Doctrine is an unpopular word these days. Comparatively few xtians wish to discuss doctrine. The buzz word of this generation is experience. As the 'charismatic wave' sweeps country after country, these or similar all-too-familiar words will be heard:
"I've been baptized in the Holy Spirit and you haven't. So don't talk to me about doctrine, because I know. The Holy Spirit teaches me all I need to know about doctrine. He shows me what is right and what is wrong. It's experience that counts, not obsolete doctrine."
This is an attempt to set the record straight on the vital issue of DOCTRINE. What is doctrine anyway? The Oxford Dictionary defines the word 'doctrine' as:
'a principle or set of principles and beliefs held by a religious, political or other group.' Archaic. Something taught; a teaching.
Yeshuwah Taught Sound Doctrine!
Strange as it may seem, Yeshuwah haMashiyach only taught doctrine. In fact all instruction is based on 'doctrine,' on a 'set of principles.' I'm sure no religious leader worthy of his position would advocate abandoning his religious principles - doctrine!
But What Is Sound Doctrine?
The answer is: Sound doctrine is the unique set of principles which originated from the 'Elohiym of the Torah, the 'Elohiym of 'Avraham, Yitschaq and Yisra'el. Sound doctrine, in short, is the set of principles by which 'Elohiym rules. They form an integral part of His character; and He alone has the right to define them. Believers may subsequently adopt and teach those principles, but only 'Elohiym has the authority to define them -- because they originated in His mind.
When His Son, Yeshuwah haMashiyach, came to ha’arets He confirmed this fact. He practiced and taught His Father's doctrines - nothing else! All His sermons were based on the ‘principles' He had learned from His Father. They were not His own ideas, they were His Father's. Listen to the Messiah's own testimony:
Yeshuwah answered, "My teaching is not My own. It comes from Him who sent Me. If anyone chooses to do the will of 'Elohiym, he will find out whether My teaching comes from 'Elohiym or whether I speak on My own.”
There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; that very Word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of My own will, but the Father, who sent Me, commanded Me what to say and how to say it. I know that His mitsvah leads to chay l`owlam. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say.
His famous Sermon on the Mount is an example of His Father's doctrine.
When Yeshuwah had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their rabbis of the Torah.
Why is Doctrine so Important?
The answer is, because the principles of 'Elohiym motivate all His actions and mitsvowt. They give us insight into His plans and methods. Consequently, when you study the Torah you are also studying the motivating principles and will of 'Elohiym! You are studying eternal principles which uphold and govern the present and the future universe. No subject could possibly compare with the study of the Torah: because it is the study of the personal will and character of 'Elohiym.
THE TEACHINGS OF MEN
Sad to say, the self-worshipping human mind thought it could do better than 'Elohiym. It began to conceive doctrines of its own. These are called man-made traditions, or doctrines. Yes, believe it or not, man set about to design his own doctrines, principles, laws and standards of morality. It wasn't long before the churches joined in and jettisoned long established Torah principles (teachings) handed down by the nabiy'im and shlachiym of old. The churches adopted the 'teachings of men:' and to each incoming teaching it gave a xtian title. Let me list a few of the teachings the churches adopted from paganism.
Mother and Child Worship: This began in ancient Babel and spread to the ends of the earth.
Xmas: This popular festival came directly from paganism.
Sunday Observance: The weekly rest day of sun-worshipping pagans.
Infant Baptism: Nowhere in the scriptures will you find infants being baptized. Yeshuwah haMashiyach was baptized at the age of 30 years! In Scripture, infants are devoted, adults are baptized.
The Rosary: Another practice adopted from paganism.
The Sign of the Cross: "The same sign of the cross that Rome now worships was used in the Babylonian Mysteries, was applied by Paganism to the same magic purposes, was honoured with the same honours. That which is now called the Christian cross was originally no Christian emblem at all, but the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans and Egyptians - the true original form of the letter T - the initial of the name Tammuz." (The Two Babylons (page 197). This informative book is published by PARTRIDGE and Co. 4 Soho Square, London UK)
These are a few of the man-made teachings the fallen Qahal adopted as it jettisoned the true doctrines of 'Elohiym. It is quite impossible to tell the catastrophic effect this action has already had on the human race. Church leaders thought that by accommodating pagan ideas and teaching it would attract people to its fold. It certainly did: but millions in the churches are still in darkness as far as the truth is concerned. Who knows how many - or few - of these teeming millions will make it to Mamlahket haShamayim!
