In the introduction of the second chapter of his book What is a Healthy Church

Member, Thabiti Anyabwile writes,

Ignorance of God—ignorance both of His ways and of the practice of
communion with Him—lies at the root of the church’s weakness today.”
That is how J. I. Packer began the 1973 preface of his classic volume
Knowing God. … Too many Christians have neglected their first great
calling: to know their God. Every Christian is meant to be a theologian in
the best and most intimate sense of the word. If churches are to prosper in
health, church members must be committed to being biblical theologians in
whatever capacity they can. That is the second mark of a healthy church
member.
I’m using the term “biblical theology” with two things in mind. First… the
Christian church member who is serious about knowing God is the member
who is committed to what the Bible says about God, because the Bible is
where God tells us about Himself. Second, the biblical theologian is a
person committed to understanding the history of revelation, the grand
themes and doctrines of the bible, and how they fit together. In other
words, healthy church members give themselves to understanding the
unity and progression of the Bible as a whole—not just isolated or favorite
passages.
I would like to confirm those words of Anyabwile by reading the insights from the
book Encouragement for Today’s Pastors (subtitled, “Help from the Puritans”)
authored by Joel Beeke and Terry Slachter. Although this book is intended for
pastors, church members will find many portions of this book very helpful for
them too.

Here is a question. What do you think does it mean to be a theologian? If you

think that it means being a teacher of theology in a seminary or university, then
not all church members should be theologians. But in another sense, all Christians
must be theologians.
Now here is a profound definition of theologian from a 17th century a Puritan
writer named Herman Witsius:
By a theologian, I mean one who, imbued with a substantial knowledge of
divine things derived from the teaching of God Himself, declares and
extols, not in words only, but by the whole course of his life, the wonderful
excellencies of God and thus lives entirely for His glory.
Now how can a church member be “imbued with a substantial knowledge of
divine things derived from the teaching of God Himself”? The answer is by
reading the earnest reading and meditation of the Bible and also by reading
books of sound biblical theology.
Now let us look at what the Bible says regarding these two ideas, that to become
biblical theologians, we need to earnestly read the Bible and also books of sound
theology.
Here is a passage that summarizes why Christians should read the Bible:

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Colossians 1:28—2:7:
28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all
wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil,
struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 1 For I want
you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea
and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be
encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full
assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is
Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I
say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For
though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your
good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 6 Therefore, as you
received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him
and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in
thanksgiving.

Here is a statement from the book Encouragement for Today’s Pastors, quoting
the words of the Puritan writer Herman Witsius:
Our faith must rest in God alone whose Word fills the minds with truth that
is heavenly, pure, solid, certain, without the least mixture of error,
unspeakably sweet, satisfying, penetrating, powerful, and breathing forth
the fragrance of holiness into the soul.
It is obvious that if we are to become biblical theologians we need to read the
Bible itself. But what about the second part that says we also need to read books
of sound theology? Where do you find a support in the Bible for such a principle?
Acts 8:27-35
27 … And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had
come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot,
and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go
over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading
Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “ How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited
Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture
that he was reading was this (Isa 53:7-8):
“ Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “ About whom, I ask you, does the
prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip
opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good
news about Jesus.

Acts 18:24-26
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He
was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been
instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and

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 taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the
baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when
Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him
the way of God more accurately.
Titus 1:9
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be
able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who
contradict it
Eph 4:11-14
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds
and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up
the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children,
tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of
doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
I like what the Puritan Herman Witsius said to the effect that it will be to our peril
if just teach ourselves and fail to learn from the great teachers whom the Spirit
has given to the church through the ages. He said,
We must also not presume to teach ourselves, when “illustrious men in the
Church… have discerned in the Holy Scriptures, have drawn from them,
have committed to writing and placed in the clearest light, many things of
which we, in the thick darkness of this life, would otherwise perhaps, have
remained forever ignorant, unable by our own unassisted powers to
discover them in the mines where they lay hid.” It is unnecessary and often
dangerous to reinvent the wheel in writing our own theology.

In simple words and generally speaking, when you say theology you are simply
talking about the study of bible doctrine.

Here is a general and specific definition of doctrine.

In General
 When you talk of Bible doctrine, you are referring, in general, to teaching
found in the 66 books of the Bible.
 Bible doctrine is God's viewpoint on any and all subjects.
 It is absolute truth and contains no error or distortion of any kind (Ps 19:7-10).
 It has existed eternally with God (Prov. 8:22-31) and it will exist eternally after
the dissolution of all of His creation (Mt 5:18).
Specifically
 But specifically, from the NT epistles, we learn that doctrine means an
unchanging body of teaching by the apostles or their representatives, which is
recorded in Scriptures, for the instruction of Christian churches. Turn to Jude 3
and I want you to look at the word “faith.”
Jude 3 … contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

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 Take note of that term, “faith”. Here in Jude 1:3, it refers to the body of
truth held by believers everywhere, including the gospel and all its
implications. This truth was under attack and had to be defended. This
faith was once for all entrust to the saints, which means that this truth has
finality and is not subject to change. This is referring to the Christian faith,
in contrast to the Moslem faith, the Buddhist faith or even the Jewish faith.
In the OT for example, there were teachings that were more or less
temporary in nature, and more particularly directed to Jews than for
Christian believers. For example, the eating of certain kinds of foods,
Sabbath keeping, etc. The Christian faith however refers to a “body of
truth” that has been generally accepted and has served as a standard of
orthodoxy.

