Built On The Sand Or Built On The Rock?

The Importance of Biblically Faithful Teaching

“Why do we even need doctrinal statements? Why don’t we just believe what the Bible teaches?” The person who asked me this question was serious: Just do away with “theology” and teach what the Bible teaches!

A wonderful-sounding comment, for sure, but very uninformed and very dangerous. True, we all have the same Bible and claim to worship the same God. But to harmonize the Bible’s teachings about the person of Jesus, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the requirements for personal salvation—these, along with a host of other doctrines, lie at the core of Christianity. What is more, such doctrines are often interconnected and if one is misunderstood, the others are soon to follow.

People say they believe in Jesus, but in which Jesus have they believed? Paul was concerned that the believers in Corinth were believing in “another Jesus” who was so much like the real Jesus that the people couldn’t tell the difference (2 Corinthians 11:3). In fact, the false Jesus presented to them by the so-called “super-apostles” was very attractive. But that “Jesus” could not save people from their sins.

So why have doctrinal differences plagued the church throughout its long and winding history? Why can’t we agree about baptism, the meaning of the Lord’s Supper, the sequence of events pertaining to the end times, or even the most important question about our eternal destiny: What must I do to be saved?

The fault is not with the Bible; its contents are rather straightforward. Many doctrinal disagreements are of our own making. But imagine reading the whole Bible for the first time and trying to grasp what it says about God, mankind, angels, Satan, heaven, hell, and salvation. No book or section is a complete treatise on any particular topic. Since it deals with such a vast number of subjects, all of which touch on ultimate issues, we can understand why different interpretations would occur.

Furthermore, the books of the Bible were written in countries and cultures vastly different from our own, and the various books were written over a period of many centuries. This explains why some of the passages might seem obscure, and, of course, we can be tempted to bring our own biases to the text, making the Bible say what we want it to say. For example, human nature being what it is, we might give ourselves a greater role in the matter of our salvation than the Bible allows.

I’ve written a book, Doctrines That Divide—a fresh look at historic doctrines that separate Christians. I wrote it to help readers understand questions I’ve been frequently asked about the person of Christ, particularly issues dividing Catholics and Protestants. I’ve tried to be fair without shying away from controversial issues. It is my most theological book written for thoughtful Christians.

What it comes down to is this: Is our house built on sand or on the rock? This is not a time to be “children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). As has often been said, “It is better to be divided by truth than united in error.”

The Paramount Importance of Correct Bible Doctrine: Knowing What God’s Word Teaches―and What It Does Not

Q & A with Pastor Lutzer

Dr. Erwin Lutzer has sounded the alarm on the dangers of today’s disturbing trend to downplay the need for doctrinally sound Bible teaching in favor of “keeping the peace”. . .

Q: Your book deals with many issues related to Catholicism, such as: “Was Mary the mother of God? Was Peter the first pope? Why can’t we agree on the meaning of the Lord’s Supper?” Let me ask, why was this important to include in your book?

A: When I was the senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, about 20% of all of our new members were converts from Catholicism. Naturally, they wondered how the Catholic doctrine of the papacy developed and why, for example, the Catholic Bible had more books than the Protestant Bible, etc. So, I thought it was very important to explain the origin of these traditions and why the Protestant stance differs from Catholicism.

Q: The reader can’t help but notice you have written four chapters on free will vs. predestination. This, of course, is a matter of controversy in Protestant circles. Why did you devote so much attention to this?

A: Yes, this controversy has often been debated and was the topic of many enthusiastic discussions in the dormitories and classrooms when I was in Bible college, and even later in seminary. There are many nuances in this matter, but believe it or not, it is very relevant to how we understand salvation and our security as a believer. It is not a peripheral subject.

I am the first to admit that the relationship of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility is a puzzling mystery—and no one has the last word on the subject. I come down rather strongly on what is known as the Reformed understanding of salvation. While I don’t agree with everything Reformed theology teaches, I do agree with the complete sovereignty of God in matters of salvation. But before someone reading this puts me into a theological box, I suggest they read all four chapters in Doctrines That Divide!

Q: Do you think the church today has neglected doctrine in favor of “Christianity lite”?

A: Yes, you could put it that way. Now, that being said, when doctrine is taught, it should not be the study of dry academics. Pastors and teachers have to help teach doctrine for the purpose of “life change”; the intention is never just information but transformation. When people see how doctrine relates to their lives, they suddenly realize how vital it is. There was a time when theology was believed to be the “Queen of the Sciences.” I would like to see her crown restored.

Q: Okay, now we have come this far, what doctrines do you think evangelicals have neglected or even ignored today?

A: Oh, my, where shall I begin? I’ll identify just one: Teaching the love of God to the exclusion of the justice and wrath of God. In much preaching today, you’d never get the impression God was angry about anything. Yet, the Bible is filled with descriptions of His wrath and coming judgment. We must urge people to believe in Jesus who saves us “from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Seems to me we have domesticated God; we have pared Him down to manageable proportions. But this generation needs to know, as is often said, “Grace is not sweet till sin is bitter.”

Q: What do you want people to take with them after reading Doctrines That Divide?

A: First, doctrine—biblically sound doctrine—is essential. I fear for those who dismiss doctrine as merely lofty ideas completely unrelated to their lives.

Second, and this is most important to me, even if readers disagree with some things I’ve written about the sovereignty of God, I would want them to worship God with renewed gratitude as they realize that salvation is indeed of the Lord.

The older I get, the more I see God as mysterious, complex, and difficult to understand. But each day, I’m so thankful Jesus has come to reveal God to us. I rejoice in His words, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).