Dogmatized Doctrine.

 

Denominations are all based on a particular denominational and traditional interpretations of the Bible, and each different denominational doctrine is dogmatized, by said denomination.

For the purpose of distinction, I refer to Dogma, as the indisputable core doctrines of Scripture.


Dogma is fixed, nonnegotiable and irrevocable, it cannot be changed. Examples of dogma are: the virgin birth, the inspiration of the original scripture (not translated scriptures known as the Bible), the deity of Christ, creationism, God's love and grace, Christ's death, burial, resurrection and ascension, and the second coming of Christ. If a person does not agree with the dogma of scriptures in my opinion there is grounds for concern.

Though all dogma is doctrine...not all doctrine is dogma.

Doctrine, on the other hand, is a belief that a denomination holds on the truth of a dogma. A doctrine can be right or wrong, God inspired, demon inspired or human inspired. Doctrine should be open for questioning and changed when they do not line up with the life and teachings of Christ.

Dogma is not up for examination; doctrine however, should be examined for its scriptural, cultural,environmental, historical and contextual correctness, before it is claimed as correct and relevant for today.

We are admonished to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18). Growing in "knowledge" of necessity includes learning new truth, examining old truth, and correcting what was erroneously held to be truth. The moment we stop learning, examining, or correcting our doctrine, we stop growing. The dogma of Christ's Second Coming most believers agree on however, the doctrine on the dogma of His second coming, many believers disagree on. There ought to be room for individuality concerning the doctrine on that or any dogma.

I know that doctrines are not easily released once we accept them. It is not necessary to release a doctrine that you hold to just because you hear someone else teach another doctrine that sounds good. Hold strongly to your doctrines because there are many false doctrines out there. But sometimes men hold tenaciously to doctrines for many years, preach those doctrines, write about those doctrines, persuade people of those doctrines, and defend those doctrines until the doctrine becomes, in their minds a dogma. They are no longer willing to submit that doctrine to the searchlight of the Holy Spirit. For anyone to even question that doctrine, is to be viewed as hostile and a trouble maker...and that is sad.

Believers need not be intimidated by asking legitimate questions about denominational doctrines.

Denominations because of the stigma attached to questioning their doctrines are frequently segregated into other denominations by splits because they have turned doctrines into dogmas and cemented them in a constitution that will not allow a person's individuality or to question those denominated doctrines.

They say there are some 3000 segregated denominations each believing they have the correct dogmatized man-made doctrine, and it is fueling the fire of division in the Community of the Redeemed and is causing continued disunity rather than the unification that Christ prayed for and desires.