The result of this tragic policy is that the world is in moral darkness and almost to the point of self-destruction. The churches have rejected the living waters of ha'Emeth and embraced paganism instead. This is the underlying cause of humanity's problems: and this is why most worship - in and out of the churches - is vain and futile! One might compare the 'teachings of men' to spiritual contraceptives. They not only stifle life, but their long term effect is 'virtual impotency' in every sector of human society. Hear the Messiah's words in Mark 7:7 concerning the teachings of men.
These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is worthless; their teachings are but rules taught by men.
What does this verse mean for this generation? It means this: if we attempt to serve the Creator in a way that He has not authorized, no matter how popular or exciting that way may happen to be, our service is in vain, worthless and a total waste of time. We may dance around in Ba'al-like frenzy, we may beat the air, laugh, sing, shout, clap our hands, or collapse in ecstatic delirium: but we will accomplish nothing of any value, no matter how feverishly we work at it. Because the fact is, 'service that is not based on genuine 'emuwnah and obedience to the mitsvowt of 'Elohiym is vain, futile and worthless!' That is what the Scriptures teach!
THE DOCTRINES OF THE NICOLAITANS
False doctrine always leads to chatta'ah; and more often than not to sexual chatta'ah. Indeed that is the very reason why haSatan works so hard at getting mankind to adopt falsehood. But 'Elohiym hates false doctrine. Therefore, no matter how attractive or exciting false doctrine may appear, it must be put out of our lives. Only then will we be able to stand in the Day of Judgment.
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Who are the Nicolaitans? According to the Westminster Dictionary of the Bible (page 427) they were:
"A party or sect in the churches of Ephesus and Pergamos whose practice and doctrine are severely censured. Following the doctrine of Balaam, they taught that Christians were free to eat things offered to idols and to commit the excesses of heathenism, (Rev.2:6, 14,15), contrary to the command issued by the apostolic council held at Jerusalem A.D. 50 (Acts 15:29)... A sect of Nicolaitans existed among the Gnostics of the 3rd century. They too taught the freedom of the flesh ..."
In other words, the Nicolaitans introduced 'sexual freedom' into their service. Their 'man-made teachings,' initially inspired by the false prophet Bil`am, appeared quite harmless at first: but it wasn't long before they were involved in sexual acts which accompanied the worship of Ba`al. Let me repeat: false doctrine always leads to chatta'ah, especially sexual chatta'ah!
THE DOCTRINE OF 'ELOHIYM
The Messiah taught sound doctrine; that is, the spiritual principles He learned from His Father. Never did He conceive a doctrine of His own: though He often needed to magnify, explain and demonstrate His Father's teachings and the mitsvowt based on them. Here is proof of this astonishing fact.
Yeshuwah answered, "My teaching is not My own. It comes from Him who sent Me. If anyone chooses to do the will of 'Elohiym, he will find out whether My teaching comes from 'Elohiym or whether I speak on My own.
So Yeshuwah said, "When you have lifted up the Son, the Man, then you will know that I am the One I claim to be and that I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught Me. The One who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him." Even as He spoke, many put their trust in Him.
The Key to Understanding Sound Doctrine
Sound doctrine is understood by the obedient; by those who really do the Father's will. You have absolutely no chance whatsoever of appreciating the value of true spiritual principles and Divine mitsvowt if you blatantly practice chatta'ah or do not wish to give it up. Only the obedient understand the Father's will.
Go your way, Daniy'el, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Rabiym will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the rasha`iym will continue to be rasha`iym. None of the rasha`iym will understand, but the maskiliym will understand.
If anyone chooses to do the will of 'Elohiym, he will find out whether My teaching comes from 'Elohiym or whether I speak on My own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but He who works for the honor of the One who sent Him is a Man of Truth; there is nothing false about Him.
THE DOCTRINE OF SHEDIYM
Shediym are evil mal'akiym who rebelled against 'Elohiym. They are spirit beings, and they possess enormous powers. In the distant past evil mal'akiym rejected the authority of 'Elohiym and His mitsvowt. Ever since, they have done their utmost to ruin His creation and frustrate His work. The Ruach haQodesh warns us about the increased activity of shediym in the days just prior to the return of Yeshuwah ha Mashiyach to ha’arets.
The Ruach haQodesh clearly says that in later times some will abandon 'emuwnah and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by shediym....They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which 'Elohiym created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know ha'Emeth.
One such doctrine of shediym is 'enforced celibacy.' Another is to 'forbid eating meat.' These two doctrines are widespread in pagan lands, where they originated. They are classified in Scripture as the 'things taught by shediym.' Sad to say, the xtian churches adopted these two doctrines. The tragic consequences of this adoption continues to this day in communities around the world.
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