DEC 2

1 Timothy 4:6-7
Memorise 1 Timothy 6:20
“avoiding profane and vain babblings…”  

Doctrine is a principle or truth, and in essence the Bible in its entirety is doctrine. The pastor is the spiritual head of the church. When he defends doctrine, he is defending the Word of God. However, the requirements to fulfill to be an exemplary minister are twofold. Not only must Timothy “put the people in remembrance” of doctrine by the public and private teaching of the people the Word, he must also refuse ‘profane’ – worldly, irreverent ‘fables’ – fictitious stories and beliefs. To refuse something is not a passive act, but conscious and active. He must preach the correct doctrines and expose those that are incorrect. This is what it means to defend. As Timothy himself was well nourished in the faith by his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, now as a minister he must nourish the flock he has been entrusted with. To be truly nourished, one must not only consume what is good, but also abstain from what is bad and detrimental. The result is godliness. Just as we never cease to need physical nourishment until we die, spiritual feeding and defense is a continuous duty for the pastor. Furthermore, consider our adversary Satan. He is the author and master of profane old wives’ fables – worldly lies. Most certainly he will not rest, and therefore the pastor must be strong in the defense of the faith. 

The problem of ‘fables’ is a problem that continues to plague the church today. The best way to destroy the church is to attack doctrine – God’s truth. Satan is wily and mixes truth with error so that it resembles truth. The church cannot protect herself from corruption by her own might, the world’s methods or philosophies. Doctrine is the only antidote to sin, apostasy and falsehood. It exposes error and false teachers. Satan abhors it. A church that knows what truth and error are is better armed than one that just knows what truth is but is ignorant of error, or vice versa. Often Christians and churches lacking doctrine will label fundamentalists as unkind, unloving and obsessed with doctrines. They choose rather to focus on good works and positive doctrines and purport to be more godly. Doctrines are truths from God and set out a pattern for which Christians should follow, the result of which is godliness. If a church has no doctrine, how can it be godly and holy? And if it is not, what purpose does it serve in this world? 

Thought: Should we point out the doctrinal errors of friends and their churches? Is there a right way of doing so?
Prayer: May my pastor and church always faithfully preach and defend the entire Word of God.