Dancing to Doctrine: The Invitation

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.” 

—John 14:1

For many, there is no subject so unattractive, divisive, and distasteful as doctrine (which simply means teaching). In our contemporary society, doctrine is seen as a divisive and dusty thing far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Some churches have dismissed the subject altogether (or at least conveniently downplayed its importance) in fear of turning people away from the faith. While doctrine has been known to unnecessarily divide, that doesn’t mean the subject should be dismissed any more than we should abolish automobiles because some don’t know how to drive properly.

What is needed is a fresh look at doctrine—an opportunity to see with fresh eyes that which builds the structure of belief. I invite you to take a look into the dance of doctrine, to view how biblical truth forms the foundation of the Christian life so that when we apply right doctrine, we move in harmonious flow with the will of the Triune God. The purpose of doctrine is not to educate in order that one may legalistically or critically demean one who holds a differing opinion, or enable the puffing up of pride. Rather, doctrine is an invitation to understand who God is, what He has done, and how we may participate in the life of God. As Kevin J. Vanhoozer so poignantly described it,

“Christian doctrine is necessary for human flourishing: only doctrine shows us who we are, why we are here, and what we are to do. The stereotype of doctrine as dry and dusty cuts a flimsy caricature next to the real thing, which is brave and bracing. Doctrine deals with energies and events that are as real and powerful as anything known in chemistry or physics, energies and events that can turn the world we know upside down, energies and events into which we are grafted as participants with speaking and acting parts.”—Kevin J. Vanhoozer, The Drama of Doctrine, p. xiii.

Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me”—John 14:1. Doctrine is the basis of our belief in God who was, in and through Christ, reconciling the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). And doctrine is the systematic description of our belief being lived out. It is through knowing Christ that we can find the rest that our hearts long for. And doctrine enables us to know Christ better.

Let us view this study of Christ-centered doctrine as an invitation to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) so that God may receive glory and we may increase in joy to the honor and praise of His glorious living-giving name. Amen.