Does Doctrine Divide?

It has been said many times by many people, some of whom are renowned, that doctrine divides God’s people. Wow! Where did that come from? It surely did not come from the Bible. Jesus said that any who would do God’s will would know the doctrine (Jn. 7:17). The apostle Paul commanded believers to avoid those who were contrary to the doctrine he taught (Rom. 16:7). And probably the most telling statement was also made by Paul, to Timothy: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (I Tim. 4:16). This statement I believe shows that doctrine is most likely the most integral element of the Gospel. There is no other such statement in the scriptures about any other element of the Gospel, to say that heeding the doctrine can save us. I might add that the Lord showed me by his Spirit many years ago that it is adherence to right doctrine that produces good fruit in God’s people, whereas spiritual gifts and miracles alone cannot get it done. Paul also noted that anyone who was contrary to the doctrine that he taught was perverse, corrupt, and destitute of the truth; and once again that they should be shunned (I Tim. 6:3-5). No friend, the Spirit of truth and those who know and follow it, believes that the true doctrine of Christ is of utter and absolute importance. In fact the knowledge of the real doctrine of Christ is of enough significance that the same apostle Paul admonished those he wrote to to be sure that the elders who labored in the teaching of that doctrine were sufficiently financially supported (Gal. 6:6-8; I Tim. 5:17,18; I Cor. 9:7-14).

In reality it is the lack of the teaching of the true doctrine of Christ that is the reason for God’s people being so divided from one another, and from the Lord as well. Paul exhorted all believers to strive to achieve "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 3:3). And it’s no coincidence that immediately after that statement he laid down the seven most integral foundational points of the doctrine of Christ (Ep. 4:4-6). Then in the same passage he went on to explain how that the five fold ministry was given to bring the body of Christ into "the unity of the faith,” so that God’s people would not be led astray by those who are teaching erroneous doctrine about the Gospel of Christ (Eph. 4:11-14). It is false, or erroneous doctrine that divides God’s people; and where there is a lack of real Knowledge God’s people are vulnerable to erroneous teaching. So there is a doctrine that is taught by the Spirit, and by those who are speaking what the Spirit is teaching; and if God’s people can ever come into one mind in that doctrine together, then I expect that great works can be done through his body to his glory. Paul continually exhorted God’s people to be in one mind in the doctrine of Christ, and to glorify God by believing and speaking the same [right] things about his Gospel (Rom. 15:6; I Cor. 1:10). The Spirit of God is teaching all of God’s people the same doctrine, it’s just a question of who is keeping their ear close enough to God’s mouth to hear it (Deut. 32:2; Isa. 54:13; Jn. 14:26; Jn. 16:13; I Jn. 2:27; Rev. 2:7). Unfortunately, at this time there are not many. Amen.