As a moderator of Christian groups I see lots of doctrines being thrown around, some good, some bad, some ugly. And I find that the ones that are pressed with the most vigor are the ones I see and shake my head because they are ones that are based on one scripture clipped out of context, based on an interpretation of one or two scriptures but ignoring the ones that would indicate this is the wrong interpretation or based on wording in one translation. Often a careful study shows this doctrine to be false but to try to tell the proponents of the doctrine it is false is sheer folly. They can cite each of the scriptures, take them neatly out of context, twist them, fracture them, pervert them and prove their point. They can do it without indicating any shame. In most cases they recite the arguments like one who has been brainwashed and to some degree that is what has happened. They have been brainwashed by teachers having itching ears.
2 Timothy 4 KJV
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
(4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
What are fables? Stories that are not truth. A man I worked with some years ago described someone telling about a hunting trip this way. "They told it the way they wanted it to be not the way it was." And many doctrines are just that, "The way they want it to be, not the way God says."
The most radical teachers usually use this last verse to accuse those who are not "teaching the pure word of God." Translation of that? The person doesn't agree with their form of scriptural slicing and dicing.
Allow me to digress. I am not looking for doctrines to be one hundred percent accurate to embrace them, I just want them to not contradict the truth. I will give an example. I am sure that the doctrine of the trinity is not totally accurate but I am not sure how better to depict the three part being that is the God head. And I am not sure that our finite minds are able to create a perfect doctrine since I have not seen one that is better and the church has had nearly 2000 years to work on it. It may be that the songwriter had it down when he said, "We'll talk it over in the by and by, We'll talk it over, my Lord and I, I'll ask the reason, He'll tell me why." Maybe this is one of those things Paul talked about.
1 Corinthians 13:12 KJVA
(12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Until then I will reject that which is wrong and cling to that which is the best understanding we have.
Another red flag on doctrines that are not good is the boogey man that is always associated the ones who decry the opposing doctrine. They blame politics for dictating church doctrine when that charge cannot be proven. Oh, yes they cite this document or that document but it is hard to get that context out of the document when you read it. It sounds like a good job of research unless you investigate it. An example of this outside of church doctrine is the argument that Texas has the right to leave the U.s. under the treaty that it entered the Union. They cite a treaty of one year that does say that but the treaty written the next year doesn't. The first treaty was a draft that was not ratified, the second was a treaty that was! Guess which one is valid!
The Apostles John and Paul gave several ways to judge doctrine.
1 John 4:3 KJVA
(3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 Corinthians 11 KJVA
(4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
If you go to Romans chapters 10 through 12 you will see the picture that Paul paints of Jesus. From it there can be no doubt what Jesus he preached. For him there was no other Jesus, and that Jesus is consistent through his letters and the letters by Peter, Jude, James and John. It is consistent through the book that causes the big confusion because it is misunderstood by many who teach it, the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. We cannot be far wrong if we like the Greeks in John 12 say, "We would see Jesus." The most profitable teachings I have set under, the most profitable study I have done personally has been that to learn about Jesus. It is not study of the Kingdoms of man to come as some do from Ezekiel or Revelation, or the study of the Jewish feasts, or even the study of the details of the crucifixion. It has been, who is Jesus. And the important thing above all is the question the demonic at Gadara asked, "What have I to do with you Jesus?" Each of us must answer that question. This is the core, this is what the songwriter talked about when he said, "I'm pressing on the upward way, new heights I'm gaining every day." If we desire to grow in the spirit we must put off the carnal.