Some Reasons why people are afraid or indifferent of doctrine

1. The erroneous idea that Bible doctrine is for ministers only.
The word “doctrine” itself sounds religious and clerical. Many view it as a
subject that is only for theologians, bible students, or those involved in
ministerial training. Especially when one begins to hear subjects that end with
“ology”, doctrine becomes very intimidating for the ordinary believer. When
ordinary members of the church hear terms like Bibliology, Theology,
Christology, Pneumatology, Angelology, Demonology, Anthropology,
Hamartiology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, Eschatology, do not be afraid. They
are just heavy words to refer to different areas of biblical doctrine.
But the bible teaches that these subjects are not just for ministers but also for
all Christian saints. Including housewives, businessmen, drivers, policemen,
farmers, all believers of all walks of life.
When I was with a group of Christians who visited Korea several years ago,
we went to the largest Methodist church there. We happened to be there
during the Women’s Bible study. There were about 300 women, young and
old, who attended. They were going through the book of Romans. Their
teacher was a theologian.
A biblical example: If you read 1Corinthians, for example, you will read that its
recipients are simple people.
1 Corinthians 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you
were wise according to worldly standards...
And yet the subjects Paul corrected them of involved doctrinal subjects:
 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21-23 For the word of the cross is folly to those who
are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. …
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God
through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to
save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek
wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews
and folly to Gentiles, (This is soteriology.)
 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols,
we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God
but one." 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on
earth--as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"-- 6 yet for
us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for
whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all

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 things and through whom we exist. (That is Theology Proper—the
doctrine of God.)
 The Lord’s Supper in 1Co 11. That is related to Ecclesiology—the
doctrine of the church
 1Co 12-14 is about Spiritual Gifts. That is related to Pneumatology—the
doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
 1Co 15 is about the Resurrection. That is Eschatology—the doctrine of
last things.
2. The erroneous idea that Bible doctrine causes division.
The caricature that is usually presented is that of people who debate over
doctrine in public places and who end up insulting one another and boxing
one another. This is an unfair representation of those who teach Bible
doctrine. The truth is this: those who really know Bible doctrine and do what
they teach will not quarrel and fight.

 They are not argumentative: 2 Timothy 2:24-25 And the Lord's

servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach,
patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness.
God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of
the truth,

 If others do not submit to truth this is what the Christians are told to do:
Titus 3:9-10 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions,
and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and
then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
And so I believe that those who really know doctrine are not quarrelsome.
Those that really know bible doctrine and do what they teach are the most
understanding and peaceful people. They are peacemakers. Because they are
able to distinguish between the minor issues from the major issues, they are
the most irenic people. It is those who do not know how to differentiate
between the essentials and non-essentials who are most quarrelsome
because they fight over petty issues. (E.g. altar call, tongues, mode of
baptism, eternal security, extent of the atonement, clothes, length of hair,
make-up, watching movies, food and beverage, etc.)
Clarification:
There is place for division when differences relate to the essentials of the faith,
particularly those that affect our salvation.

 Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to
you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be
accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is
preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be
accursed.

 Romans 16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause
divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have
been taught; avoid them.
He who is not willing to be separated from those who promote destructive
heresies for peace’s sake are not faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 John 1:9-11 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the
teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has

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 both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring
this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11
for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
3. The erroneous idea that Bible doctrine hinders church growth.
“Church growth” needs to be qualified. What kind of growth are we talking
about? If we are into the “numbers game” which means that the most
important thing in your ministry is to bring as many people into your church
and keep them, whether they are genuine believers or not, then surely,
doctrine will be a hindrance to your church growth. Look at the example of
Christ in John 6:26,51,60,66—
John 6:26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are
seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of
the loaves. … 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If
anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give
for the life of the world is my flesh." … 60 When many of his disciples heard
it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” … 66 After this
many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
Christ was not after numbers. In fact he purposely purged out from his ranks
those with wrong motives by using hard teaching that was difficult for the
insincere to accept.
We should not be surprised if many do not like doctrine. This has been
predicted in Scriptures. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people
will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate
for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from
listening to the truth and wander off into myths.) Let us keep on preaching
doctrine and attract those whom God has called.
However, amazingly, God often causes growth in churches that have been
faithful in teaching doctrine. For example, John MacArthur’s church, Grace
Community Church is the largest evangelical church in Southern California. His
way of preaching is expository and very doctrinal. If you listened to his
preachings more than 40 years ago and compare it with his preachings today,
you will see no difference in style. It is still doctrinal, and their church has
grown to about 8,000 or 10,000.
4. The erroneous idea that Bible doctrine is irrelevant or unimportant.
If we were to ask a group of believers what Bible series they prefer, most
would probably say they want subjects related to practical Christianity that is
directly relevant to their home or business concerns. Many consider bible
doctrine as dry, boring. There are even some pastors who give the impression
that doctrine brings death, and but practical teaching brings life. This is a
subtle deception of Satan. The truth is, the doctrinal position one holds on to,
whether systematic or not, is the basis for one’s thinking and actions.

