[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Here, as we see, doctrines seem to have carried quite a bit of weight with the Apostle Paul. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I can't help but wonder, just why that is? What is doctrine, and just how important is it/should it be, to Christians today?[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]A lot of people I talk to about this seem to just want to sweep doctrines under the rug, so to speak. Doctrines [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]are being vehemently opposed by a growing number of Christians who claim to be followers of Christ. I have noticed that, often, when I start discussing doctrines, and what the Bible says about them; that people just get angry, restless or irritated. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]For some reason, at the mention of doctrine; perhaps one they don't like, or don't wish to bother with, or don't understand; all I hear is the cry: "Oh, you are getting too doctrinal;" or "we wouldn't want to be too doctrinal now;" or "you should just talk about Jesus instead of getting so doctrinal!" We hear this kind of talk all the time these days. I am sure you know what I am talking about. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]At first glance; or with a superficial glance, this idea of not getting too doctrinal sounds good. With the crayon of "unity;" we just color right over doctrines. After all; [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]"we should just talk about Jesus instead of getting so doctrinal." "Then we would all be "united." Is that really how it would go?[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I have thought often about this trend by Christians to downplay doctrines, for the sake of unity, or for the sake of "only talking about Jesus." [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I mean, what could possibly be so bad about doctrine, if the Bible itself talks so much about it, and always in a very positive light too! I have never seen the Bible say one negative thing about doctrine; have you? [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif] As Paul says above in 1 Cor 14:6, [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]DOCTRINE[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] can be used as one of the [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]EVIDENCES[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] for Christian principles. In other words; each doctrine, if it is a true Christian doctrine is central to "Christ and Him crucified." A Christian doctrine will say something about Christ, and Him crucified:[/FONT]