Going To The Authority

I have some ephemera of my own (see yesterday’s post.) This book is one I ran across while simply thinking about downsizing (haven’t done much of that at all.)

The first date I saw on the publishers page was 1971. When I read that, I thought it would have been a book my Mom would buy for me – to encourage growing my faith. But, that referred to a Bible copyright. This book was published in 2001 and is still available. I do not know how it came to me, no inscription inside. Most likely source was a gift from my Secret Prayer Pal at church. Those are wonderful ladies who have impacted my life for close to twenty years.

There’s nothing quite like being involved in a church that is active, growing, diverse, and doctrinally sound. How do you know a church has sound doctrine, try learning from Jesus and Greek words.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29 KJV)

The word translated as “doctrine” in this first New Testament use is the Greek (Strong’s G1322) διδαχή didachē – instruction. It’s from the root (Strong’s G1321) διδάσκω - didaskō – to teach. Thus, “doctrine” to me means teaching. What the Bible teaches us is a full set of instructions. We need to do learn these teachings, sharing them in full as Paul:

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (Acts 20:27 KJV)

For this reason I expect my readers to pick up a Bible and see if I’ve misused any of the scriptures I’ve quoted. They are to be read in context to receive God’s counsel, and that covers thousands of years. Over those years, men have created traditions that have replaced some of God’s counsel.
Jesus gives us examples of this in Matthew’s fifteenth chapter. He answered a question with a question:

But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? (Matthew 15:3 KJV)

Christ ends His teaching – His doctrine – with:

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9 KJV)

Thus we need to read His words to follow the full counsel of God to follow biblical doctrine. We need to read the Bible to understand what and why Christians do while following biblical doctrine. While there are many examples for each of the activities, here are examples:

We meet together regularly:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

We sing during worship: 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16 KJV)

Offerings are taken:

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV)

We invite and listen to missionary speakers:

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. (Acts 17:1-3 KJV)

We have traditions of men, but they certainly aren’t commandments: the times of our meetings; more than one service on Sunday; a mid-week service, special music, musical instruments. We offer bus service, nursery, ladies meetings, scheduled prayer meetings, and more.

What we should not do - and hopefully have not done, or will not do - is add or subtract from the teachings, the instructions, the doctrine given by Jesus, our savior.

Jesus gave only two commandments, confirming all the laws and prophets fit within those two:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

All of the above were thoughts generated by one book filled with stories of women and their faith, their tragedies and their encouragement, their estrangements and their reunions – all the things we experience in life, and survive with God. We’d like for you to share the doctrine – the instruction, the teachings – given by our Lord.