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The way a church member be “imbued with a substantial knowledge of divine
things derived from the teaching of God Himself” is by the earnest reading,
studying, and meditating of the Bible and also by the reading books of sound
biblical theology.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote in his book Preaching and Preachers:

It is not enough merely that a man should know the Scriptures, he must
know the Scriptures in the sense that he has got out of them the essence
of biblical theology and can grasp it in a systematic manner. He must be so
well versed in this that all his preaching is controlled by it.
Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology

We cannot know what God has revealed in his Word unless we

understand, at least in some good measure, the relation in which the
separate truths therein contained stand to each other.… We have no other
choice in this matter. If we would discharge our duty as teachers and
defenders of the truth, we must endeavor to bring all the facts of
revelation into systematic order and mutual relation. It is only thus that we
can satisfactorily exhibit their truth, vindicate them from objections, or
bring them to bear in their full force on the minds of men.
This is why I suggested to you the reading of Systematic theology, Biblical
theology and historical theology (i.e., church history).

1. Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does
the whole Bible teach us today?” on a given topic. ST focuses on
summarizing each doctrine as it should be understood by present-day
Christians.
2. Biblical theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the
viewpoint of a particular Biblical writer (e.g., John or Paul) or what does a
particular period of history teach on a given topic.
“What does Deuteronomy teach about prayer?” or “What do the
Psalms teach about prayer?” or “What does Isaiah teach about prayer?” or
even, “What does the whole Old Testament teach about prayer and how is
that teaching developed over the history of the Old Testament?” In New
Testament theology one might ask, “What does John’s gospel teach about
prayer?” or “What does Paul teach about prayer?” or even “What does
the New Testament teach about prayer and how is that teaching
developed over the history of the New Testament?”
3. Historical theology provides invaluable insight into the issues, debates,
councils, and creeds in church history. It demonstrates how the teachings
of Scripture have been formulated and shaped into dogmas, creeds, and
confessions of faith. It reveals the constant struggle against error and
unmasks the heresies against which the church has battled and out of
which every important dogma has emerged. Because “there is nothing
new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9) and with heresies of antiquity resurfacing
repeatedly under the guise of “something new,” the study of historical
theology assists in understanding the current scene and prevents falling
into old traps.

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Lloyd-Jones states,
“Church history is invaluable to the preacher.… I would say that Church
history is one of the most essential studies for the preacher were it merely
to show him this terrible danger of slipping into heresy, or into error,
without realizing that anything has happened to him.”(Martyn Lloyd-Jones,
Preaching and Preachers)
Today, I what to share with you the importance of Bible Doctrine.
 The first part is Biblical examples that show the importance of doctrine.
 The second part is How Doctrine (or Biblical Theology) Promotes Health in
a church member?
My format will simply be to put a heading and give some supporting verses from
the Bible. Prepare your minds to listen. Some listeners automatically shut off their
ears when Bible passages are read and only activate them again when the
explanation is given. We should learn to hear directly from the Bible. I find
support for this approach in Romans 3:10-18 and Hebrews 1 where these authors
present a string of verses to support their teaching. Paul instructed Timothy, that
in his absence he must continue not only in teaching and preaching but also in the
public reading of Scripture (1Tim 4:13). And so I think I find support for this
approach in our study. Now, of course I need to be careful that I do not just
present to verses from Scripture taken out of context just to prove my point. That
would be wrong. I should always be faithful to the original intent of the Biblical
author.

I. Biblical examples that show the importance of Doctrine.

A. During the time of Moses, God was concerned that His people should know
the truth and He gave them His Laws. It was so important so that before
Israel entered the Promised land, the Law was repeated. This is the reason
why we have Deuteronomy. Moses specifically said in
 Deuteronomy 4:1 "And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the
rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in
and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your
fathers, is giving you.
 Deuteronomy 4:9 "Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest
you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart
from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your
children and your children's children—
B. The prophets emphasized it.
 Jeremiah 6:16 - 16 Thus says the Lord: “ Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Cf.
 Jer 6:10 - To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear?
Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the
word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in
it
 Jer 6:19 - Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this
people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention
to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it
 Jer 9:13-16 - And the Lord says: “Because they have forsaken my law
that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in

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 accord with it, 14 but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and
have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them. 15 Therefore
thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed this
people with bitter food, and give them poisonous water to drink. 16 I
will scatter them among the nations whom neither they nor their
fathers have known, and I will send the sword after them, until I have
consumed them.
 Jer 9:23-24 - Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his
wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man
boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he
understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices
steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these
things I delight, declares the Lord.
C. Ezra emphasized doctrine:
 Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to
do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
D. Our Lord Jesus emphasized doctrine:
 Matthew 22:29 But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you
know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
 Jn 18:37 Christ said, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I
have come into the world — to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is
of the truth listens to my voice.”
E. The apostle Paul emphasized doctrine to ministers of the gospel.
 1Ti 1:3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus
that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
 1Ti 4:6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good
servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the
good doctrine that you have followed.
 2Ti 3:16—4:4 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 1 I
charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the
living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:2 preach the
word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort,
with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when
people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will
accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will
turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
 Titus 1:9-11 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that
he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke
those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate,
empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11
They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching
for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
 Tit 2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
F. Paul emphasized doctrine to ordinary Christians.
We know how important doctrine is to Paul because when he rebuked the
believers in Corinth he always asked the rhetorical question, “Do you not know?”:
 1 Corinthians 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the
world?...
 1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? …

