I have heard people say, "I don't care for doctrine; just give me the Bible." What an astounding statement since all of the Bible is doctrine! The word "doctrine" is defined by Webster as "that which is taught; the principle or principles taught in any branch of knowledge." Young's Analytical Concordance lists 55 references to doctrine in the Bible with various meanings, such as:
Surely those who make such a statement are cognizant of "no doctrine." This simply means that whoever is devoid of doctrine knows nothing of the sovereign God. Sad to say, this is the case of most professing Christians. They, of course, are filled with little pseudo-sayings of the religious hucksters of this age.
The Almighty compares His doctrine to the rain and the dew that falls on the earth and causes growth. There is utterly no way to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ without proper instruction. Why? "Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto your God" (Deut. 32:3).
In the year 1789, when the Sunday School began to be systematically carried on in Wales, "Even little children were affected, astonished and overpowered and their young minds were, day and night, filled with nothing but soul-concerns. Thousands of young people all over-the country had at that time their attention engaged upon divine things. The children were instructed in the following truths . . . the being of God; the doctrine of the Trinity; the inspiration of the scriptures; the Person of Christ as Godman; the Person, work, and titles of the Spirit; the corruption and renewal of the powers of man's soul; the necessity and nature of regeneration; justification; redemption; the names given in Scripture to heaven and hell; the Names given to Christ; the sin of sloth and idleness; etc." (Banner of Truth, Vol. 1, 7th Issue, Page 26).
What do children learn in Sunday School now? Certainly not doctrine! Sunday School now is primarily for that all important attendance record.
If children can be taught the doctrine of God, surely it should put their elders to shame to make the ignorant statement, "I don't care for doctrine." No wonder the churches now are so full of envy, debate, maliciousness, hatred, deceit, whispering, and all-out war among the members! They do not "Publish the Name of the Lord and ascribe greatness unto our God," because they know nothing of the Lord's doctrine "dropping as rain upon the tender herb and as the showers upon the grass" (Deut. 32:2).
Most Baptists and all others are sure that an epistle is the wife of an apostle. Most of the blame for this incredible ignorance shall lie at the feet of preachers who are even more brain numb than their congregations Isaiah 56:10,11, "His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter."
Preacher, remember the words of the Lord in Ezekiel 3:18, "His blood will I require at thine hand," and the instruction of Paul to Timothy in I Timothy 4:16, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save myself and them that hear thee" (from false teaching).
May we all, as God's dear children, honor Him and forsake the gross stupidity of "I don't care for doctrine? just give me the Bible."
"Give attendance to reading, exhortation, and doctrine" (1 Timothy 4:13).