THEOLOGY SUPERSEDES METHODOLOGY

Friday 18 October

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Titus 1:9

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Titus 2:1

We live in a world where experience is held higher by the masses than truth. The church largely being a microcosm of what is going on in the world, sadly reflects this ideology. Our methodology or way of doing things must flow from the correct theology or we are just all ‘playing religious games.’

Apostle Paul is speaking to Pastor Titus and he urges him to ‘hold firm to the trustworthy word’. He goes on to say that at a leadership level, there must be a rebuke to ‘those who contradict it.’ We must defend the true gospel at all costs.

It is not the pastors or leaders however who are at fault here. Each leader is a product of the doctrine they have received from those who have gone before them. In all reality, you cannot know what you have never been taught. No person is the problem. The lack of knowledge is the problem. You cannot live beyond the revelation you have. Without the correct doctrine i.e. teaching, you will operate out of ignorance rather than truth.

Apostle Paul carried an authentic gospel message that must be taught, actioned and in many cases rediscovered. He is the same writer who talks about the ‘Word of His grace’ in Acts 20:32 which is a doctrinal verse, confirmed by several other scriptures which is the requirement; two or three ‘witnesses’ to establish doctrinal truth. How then have many strayed from the true gospel message? By methodology devoid of sound doctrinal theology.

Let’s take water baptism as an example to illustrate this point. Jesus was only water baptised to ‘fulfill all righteousness’, (Matthew 3:15) meaning it was to fulfill prophecy that He was indeed the Messiah. Most Christians have the mindset that if Jesus did it must be a Christian’s rite of passage but neglect what Jesus Himself has to say on the matter.

In John 7:38-39 Jesus makes a striking statement that many seem to have missed. He says that out of your (His) belly will flow rivers of living water which signified the Spirit who had not been given because He had not yet been glorified’. Question: Has the Spirit been given and Jesus been glorified? Yes and Yes.

Therefore, the baptism is now of the Spirit and not of water. Why then are we still baptising in water? Someone might say, well the Apostles did in the book of Acts. I wholeheartedly agree. The fact remains though that Acts is not a doctrinal book especially the first 15 chapters as the Jews hadn’t even accepted Gentiles as able to receive salvation yet. The early church was still in its infancy.

Jesus told us expressly the baptism water was only to happen until the Spirit is given. This is why we are baptised into Christ, baptised in the Body which equals being born again and receiving the indwelling of the Spirit. Are you starting to see why water baptism is a practice of Judaism not based on the teaching of Jesus? Selah.

From this we see why doctrine must always determine practice. Our methods will be incorrect if our doctrine is incorrect. Conversely, if we rightly divide truth through sound teaching, we can be effective in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the gospel of the New Testament.

Unless you can find a doctrinal premise for something, don’t practice it. That’s error. If in doubt throw it out!

APPLICATION

Become a student of the Word and don’t just believe what every person tells you is doctrinally correct without doing your due diligence and ‘searching the scriptures to see if these things are so.’