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  1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit
the kingdom of God? …
 1 Corinthians 6:15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of
Christ?
 1 Corinthians 6:16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a
prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will
become one flesh."
 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

 Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and
admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
G. Predictions as to how people will disregard doctrine in the last days shows
God’s emphasis on doctrine.
One day the disciples of the Lord Jesus came to him privately and asked
about things pertaining to the last days. One of the questions they asked was
“When will be the end of the age and what were the signs related to it?”
Matthew 24:3-5 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to
him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be
the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus
answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come
in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.
Satan knows how important doctrine is so that he does all he can, either to
blind the people from the truth or to introduce his own false doctrines.

 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some
will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits
and teachings of demons)
 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure
sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for
themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away
from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
What is sad is that these false teachings are not just those that come from
outside of the church but these are those that come from within.

 Acts 20:29-31 - I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in
among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves
will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after
them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not
cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
 1Ti 1:3-4 - As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at
Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any
different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless
genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship
from God that is by faith.
 Tit 1:9-11 - He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he
may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those
who contradict it.
 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and
deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be

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 silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful
gain what they ought not to teach.
 2Pe 2:1 - But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will
be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive
heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon
themselves swift destruction.
 Jude 1:3-4 - Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our
common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to
contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For
certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for
this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into
sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Illustrations:
a) I have become aware of the problem of Ecumenism in the church in the
1980s. This was when I read the book of D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones, Knowing
the Times.
b) The next problem in the church that I became aware of was pragmatism in
the 1990s when I read the book of John MacArthur, Ashamed of the
Gospel.
Listen to what John MacArthur said about pragmatism in the church:

Pragmatism is the notion that meaning or worth is determined

by practical consequences. To a pragmatist, if a technique or
course of action has the desired effect, it is good. If it doesn’t
seem to work, it must be wrong.
Nevertheless, an overpowering surge of ardent pragmatism is
sweeping though evangelicalism. Traditional methodology–
most notably preaching—is being discarded or downplayed in
favor of newer means, such as drama, dance, comedy,
variety, side-show histrionics, pop-psychology, and other
entertainment forms. The new methods supposedly are more
“effective”–that is, they draw a bigger crowd. And since for
many the chief criterion for gauging the success of a church
has become attendance figures, whatever pulls in the most
people is accepted without critical analysis as good. That is
pragmatism.(pp. xii-xiii)
Some church leaders evidently think that the four priorities of
the early church–the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the
breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42)–make a lame
agenda for the church in this day and age. Churches are
allowing drama, music, recreation, entertainment, self-help
programs, and similar enterprises to eclipse traditional
Sunday worship and fellowship. In fact, everything seems to
be in fashion in the church today except biblical preaching.
The new pragmatism sees preaching particularly expository
preaching–as passé. Plainly declaring the truth of God’s Word
is regarded as unsophisticated, offensive, and utterly
ineffective. We’re now told we can get better results by first
amusing people or giving them success tips and pop-
psychology, thus wooing them into the fold. Once they feel
comfortable, they’ll be ready to receive biblical truth in small
doses.

Page 12
 Pastors are turning to books on marketing methods in search
of new techniques to help churches grow. Many seminaries
have shifted their pastoral training emphasis from Bible
curriculum and theology to counseling technique and church-
growth theory. All these trends reflect the church’s growing
commitment to pragmatism. (p. xiv.)
c) Here is another church problem that we see in the church which John
MacArthur addressed in his book Charismatic Chaos, and in his recent
book Strange Fire, The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with
Counterfeit Worship. Listen to what he says about this. I will read to you
portions from the Introduction and chapter 1 of the book Strange Fire. I
have taken the liberty to simplify some words so that it will be
understandable to more listeners).
It is ironic that many churches that are supposedly devoted to
honoring and emphasizing the ministry of the Holy Spirit are in fact
treating Him with greatest contempt and condescension. Such
churches have an “unhealthy preoccupation with supposed
manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s power” and yet have “little or
nothing to say about Christ, His atoning work, or the historical facts
of the gospel.” These churches have reduced the Holy Spirit to a
force or a feeling. He is often portrayed as a jolt of electricity, a
tingling, electrifying sensation that spreads all over one’s body. This
false spirit causes people to speak gibberish, bark like dogs or laugh
like hyenas; it knocks people backward to the floor with a wave of a
coat or a hand; it causes involuntary twitching or shaking of body
not unlike the ones that can be seen in members belonging to the
kundalini cults.
YouTube has an endless collection of this portrayal of bizarre
behavior which is unashamedly ascribed to the Holy Spirit. You will
see congregations doing the “Holy Spirit Hokey, Pokey” in their
worship; you have people pretending to inhale the Holy Spirit as if
he were an invisible marijuana to get high; you see women writhing
on the floor mimicking the process of childbirth. You have
evangelists using brutal healing techniques such as punching
women in the stomach, kicking people in the nose and other violent
assaults claiming the Holy Spirit told them to do so. MacArthur
rightly says, “It is all wild nonsense; yet unabashedly attributed to
the Holy Spirit of God, as if He were the author of confusion and the
architect of disorder.”

