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.