Hey siblings in Christ, I struggled to write this post, it’s seen that the subject doctrine has been abused in the church today. Many have the wrong knowledge of the accurate definition of doctrine; doctrine of the church is for the purpose of building believers unto MATURITY.
What is doctrine?
Doctrine is a name given to the exact spiritual knowledge and teachings used to disciple the saints into maturity. You can refer it to be a body of truth or teachings.
Many believers has confused the word doctrine to dogma, this is the reason for the gap amongst denominations, churches and believers. In most churches today, majority of our leaders (Pastors) teach their personal opinion and raise it higher than the bible doctrines. The reason for this phenomenon is their pattern of trainings and dealings with God based on their different callings.
We might well understand that God dealings with us is individual not general.
God has no general dealings with anyone; He deals with us based on our assignment. Those called into the office of teaching may criticize other dimensions and vice versa. If the rod was taken away from Moses, he might probably be useless and powerless same way Solomon’s strength were in His words, he needed no rod.
As a disciple of Solomon you would have criticized the rod, because you’ve been learning dimensions not doctrines. Dimensions are based on the calling of God upon these persons; dimensions cannot make you grow into maturity.
If the teachings you’re been taught what is whether to pay tithe or not/if women are to tie their hair or not etc, be rest assured that you’re not being taught doctrine, it won’t bring anyone into maturity.
So, what have you been learning? Doctrine or Dogma
Dogma is a set of rules arranged by the church to curtail excesses.
Personalized dealings with God are good but they are not to be used as doctrine as well as your personal revelation from God should not be for general consumption.
Doctrines are general.
Ephesians 4:11-12
[11]And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
[12]for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
The word perfect in verse 12 is the word MATURE, it is the intake of the right word that gives rise to maturity, meaning doctrine must be learned and for it to be learned, it has to be taught.
How do we know a doctrine?
1. For any subject to be called a doctrine, it must appear or be represented in the Old Testament in the seed form. This simply means you must have seen it in Genesis to Exodus.
2. It will comes as symbols, types and shadows in the time of Moses
3. The prophet must speak about it in the times of prophecy and promises.
4. It should be seen and taught in the life of Jesus
5. The Apostles should as well teach it in the epistle.
For any subject to be called a doctrine it must pass through these five (5) processes else it’s not a doctrine. Four out of five still won’t make it a doctrine, example of these doctrines are; the gospel of salvation, faith, consecration, repentance… these and more are all doctrine.
Now think on the things you’ve been learning, are they Doctrine?
This blog post is not to make you rebellious when you are being taught in the church, just learn at your level. The church is meant for discipleship; so therefore, you are not being discipled if you are not being taught accurate doctrine.
When souls are won, they are to grow into maturity by being taught accurate doctrine. Doctrine is for the body of Christ and for it to be learned, it has to be taught, this is the curriculum that brings a Christian into maturity.
Isaiah 29:24
[24]These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, And those who complained will learn doctrine.”
When there is massive harvest and there is no proper storage system, the fruits will get bad and become useless. Our problem is not soul winning, it is discipleship. Soul winning without discipleship is a time bomb the church is not ready for.
DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship is gotten from the root word disciple. Disciple was coin out from the word discipline, so a disciple is the one who has gone through discipline but for this course, a disciple is one who accepts and helps in spreading the doctrines of the scriptures.
Matthew 20:18-19
[18]“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death,
[19]and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” Greatness Is Serving
Verse 18, Jesus gives us power. Verse 19, He said win souls. Verses 20, He said, don’t dump them but teach them doctrines.
Many truly want to know God, a lot of people are tired of going to church because our today church no longer point people to know God, they just point them to the pastor and a church pattern. That someone is a Deacon or a Pastor does not mean they know the truth, they probably know only a church dogma.
Believers must be built methodically, meaning that even the doctrines have the ones to be taught before another. Someone who just gave his life to Christ today can’t jump into learning the doctrine of prosperity. In methodology of doctrine, holiness comes before the teachings of prosperity.
You are unstoppable!
Apostle Benny Harry X Uju
Awesome message!