In these churches, the sovereign Spirit of God is treated as if He

were a slave, a genie or a power to be put to use whatever the
believer wills. As long as you have faith and declare things you will
get whatever you want. Many of the leaders in these churches
promote a prosperity gospel of health, wealth, success and
happiness backing up their false teachings by twisting the
Scriptures or claiming new revelation from God. Some go so far as
to deny the sovereignty of God and assert that believers are little
gods who can speak their worldly desires in to existence. They say,
“God cannot do anything in the earth without human’s permission.”
And “You don't have a God living in you; you are one. You are part
and parcel of God.”
In addition to the things I just mentioned, churches who dishonor
the Holy Spirit make matters worse by the labeling of church
leaders as prophets and apostles, the constant hunt for miracles

Page 13
 and supernatural events, the desire to encounter God in mystical
ways, and the willingness to bypass the mind in worship.
Since Bible doctrine is emphasized in Scripture and even predicts
that the last days will be described as a generation that will be
indifferent to doctrine—shouldn’t we believers today not take
doctrine seriously, and commit ourselves to its study and
application? For our sake, the sake of the church and for the glory
of God, let us take these things to heart and apply them.

II. How Doctrine (or Biblical Theology) Promotes Health in a church

member?

1. Biblical theology provides wisdom for living and helps us to live lives
pleasing to God
Many religious people think that as long as they sincerely do good works or
religious activities for the Lord, that it means that they are pleasing to the
Lord. Remember that the apostle Paul before his conversion was out to
persecute believers of Christ, thinking that what he was doing was for the
cause of God.
 Romans 10:1-2 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them
is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a
zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
2. Doctrine helps us to know, to love, and to have fellowship with God rightly.
 John 14:21,23 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it
is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and
I will love him and manifest myself to him." … 23 Jesus answered him,
"If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our home with him.

3. Doctrine gives substance to faith.

 1 Peter 3:15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always
being prepared to make a defense (apologia-reasoned defense) to
anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it
with gentleness and respect,
God desires our faith to have content—
 Joshua 4:21-24 And he said to the people of Israel, "When your
children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones
mean?' 22 then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over
this Jordan on dry ground.' 23 For the LORD your God dried up the
waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your
God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over,
24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the
LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

4. Doctrine helps remove fears and superstitions.

What practical blessing doctrine brings! We will all be surprised to know how
many people operated their lives from superstition and fear. Elevators with no
13th floors. Friday the 13th. Many are afraid to make decisions because of what
they read in their horoscopes.

 Jeremiah 10:2-3a Thus says the LORD: "Learn not the way of the
nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the

Page 14
 nations are dismayed at them, 3 for the customs of the peoples are
vanity….
 Isaiah 8:20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not
speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
 Deuteronomy 18:9-14 9 "When you come into the land that the LORD
your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable
practices of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you
anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who
practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of
the dead, 12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the
LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is
driving them out before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the
LORD your God, 14 for these nations, which you are about to
dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the
LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.

5. Doctrine helps to detect and confront error.

I’ve said more than enough about this already so I’ll just go quickly to the next
point.
6. Doctrine stabilizes us during times of testing.
 Knowing God is sovereign greatly calms our fears, anxieties, worries.
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can
make them stumble.
 Knowing eschatology comforts us in our griefs (1Th 4:13-18)
 Knowing God’s natures helps us face our financial worries.
Hebrews 13:5-6 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content
with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake
you." 6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear;
what can man do to me?"
 Knowing Christ’s promise of heaven helps us face discouragements (Jn
14:1-3).
 Knowing God’s faithfulness helps us to face temptation (1Co 10:13).
 God’s word helps us to persevere in times of trials and sufferings (Ro
8:28, 37-39)
7. Doctrine helps us to deal with sin in our lives
Some rebuke all sorts of demons: the obese rebuke the demon of
cholesterol, of laziness, or anger, etc. Some say it was transferred to them
by an immoral person who laid his hands over them. Some think that the
solution is always to let God and let go! Some think that all you need is to
praise. Some think that all you need to do is to give your tithes (to my
ministry).
Many take any one of those approaches like a wonder pill as a cure all for all
kinds of sins. But what does the Scriptures teach?
 Psalms 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it
according to your word.
 James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to
you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your
laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

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  Romans 6:11-13 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and
alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your
mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your
members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present
yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life,
and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
 2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing
holiness to completion in the fear of God.
 Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the
desires of the flesh.
 Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which
clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself,
so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
For those reasons, which give glory to God, I exhort all of us to pursue becoming
members who are biblical theologians. Let me close with these words:
If we love Christ we must also love the truth for He is the truth (Jn 14:6) and he
bears witness to the truth. We are saved by believing the Lord Jesus who is the
truth (2 Thess. 2:13). When we trusted in Christ, we have become part of the
church of the living God, which is the pillar and buttress of the truth (1Ti 3:15).
Jude says that we are to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to
the saints.” (Jude 3). And we must keep on trying to learn sound doctrine as the
“unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8). And we are to let the word of Christ
dwell in us richly, so that we can teach and admonish one another in all wisdom.
(Col 3:16).

