Doctrine Divides?

Have you ever heard the verse “Doctrine divides, but love unites?” You hear it quoted at the pinnacle point of theological disagreement. There’s only one thing wrong with it- it’s not true. If you search your concordance you won’t find it because it is not in the Bible. 

Of course, there are several phrases like this that have come out of the evangelical world, and because of repetition get attributed to the Scriptures but have no chapter or verse. Some are true statements and others are better left unsaid. This is one I have a beef with because of the implications.

I do empathize with the perspective. I Timothy 1:3-7 comes to mind, and I agree that endless debate for its own sake is not helpful, but debate is not the subject I’m addressing. I’m talking about knowing truth. What people generally mean by using the “doctrine divides” statement really just mean, “We’re fighting over something one or both of us have little clarity on and I desperately want to bring resolve to this conversation because one or both of us are being immature, making me feel more confused about the Bible than when we started, and now I just want to punch you in the face.” 

Often without intending to, the one quoting this non-verse is making a statement about Christianity that has no logical end. Why? Because love and the Bible are never at odds with one another, and to buy this statement makes the pendulum swing the other way, causing individuals to feel comfortable under the guise of ”love” to not grow in understanding.

But what defines you as a Christian is your faith in Christ and His word, and believing the words of the Author does not pit you against love because He IS LOVE. We grow in love for God when we grow in the knowledge of Him, and by proximity we grow in love for one another. (See Matthew 22:37-40). If this is not happening when we search the Scriptures, there’s something wrong.

I love how my Christology professor Stephen Venable once said, “Increasingly a methodology  for church growth and unity is being adopted that reduces orthodoxy to the lowest common denominator, stripping it of nearly all doctrinal confessions and preserving a loose, vague code of morality and faith. All across the landscape of Christianity it is thought to be virtuous for one to believe almost nothing at all in the hopes of pleasing as many people as possible.”

This is my exhortation: belief in sound Biblical doctrine is vital to us as believers. If we do not have clarity on a certain subject, it is wisdom and our joy to search out the answer by going deep in the Word and prayer, relying on the Holy Spirit to instruct us and lead us into all truth.  It is WISDOM and a JOY to know the Bible! 

God the Son did not put on flesh forever to rally people around ambiguity.  We were made to know God and He gave us His word for this very purpose.

The Day My Life Actually Did Change… a lot

Since getting engaged I’ve managed to drop off the face of  Cyber space, but I’m hoping to remedy that soon now that wedding plans have relaxed. Spring break also played a role in my disappearance, and since writing is a simultaneous hobby and hassle, I’ve managed to pull the old blog off the proverbial shelf to dust it off a bit and see if I can’t do a little polishing.  

So…. everyone has been asking for my side of the story with how Zack popped the question. He did a splendid job telling his perspective, but I’ll do my best to keep up. It was over a month ago now… Mandie and I were supposed to grab some lame Chinese and a movie for the evening since we both had it off. We met up and as I jumped into the passenger side of her vehicle, which immediately subjects you to a bump on the head and sunglasses hanging in your face, she sighed and looked at me with a weird twinge of a fast approaching confession in her eyes.

“Carrie,” she began. “We’re not going to Peking.” She was referring to the aforementioned food plan. I replied with a tone of confusion and grace. She continued, “We’re going to go shopping…. for a really nice dress for you…. and we might be meeting a boy later.” She waited for me to grasp the implications of her statement.

I think I estimated a likely 52 “oh-my-gosh!” exclamations between getting in the car and reaching the 71 Highway. I had nothing of sense to say, but my “oh-my-gosh” turned into Mandie and me screaming our heads off as I rambled about how shocked I was that Zack was proposing so soon. Yes, I knew it was going to happen, but never did I think on a Thursday, and certainly not for another couple of months.

Mandie and I got to the mall, but only had a few hours to find what I was going to wear and get ready to meet Zack downtown, so we power shopped that beast until I was almost ready to lay on my face in the middle of the food court while I made Mandie find something for me. I mean, ladies, you know how hard it is to shop under pressure for a dress in pre-prom season, right?!

Okay, so finally I found what I needed and we jetted back to Mandie’s apartment so I could get ready. Of course he had to plan all this on the day I’m grunged out. We were running pretty late by this point, and my poor fiance-to-be was getting outrageously antsy.  …But it was worth it. I looked good and he didn’t complain.

Finally, with my heart about to jump out of my esophagus, I arrived at the hotel and was met by the doorman who directed me to the front desk. The ladies freaked out and greeted me with warm and giddy directions to follow a waiter, who escorted me to the crystal ballroom where Zack was waiting with a table, candles, and flowers.

I was shaking with anticipation and ecstatic to see him. We ate some of the best food I have ever experienced and after a while I just couldn’t eat another bite. “I don’t know if I’m stuffed or just done at this point,” was my signal that I couldn’t take the anticipation anymore.

Zack expressed the same sentiment and came around to my side of the table. He knelt down, pulling the little box out of his pocket. With effortless unrehersed sincerity he said so many beautiful things that can be left unexpressed here, and asked for my hand in marriage.

I said yes about thirty times. The rest of the night was consumed with us freaking out and telling everyone we could find. So… that’s my take on it.