Your Other Doctrine

I really don’t consider myself to be a writer as much as I simply enjoy sharing my thoughts. I therefore try to express my thoughts as clearly and coherently as possible. Thing is, once you’re a part of some group (like writers), there’s “lingo” that goes along . Not being a writer, the only lingo I can think of is “writer’s block” but I’m sure there are others. The thought that I’m sharing today has been nagging me…I meant to complete the thought weeks ago and just hadn’t been able to seal the deal. I bet writer’s have some cool lingo name for that but….. I digress.

The more I live, the more I learn that most people really have an “other” doctrine. It’s rarely ever brought to the forefront and usually goes about affecting things without much of a ruckus. Your other doctrine is your paradigm, or presuppositions that filter your reality (or any new thing that asserts itself on to your reality). The thing I think we need to be most careful with is how that other doctrine affects “TRUE” doctrine. The Scriptures. For instance, some people have an other doctrine that presupposes GOD IS LOVE in a way that prevents them from having a truly scriptural view of God’s Judgement. They’d say “God is a loving God who couldn’t possibly send people to burn in Hell”. That’s an easy and obvious one, but there are others that are more subtle. Some presuppose people to be basically “good natured” OR another one is that we’re ALL God’s children. These other doctrines run deep and distort true Biblical understanding. At man’s core – we’re ALL not simply fooled into being misguided;

Here’s The Word;

John 3: 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

….and although we are all “creations” of God, we’re NOT all His children

Here’s The Word;

John 3: 9- 10 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Since we rarely hear of “the devil’s children”, probably because it doesn’t make for a good sermon to try and win sinners, this becomes the perfect place for false doctrine to continue to affect things unchallenged. Did you see what I just did right there? – Is that what The Bible says we’re supposed to do - “Win sinners”? or is that an “other” subtle doctrine where we misunderstand our role in sharing the saving Grace of God through truth and love (word and service)? I think the hardest part concerning these other doctrines is admitting that we have them. Not only is it not easy to see many of them because we take so much for granted, but once you do discover them “knowing is only half the battle”: These doctrines become so embedded that it can be really difficult to rearrange your thinking. I remember hearing a guy in Bible Study class say “I just can’t see God as jealous” - His other doctrine over-rode Scripture. So you see that it’s important to take a deep, long look and pray that God would reveal to us and remove our “other” doctrines.

In Him,
Cros

Mine

If you ask someone of their favorite color or song or movie, you’re likely to get someone who has a difficult time narrowing it down to just one answer…but you will get an answer. “Blue”, “Razzamatazz”, and “The Matrix” are mine. Even in these trivial things, we all assume a kind of ownership where these things not only identify us....they affirm us. But truth be told, many of these things change over time. It's possible (even likely in my case) that I may hear my new favorite song tomorrow, or my new favorite movie may be coming soon, and although blue is my favorite color today, it hasn’t always been.

As teenagers,we become very protective of "MINE" - my room was my sanctuary, even though I wasn't helping pay rent or anything. And goodnes! When I worked and recieved MY firt paycheck from MY job, "That money was officially MINE". Now after years of working, paying taxes I still have an affinity for things that are “mine”. My stuff: My house, car, furnishings, fish tank and photo albums or even the laptop I’m typing on right now. These things are mine. But when you really think about it, they’re just as temporary. We hardly ever think of the time aspect of our stuff until we’re faced with the prospect of these things being taken (or otherwise removed from our lives).

So what do we have that’s really ours in a lasting sense? My parents? My children? Sadly, not even these are permanent fixtures as I know one day, even as their dad, I’ll be handing the children over to raise and nurture their own families. As my mom passed on from this life several years ago, I know from hard experience that as deep and meaningful as any personal relationship can be, they’re also subject to change through several possibilities.

Here’s The Word;

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Notice what becomes clear as you search through the Word of God – Christ can be yours in a way that nothing or no one else can. Unchanging and Eternal. That truth surely puts a lot into perspective. I see how futile it is to get wrapped around the axle; identifying and affirming myself or being overly concerned with such temporary stuff. I also have realize that when I allow the peace of God to rule in my heart I’m learning how to embrace something and Someone Who’s eternally mine.



In Him,
Cros