Page 16
This time, turn to 1 Timothy 3:14-15. Here Paul says,

“I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of
God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the
truth.”
This is the clearest statement you will find in this letter of Paul’s purpose in writing
his first letter to Timothy. But this passage also contains one of the most
important passages in the Bible regarding the nature of the church.

According to 1Ti 3:15, the church is “the household of God, which is the church of
the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

 Pillar – ‘supporting medium,’ post, pillar, prop or support

 Buttress - that which provides a firm base for something, that which has
reinforcing power, that which makes stable, a support, stay, ground, basis,
foundation.
What this means is that local churches must be where people can find the
answers to the questions that baffle mankind as related to life, to man and his
relationship to God and to his fellowman. Those with the great questions of life
should go to believers committed to the local church and receive through them
the answers to their inquiries. They must be directed by the church to the truth
and experience the liberation that bible truth brings.
The church is to be a community of believers where biblical truth is kept safe and
secure from those who distort the truth. It is to exist to be preservers and
guardians and proclaimers of divine truth. The members are to hold the mystery
of the faith with a clear conscience (1Ti 3:9). By the Holy Spirit who dwells within
her, they are to guard the good deposit entrusted to her (2Ti 1:14). They are to
contend for the faith that once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). They are
reject false teaching (1Ti 4:1-5) and false teachers (2Jn 1:7-11), exposing and
refuting those who oppose true doctrine (1Ti 1:19-20; 2Ti 2:16-18; 2Ti 4:14).

Sadly, the fact is that, many members of churches today are just as confused as
those outside of the church.

Someone said, “One of the most serious problems facing the Church in the 21st
century is the problem of Biblical illiteracy. Simply put, most professing Christians
do not possess a sound and coherent understanding of the Bible, beginning with
sound doctrine and general Biblical history. Evidence for this sad reality is quite
overwhelming.” (http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2008/09/Biblical-
Illiteracy.aspx#Article)
Illustration:

From Gary Gilley’s This Little Church Had None, A Church in Search of the Truth.
A recent report entitled Crisis in America’s Churches: Bible Knowledge at
All-Time Low

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  The most widely known Bible verse among adult and teen
believers is: “God helps those who help themselves.”
 Less than one out of every ten believers possesses a biblical
worldview as the basis for his or her decision-making or
behavior.
 When given thirteen basic teachings from the Bible, only 1% of
adult believers firmly embrace all thirteen as being biblical
perspectives.
 Of Baptists (of all kinds) only 34% believe Satan is real; 57%
believe that good works earn heaven; 45% do not believe that
Jesus was sinless, and 34% do not believe the Bible is accurate.
 Only 32% of “born-again” Christians believe in the existence of
absolute moral truth.
In Barna’s most recent study it was discovered that only 9% of
those who claims are born again a biblical worldview. In a later
survey of the clergy it was found that only 51% of Protestant
pastors have a biblical worldview, even by Barna’s minimalist
definition. He states, ‘The low percentage of Christians who have a
biblical worldview is a direct reflection of the fact that half of our
primary religious teachers and leaders do not have one.’ But it gets
worse:
The research also point out that even in church where the
pastor has a biblical worldview, most of the congregants do
not. More than six out of every seven congregants in the
typical church do not share the biblical worldview of their
pastor even when he or she has one.
One of the things that separate the church from all other organizations is
that it is to be the pillar and support of the truth (1Ti 3:15). The
congregation which is not functioning as the support and dispenser of
truth falls short of the biblical criteria for a local church; therefore the
assembly which does not major on truth does not fit the definition of a
New Testament church. Its attendance may be ‘mega,’ its program prolific,
its enthusiasm contagious and its motive honorable, but if it is not the pillar
and support of truth it fails in its job description as a church. Call it a club, a
social gathering, a political-awareness group, a socially concerned
assembly, or an entertainment center but don't call it a church.
How then can we guard ourselves from this deplorable condition? How can
churches become doctrinally based churches again, so that it can be truly said
that it is the pillar and buttress of the truth?

Practical suggestions for developing a biblically theological ministry

1. It has to start from its ministers, its elders or pastors or overseers.

Commitment to doctrine must begin with them.
a. It is their responsibility to oversee and promote sound doctrine.
 Tit 1:9— He [i.e., an elder] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as
taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine
and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
 1Ti 4:16a [A man of God must] Keep a close watch on yourself and on
the teaching.

Page 18
  2Ti 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a
worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of
truth. 16
b. They are tasked to maintain and defend the integrity of the faith.
 1Ti 6:20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you
 2Ti 1:14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit
entrusted to you
c. They should make the promotion of sound doctrine a priority, alert the
church to errors, and lead it back to right teaching.
 2Ti 4:2-4, preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but
having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit
their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and
wander off into myths.
 Acts 20:28-31 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in
which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of
God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my
departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted
things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert,
remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to
admonish every one with tears.
2. Because safeguarding and promotion of Bible doctrine begins with the
elders or pastors, they must be chosen carefully according to standards of
Scriptures.
Common pitfalls in the selection of church leaders include the following:
 Selection based on what the person can do for the reputation of the
church rather than for the transformation of the church.
 Selection based on their performance or status in the world (of business,
government or entertainment).
 Selection based on mere Christian profession, and generous giving.
 Installing them on the basis of expediency and urgency.
Alexander Strauch, “Much of the weakness and waywardness of our churches
is directly due to our failure to insist that church leaders meet God’s
qualifications for leadership in the three general areas of good moral
character, good management of his family and able to teach the word.”
The biblical standard and the qualification for elders or pastors are found in 1Ti
3:2-7; Tit 1:5-9; 1Pe 5:2-3. And one of the most important responsibilities of the
elder or pastor is in Titus 1:9 - He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as
taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also
to rebuke those who contradict it

