What is Doctrine?
Increasingly, the word “doctrine” in association with theology or Christianity has seemed to pick up negative baggage.
The 1999 Matt Damon movie “Dogma” presents the idea that believing in and following doctrine “ensures the destruction of one’s inner-being…destroys who we are by inhibiting our actions… by inhibiting our decisions, out of… out of fear of some… some intangible parent figure.”
Most recently, Bill Maher’s pseudo documentary “Religulous” considers religious belief ridiculous and asserts that doctrine ought to be replaced with doubt. In the film Mayer says, “The only appropriate attitude for man to have about the big questions is not the arrogant certitude that is the hallmark of religion, but doubt.”
Likewise, the increasingly popular “Zeitgeist” film claims, “Christianity, along with all other theistic belief systems, is the fraud of the age. It serves to detach the species from the natural world, and likewise, each other. It supports blind submission to authority.”
During my time at PLNU working on my undergrad in religion, I was told by professors that not taking a stance on religious beliefs was wiser and more honorable. To believe in doctrine could only be the result of indoctrination, a weak and blind acceptance of the narrow fundamentalistic views of Christianity.
What are we to think of these ideas? Is there any merit to them? What is doctrine and why has it become so despised?
A Gospel Community (Part 1)
This is the first of a two week series dealing with a theology of community groups. It is both an exegetical treatment of Philippians 1:27 and a systematic treatment of community in the Bible. This sermon was originally preached August 24th, 2008 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Theo 131 – Theology of Finances
“Discovering God’s Way of Handling Money” by Crown Ministries
Gary Warkentin, one of our virtual elders (click here for a bio), teaches this class how to handle our finances according to the Bible. The class consists of watch a short DVD segment, group discussion, and book reading assignments.
There are more than 2,350 verses that address everything you need to know about handling money. The Bible is, indeed, a blueprint for managing your finances. Not only is Discovering God’s Way of Handling Money practical, but in it you will learn the profound impact managing your money has on your relationship with God.
- What does the Bible say about borrowing and lending money?
- How do you evaluate financial counsel from others?
- Is honesty always the best policy?
- How can I know when to give to others?
- How are money and being a godly employee related to each other?
