The word “doctrine” has received a bad name. I once saw a social media comment which captured something of the spirit of the age: “People should spend less time thinking about doctrine and more time actually loving like Jesus did.” 

I get where that person is coming from. If people spend all their time debating the finer points of end-times theories but never do anything to love their neighbour, they are kind of missing the point. 

Having said that, doctrine is of utmost importance. The word itself means ‘teaching,’ or ‘a body of teachings.’ Over time it has come to take on a certain religious weight. But since we are talking about the things of God and his people, that is totally appropriate.

A note in my King James Version Heritage Study Bible says it well: “Bad doctrine leads to bad practice.” If you are unclear about Jesus’ teachings then you are going to be unclear about how to follow him. To take it a step further, bad doctrine is harmful because it steers people away from the specific truth and mercy of God himself.

Doctrine and love are not opposites. They go together. We seek to grow in both grace and knowledge. The apostle highlights how they go together—like friends, not enemies: “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!” (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Grace AND knowledge.

If bad doctrine leads to bad practice, then good doctrine leads to good practice.

Let’s learn and love. God gave us brains and hands–together.

---

Notes:

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.