John MacArthur, The Truth War: “Churches today are often planted by
individuals who are neither doctrinally nor personally qualified for church
leadership. This is frequently done with no oversight by any group of elders
and no accountability to a senior body. Mega churches have been built by
men with strong entrepreneurial skills and weak exegetical skills. As they have
reproduced themselves, the evangelical movement has been flooded with
ministers who are grossly unprepared for ministry and deliberately
undiscerning when it comes to doctrine. Evangelicalism is now dominated by
leaders who regard big numbers as proof of success and divine blessing and
who are convinced that careful doctrinal teaching is actually the enemy of

Page 19
 church growth. No wonder theological chaos now reigns in the evangelical
movement.”
3. Pastors should go back to serious Bible exposition and theological teaching.
a. Pastors must teach themes that are doctrinal and not only "practical" or
"relevant" in nature. For example themes like the attributes of God, the
inspiration, authority, and sufficiency of Scriptures, the gospel, the
incarnation, substitutionary sacrifice and resurrection of Christ. They must
not be afraid to introduce theological terms “atonement,” “propitiation,”
“Trinity,” Sola Scriptura, etc.
And they should go over these fundamental truths with their hearers
more carefully.
And let us not be afraid if at times our preaching will stir our people to
deep thinking rather than stir up emotions, “for the time will come when
men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires,
they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their
itching ears want to hear” (2Ti 4:3).
This however does not mean that doctrine should be preached in the
most dry and boring manner. Preachers should exert all effort to make
their message understandable and interesting. As teachers, they are
communicators. And they should pray for God to help them to preach the
word powerfully and to open the hearts of the hearers to understand and
apply the message.
b. Take note that I did not say that pastors are never to teach any practical
or relevant messages. What I said that they should not be the only themes
that pastors should be teaching. The bible has much practical content. For
example, Paul told Titus in Titus 2:1, “But as for you, teach what accords
with sound doctrine,” and then he immediately addresses the different age
and gender groups inside the church and tells them how they are to
behave. Paul’s typical approach in his letters is this, he first established
doctrine and then he deals with practical matters. And so, for example, in
the book of Romans, Paul first laid the doctrine in the first eleven chapters
and then from Romans chapter 12 to 15 he deals with practical topics such
as…
 How to serve one another (Ro 12:3-8)
 Dealing with people (Ro 12:9-13)
 Handling difficulties and conflict (Ro 12:14-21)
 Attitude and behavior with regard to government (Ro 13:1-7)
 Loving one another (Ro 13:8-10)
 Moral behavior (Ro 13:11-14)
 Relating to those who embrace different opinions from our own
(Ro 14:1-15:6
4. Pastors should have the proper attitude towards doctrine.
a) Pastors should be prayerful when they preach doctrine.
(1) They should pray and encourage their flock to pray that their
teaching would be honored by God.
 2Th 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may
speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, (cf. 1The
1:5 - our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power
and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.)

Page 20
 (2) They should pray that the Holy Spirit would illumine the minds and
hearts of the hearers and that they may live a life worthy of the Lord.
 Eph 1:17-19 [Paul prays] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation
in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts
enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has
called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the
saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power
toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.
 Col 1:9-10— And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to
pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of
his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in
a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in
every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
b) Another attitude: Pastors should have genuine conviction and
enthusiasm towards doctrine.
(1) They should show that they really believe in the importance of
doctrines by their enthusiasm in preaching and teaching.
Act 17:11— Now these Jews were more noble than those in
Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining
the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
If that passage was true for the hearers, how much more for the
preachers. Sadly, churches today, including their pastors, are more
excited in activities such as like sports, picnics, fund raising activities
than preaching and teaching activities.
(2) If pastors have a genuine conviction that doctrine is important then
they should make their church activities more biblically based, or at
least should not contradict any biblical principle.

o For example, their songs should be chosen on the basis of its

doctrinal soundness. I remember during the charismatic fever,
one song that people enjoy singing was “God’s not dead, He is
alive. I can feel Him all over me. I can feel Him in my head, I can
feel Him in the street, etc.” Those who were singing that did not
realize that they were teaching Pantheism!

o We should be careful with the way we pray. Sometimes our

prayers we are jumbled. For example, the worship leader prays,
“Thank you Jesus that you sent the Father to die for our sins. O
Holy Spirit, thank you that you chose us even before the
creation of the world.”
(3) If pastors have a genuine conviction that doctrine is important then
they should encourage their flock to read theological books or
other “solid meat” Christian literature and not just practical “milk”
literature of our times.
We should encourage our people to use references, though being
careful not to be overly dependent on them. John MacArthur, in his
book Truth War, says:
It is becoming more and more common all the time to hear
people say, “I don't read commentaries and books about the

