Why We Need to Defend Against Bad Doctrine

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with [a]great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2Tim 4:1-7)

In response to a post I made not too long ago someone asked
"Why do we have to defend Bible Doctrine? "

What is Defending Bible Doctrine?

Defending Bible doctrine is acknowledging that something taught or expressed is not in line with what the Bible revels about God, His plan for mankind, or creation, It could be something as small as explaining a Jewish idiom, or bringing into correct context a passage that has been completely misrepresented, or something more extreme like exposing a heretic teaching or rebuking false doctrine.
 

However the only way a Christian can defend Bible Doctrine is if he/she knows Bible Doctrine. This is as much the problem as the False Doctrine we defend against in that much of what the modern day Christian learns as doctrine is not what the Bible teaches at all. Many Christians never learn what the Bible really says on any level, because the only Bible they ever get is the passage taught from on Sunday by their pastor.  When you combine this with TBN and Christian inspirational radio there is no wonder that most Christians have no idea what the Bible says; the fact they never read their Bible, and they get their knowledge of the Bible from heretics of TV and Radio. (Not all Christian Radio or TV is heretic) which makes what most Christians know of their faith simply put, false doctrine, received from false teachers and we believe it’s the truth (2Pet 2:1-3). This is utterly dangerous because;

1. Error in Bible Doctrine can cause us to depart from the faith and believe lies as if they were the truth. (1Tim 4:1-2)
2. Error in Bible Doctrine can  ruining the credibility of Christianity (2Pet 2:1-3); 
3. Error in Bible Doctrine can destroy people's faith (2 Tim 2:17-18)

The Bible teaches that we should be as the Berens, hear the word coming forth, and then test it against the Scriptures.  (Acts 17:11)

The Apostle Peter tells us this is called defending the gospel.  Yet defending the gospel is much more than that. It is ensuring the truth of the gospels is correctly spoken both in the church, on television and radio and even the on the street. But when we defend the gospel, the world hates us and the Christian rebuke us. This is because Sound Doctrine has no place in warm fuzzes, it won't make you happy it will prick your soul (Acts 2:37)

So Why Do We Defend Bible Doctrine?

1. Because the Bible says we should! This is a big problem, in that we have let, (please forgive how I use this word) ignorant Christians teach, or as the Bible says novice instruct. Because they are not able to rightly divide the word (2 Tim 2:15) they leave difficult words and teaching alone. Or which I have seen often as of late, they allow none Christians tell us how to be Christians.
   1Peter 3:15 says “…and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” That verse is called an Apologia (I actually wanted that word as the license plate of my car but it had too many letters.) And Apologia means to defend.  We see this over and over in the Bible but we ignore it because it's difficult. Moreover it is much easier to come to church on Sunday as an emotional bag of bones than to do as Jesus required, which is take his yoke and learn of Him.
   
   Consider some of the more important places we find apologia.
• always being prepared to make a “defense (Apologia)” to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 1pet 3:15
• In Philippians 1:17 Paul says he is set for the defense(Apologia) of the gospel
• Jude 1:3   Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
  Strong’s lexicon and Vine’ Expository Dictionary explains contend not much removed from defend in this way, Contending signifies to contend about a thing as a combatant, The word "earnestly" is added to convey the intensive force of the preposition..

2. Now think of this, if we do not defend the gospel or Doctrine, than it will quickly become perverted and soon people will say what they think the bible says. However, when we defend the Gospel and Doctrine, it make sense on a natural level and people can come to God form a place on intelligence. In the post-modern world that we live in our Gospel can’t seem like a collection of superstition facts and folklore, God has to make sense. And when God makes sense to this generation they come to God. More importantly Jesus tells us that in the times when people accost us with the invalidity of the Bible that He will give us the answer (Luke 21:10-16)

Conclusion; 

Defending the Doctrine of the Bible is required by the Bible; it is expected of the believer.  When we do, we hold False Teacher accountable to the Bible, We present ourselves before God a workmen able to rightly divide the word of God, When we do we are infused with a knowledge greater than we would otherwise have.

Your Brother in Christ

T.Charves FireSpeaks

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