When Doctrine Diverts Devotion
Posted by Rick Frueh on Nov 11th, 2007
2007
Nov 11
Doctrine is important and it forms the basis for what we know about God, but is there a difference between being devoted to Christ Himself and being devoted to a set of doctrines? It is sad to see some so devoted to their doctrines that they seem to lose the humble devotion that should be Christ’s alone. Like being devoted to your wife’s résumé and not her personally, we can get so caught up with our systematic theology, even if true, and lose our devotion to the Risen Christ. I have addressed that at FJL.
November 11th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Rick,
Amen to what you’ve written here. I’ve been learning this lesson lately as well. Doctrinal knowledge does not equal a relationship with Jesus Christ Almighty. There has to be a balance between being ‘fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ’ and worshiping God in “Spirit and Truth”, and “walk[ing] as Jesus did”.
Thanks for your insightful article Rick!
Joe
November 11th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Rick,
What I see more and more clearly is that when you replace living by doctrine… and not the Life of Christ… what Paul stated of Israel becomes true.
“Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.”
Doctrine is very important… but it must come out of a Life Lived and not out of obedience to the letter of the doctrine for then it becomes a law unto itself and becomes works.
be blessed,
iggy