Page 21
 Bible. I limit my study to the Bible itself.” That may sound very
pious, but is it? Isn’t it actually presumptuous? Are the written
legacies of godly men of no value to us? Can someone who
ignore study aids understand the Bible just as well as someone
who is familiar with the scholarship of other godly teachers and
pastors? One textbook on hermeneutics answers the question
this way:
Suppose we select a list of words from Isaiah and ask a man
who claims he can bypass the godly learning of Christian
scholarship if he can out of his own soul or prayer give their
meaning or significance: Tyre, Zidon, Chittim, Sihor, Moab,
Mahershalahashbas, Calno, Carchemish, Hamath, Aiath,
Migron, Michmash, Geba, Anathoth, Laish, Nob, and Gallim.
He will find the only light he can get on these words is from a
commentary or a Bible Dictionary. (Bernard Ramm,
(Protestant Biblical Interpretation, pp. 17-18)

c) Another attitude: Pastors should remember that Bible doctrine should

not be an end in itself. (1Co 8:1 [NIV] Knowledge puffs up, but love builds
up.
Bible doctrine should always lead into something else. Bible doctrine
should always lead to application. Josh 1:8—This Book of the Law shall not
depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that
you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you
will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
We should remember that the ultimate goal of application of the truth is
the glory of God. (1Co 10:31—So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever
you do, do all to the glory of God.)
5. Pastors should be willing to expose false teachers and false teaching.
John MacArthur, in his book, The Truth War, says
Many people have the false idea that Christians should never argue about
anything. We’re not supposed to engage in polemics. I hear this frequently:
“Why don't you just state truth in positive terms and ignore the views you
disagree with? Why not steer clear of controversy, forget the negatives, and
present everything affirmatively.

Martyn Lloyd Jones responded to that kind of a sentiment in this way. He

says, “It is important that we should realize that if we speak like that we are
denying the Scriptures. The Scriptures are full of arguments, full of polemics.”
He went on:
Disapproval of polemics in the Christian Church is a very serious matter.
But that is the attitude of the age in which we live. The prevailing idea
today in many circles is not to bother about these things. As long as we
are all Christians, anyhow, somehow, all is well. Do not let us argue about
doctrine, let us all be Christians together and talk about the love of God.
That is really the whole basis of ecumenicity. Unfortunately, that same
attitude is creeping into evangelical circles also, and many say that we
must not be too precise about these things.
… If you hold that view your are criticizing the Apostle Paul, you are saying
that he was wrong, and at the same time you are criticizing the Scriptures.
The Scriptures argue and debate and dispute; they are full of polemics.

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 Then Lloyd-Jones added this helpful qualifier:
Let us be clear about what we mean. This is not argument for the sake of
argument; this is not a manifestation of an argumentative spirit; this is not
just indulging one’s prejudices. The Scriptures do not approve of that, and
furthermore the Scriptures are very concerned about the spirit in which
one engages in discussion. No man should like argument for the sake of
argument. We should always regret the necessity; but though we regret
and bemoan it, when we feel that a vital matter is at stake we must
engage in argument. We must “earnestly content for the truth,” and we
are called upon to do that by the New Testament.
I also like what Martin Luther said,
If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of
the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the
devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however
boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty
of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is
mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.

6. Churches should restore biblical church discipline

One of the reason that discernment is rare today and apostasy is such a serious
problem is the almost universal failure of the churches to follow Jesus’
instructions in Matthew 18:15-17 on how to deal with sinning church members. If
you see a brother in sin, go to him. Confront him. Try to lift him up, build him up,
strengthen him. Urge him to repent. If he refuses to repent, he must ultimately be
put out of the church. Paul said not even to eat with such a person (1Co 5:11). This
is not to suggest you should treat him like an enemy, but rather that you love him
enough to seek his repentance by whatever means possible. Paul even instructed
the Corinthians to “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh,
that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1Co 5:5).
Jay Adams wrote, “When churches reacted to the abuse of church discipline that
was all too common in the 18th and the 19th centuries by virtually eliminating
church discipline, the broken dike cleared the way for the liberal takeover of the
church and allowed the ways of the world to flood in.” Adams calls the collapse
of church discipline the most obvious reason for the decline of discernment in the
church.
Any believer who teaches false doctrine or rejects the essential doctrines of faith
should be disciplined.
In Titus 1:9–11 Paul wrote that an elder is to be “holding fast the faithful word
which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in
sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” And in 3:10 he urged, “Reject
a factious man after a first and second warning.”

Of course this does not mean that Christians should be censured for failing to
understand and receive every doctrine revealed in the Bible, for all Christians are
learning and growing. Rather, this refers to those who knowingly reject doctrines
the church considers essential.
For pastors and church elders the standard is more rigid, since they are especially
responsible to teach and defend “the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27). They

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are to maintain all the doctrines of the Scripture (especially as embodied in their
church’s creed), and are liable to discipline if they fail to do so:

 Titus 1:13 ESV This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply,
that they may be sound in the faith,

 Galatians 1:8-9 ESV But even if we or an angel from heaven should

preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let
him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If
anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received,
let him be accursed.

 1Ti 1:19-20 …By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed
over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

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