Here’s what brought these thoughts about:\u00a0 I was listening to John MacArthur a couple weeks ago, and he used a personal anecdote where he absolutely ridiculed a lady who was selling homemade quilts.\u00a0 He made fun of her, of her quilts, the way she talked, her husband. . .<\/p>\n
And he prides himself on his doctrine.\u00a0 And he knows far more “Bible” and doctrine than me.\u00a0 But he forgot something along the way.\u00a0 He forgot the goal.<\/p>\n
\n(1 Timothy 1:5 NASB) But the goal<\/strong> of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n
What did we forget on the way to the store?<\/strong>
\nFirst, this is not another unity love-in. . .let’s don’t worry about doctrine. . .doctrine divides so let’s focus on love and worship session. Doctrine is essential to our relationship with God, both in coming to him and in maturing in Jesus Christ.<\/p>\nThe goal of our instruction (our doctrine) is love.
\nThe means and the end are both crucial. I believe we can deduce that to love as God desires that we need proper doctrine. And proper doctrine finds its way to the goal.<\/p>\nWe have let our doctrine lead us off onto a detour of pride.<\/strong>
\nThat is where we miss it when we exalt doctrine above its place; doctrine has a goal. I remember preaching this text several years ago, and a fine man in our church took issue with me. He asked, “If I understand you correctly, then you are saying that love is more important than doctrine?” Yes. That was exactly what I was saying.<\/p>\nI was not saying that doctrine wasn’t important.\u00a0 I was saying that the goal was more important than the way we get there.\u00a0 Both are necessary.<\/p>\n
How can we pride ourselves on doctrine that forgets its goal? <\/strong>
\nHow can we feel good about instruction that does not meet its goal?\u00a0 Too often our goal is only academic.\u00a0 Too often our goal is the study of doctrine.\u00a0 Too often the preacher entertains the audience with his knowledge of doctrine and intellectual savvy.\u00a0 Too often our doctrine is not tested by whether or not it reaches its goal in the eyes of God.<\/p>\nAnd the goal is love.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Here’s what brought these thoughts about:\u00a0 I was listening to John MacArthur a couple weeks ago, and he used a personal anecdote where he absolutely ridiculed a lady who was selling homemade quilts.\u00a0 He made fun of her, of her … Continue reading