Sharing Doctrine

We are studying doctrine in our Junior High Girl’s Sunday School class.  I’ve written on it several times in the past – here are a few to review at your leisure:  Doctrine, Sound Doctrine, Sound Doctrine (no there’s not an echo, same subject, different time) and Doctrinal Matters.  There are more, but no one wants to hit them all.

As homework, we’ve asked the girls to write down their creed, the summary of their particular set of beliefs representing their faith. This is the fourth week, and none have been turned in.

Yes, they are busy in junior high school – much busier for those in for their first year.  However, I want them to build an understanding not only of what they believe, but why they believe it.

It is fairly simple for young people to memorize what is given to them, repeat it back to their teachers and not understand the basics underlying what they are saying.  We teach children that way for years. They learn to accept authority. One day they will find they can think for themselves yet not understand that all that glitters is not gold.

My goal is for these young ladies to question what I teach them.  To seek the answers beyond lessons spoke and find whether what I say has basis in God’s word.

There are very good orators out there whose messages sound very good, yet not doctrinally sound.  There are scholars who have questioned scriptures and found reason to deny them. I cannot question their reasoning nor their motive, but I pray I can instill a desire for these young ladies to seek answers through God’s word and prayer, as exampled in the suggested memory verse:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

The King James Version has 53 references of ‘scripture’ or ‘scriptures’. Except for one in Daniel, they are in the New Testament and refer to the Tanakh, or what we call the Old Testament.  As part of our doctrine, we need to know why the New Testament authors referred to scriptures and we need to know why they thought prophecies were fulfilled.  We need to rightly divide the word of truth.  We need to know whether these things are so.

My favorite preachers give the gospel message – Jesus, Christ, was given by God to provide salvation through His mercy and grace for all mankind – and explain the consequences of denying His gift.  For me, there is but one testament, from Eden through today, that God is open to and waiting for each one to make the decision to follow His instructions.  A wise man once told anyone who would read and heed:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV)

Centuries later another affirmed:

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:3 KJV)