “health-producing.” Everyone believes in some type of teaching (doctrine). But the issue is whether the doctrine you believe is holistic and brings spiritual health or is it disordered and brings spiritual disease. So how can we sort out sound (healthy) doctrine from doctrine that is unhealthy?
Sound doctrine is not equal with tradition.Just because a teaching is not something I have traditionally heard does not mean it is unhealthy. Sometimes our religious traditions actually blind us from hearing and following the life-giving commands of God (Mark 7:1-9).
Sound doctrine is not equal with my comfort.It is easy to label something “unsound” if it makes me uncomfortable and challenges my preconceptions. Some of Jesus’ teaching made people feel very uncomfortable, yet it was healthy and sound (John 6:60-66). Sound doctrine does not always align with what I want to hear (2 Tim. 4:3).
Sound doctrine is not about posturing.One of the dangers of knowledge (from doctrine) is that it can be used arrogantly as a means of proving “I’m right” and “you are wrong.” Such an abuse of doctrine actually subverts its very purpose by creating dissention instead of bringing loving, spiritual health to people (1 Cor. 8:1-3).
Sound doctrine does not mean uniformity on every issue.Some teachings of Scripture are spelled out quite clearly while other matters are open to interpretation. Our common relationship with Jesus is the basis of our unity, and therefore we can differ without dividing (Rom. 14:1-15:7). We unite upon the essentials of our faith (Eph. 4:4-6), while maintaining harmony by accepting each other with humility and love on all other issues (Eph. 4:2-3). We can have civil discussion about our differences without having discord.
Sound doctrine involves having the right spirit.If we are right on principle but wrong in attitude, we are wrong. Healthy doctrine involves our attitude toward others. A quarrelsome demeanor is not spiritually healthy (2 Tim. 2:24-25). Truth must always be communicated with love and grace (Eph. 4:15; Col. 4:6).
Sound doctrine is not just what I believe, but how I live.Sound doctrine has as much to do with our behavior as it does our beliefs (1 Tim. 1:1-11). Healthy teaching planted in the heart of a person brings about healthy behavior. But diseased doctrine results in a person who has strong convictions of beliefs but those beliefs do not produce a fruitful and healthy spiritual life.
Sound doctrine prioritizes relationships.More than just religious forms and procedures, sound doctrine includes having healthy relationships (Titus 2:1-15). A person can maintain orthodox doctrinal convictions but be “unsound” spiritually in the way they treat others.
Sound doctrine always elevates grace.The healthiest doctrine of all is the message of grace presented in the gospel. Sound doctrine always “conforms to the gospel” (1 Tim. 1:11). You can know that a doctrine is unsound if it perverts, distorts, deemphasizes or hybridizes the gospel of grace (Gal. 1:11-12). A religious doctrine that enslaves and robs freedom in Christ is unhealthy (Gal. 5:1).
Wrong doctrine will eat away at spiritual health. We must not only receive wholesome teaching, but we must connect that teaching to our lives in order to be spiritually fit. Life in the church must be characterized by nourishing instruction that makes people spiritually healthy. To be spiritually healthy means being personally and increasingly transformed by God’s truth into the image of Christ by your daily behavior, attitude, demeanor, and thoughts. Sound doctrine is teaching that produces spiritual health
