Deeds Not Creeds?

If you are a college student out and about in your new town looking for churches, you may have noticed that doctrine has become a dirty word in some circles. Deeds not creeds, is often a slogan bandied about. At its heart this philosophy boils down to, “We don’t want to get bogged down in technicalities. We just want to be a church.”

This message sounds very appealing to our sinful flesh. It is a license to just be when it comes to Biblical teachings and not have to strain our brain or relationships too much. But how does one get away from doctrine? Every time God speaks, the words that come from His mouth are doctrine. Doctrine is how we define and categorize everything the Bible says. If we did not have doctrine, we would not have the Gospel. If we did not have doctrine, we would not have Jesus. If we did not have doctrine, we would not have salvation. Furthermore, without doctrine, we would not be able to identify false doctrine and be able to avoid those teachings that can damage our faith.

Consider what God himself says on such subjects in Jeremiah 29.

For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? “Therefore,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.”

Doctrine appears to be important to God. It’s not a dirty word. It is how we make sense of His teachings and make sure we are getting His truth rather than a message that scratches ears itching to be placated with pleasant slogans. Such a thing can be challenging, but that challenge is what keeps us searching the scriptures for truth, as the Bereans did in Acts 17.