“I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith.” 1 Timothy 1:3-4

Although there is plenty of room for discussion on minor points there really is only one doctrine for the Church. But, it is the character of the teaching that is crucial. A doctrine can be ‘different’ as much for its purpose as for its content.

Christian doctrine is no mere ‘body of knowledge’, rather it is divine training. Theology is not the same thing as biblical doctrine. It only becomes doctrine when it is applied to the life of the believer.

Jesus’ command to the disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 was to go and make disciples … teaching them to obey. Mere discussion without the intention of changing lifestyle is not Christian doctrine. Christian doctrine, divine training will transform us by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) – divine training producing divine living!

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2003 at 12:00 am and is filed under Devotional. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.