Doctrine is essential to the life of the church as food is essential to the life of a body, or as breathing is to the lungs. In the Bible God tells us about who He is, what He has done, what He will do, why we are here, what He expects of us, how we can know Him, and how He wants us to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. He also tells us history, where the world is headed, and how to make sense of life this side of heaven. The Scriptures are filled with all that God intends for us to know in order to be all that He has called us to be.

However, Theological interest and precision has fallen on hard times. Many churches today are more interested in subjective experiences than objective truth. Pastors are becoming social commentators, political pundits, group therapists, and stand-up comedians rather than preachers of righteousness. Clear and convicting sermons are being replaced by short, anecdotal, and non-confrontive homilies.

Sadly, for many it does not matter what the church believes and teaches as long as it is a place where they will feel accepted and tolerated in “non-judgmental love.” Certainly we must be loving, but not at the expense of truth. We must speak the truth in love. It is imperative that we have a commitment to the truth, and recover Biblical authority and its place in the church. Without truth we are like ships without a map or compass, “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Eph 4:14 ).