We as Christians are always criticized even by other Christians when we take a firm stance on doctrine. Biblical doctrine for many is harsh, inflexible, graceless and antiquated. Nothing could be further from the truth. Without Holy scripture as our guide, we are in a tangled theological wilderness with no light to illuminate our path. This ignorance opens the door to numerous vain philosophies that twists our minds and perverts our purpose.
Sadly, these vain philosophies run rampant in Churches today. Why? 1) False teaching from the pulpit. When the blind (inept preacher) leads the blind (naive parishioner) as Jesus said they will into fall into a ditch - an abyss of ignorance shame and disgrace (Matthew 15:4). 2) Baby Christians ape what they hear from their Pastors as divine revelation so they merchandise these messages to those they know instead of being like the noble Berean to search the scriptures daily to prove what they are hearing is true, or false (Acts 17:11). I know what I am talking about. In my naïveté I aped false teaching for years.
So, how do we strike the absolute necessary yet delicate balance with God’s unchanging word with those who need to hear it? We have to be firm and loving at the same time. No wiggle room is allowed when dealing with God’s absolute truth. We have to tell like it is. This approach seems to many ruthless, arrogant and unloving. What about all the other religions out there? Certainly they have truth too don’t they? Why do you Christians think you’re the only ones that have it right?
Christians didn’t author the Words of God. Did you read that statement carefully? God authored His own words. He supernaturally inspired or breathed out His words out to a few select men throughout antiquity (2 Timothy 3:16). In second Peter we read these words, "the word of prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). God told them what to write and they wrote no more or less than what He commanded.
And the by the way, these men were either eyewitnesses or associates of eyewitnesses of what they wrote.
Other religions / cults do not understand or teach the gospel. Other religions / cults do not have an answer for the atonement of sin. That is the problem of all mankind. The prophet Isaiah told the nation of Israel that yours sins (italics mine) have separated you from your God (Isaiah 59:2). In order for our sins to be washed away and forgiven, we need a mediator, an intercessor, a vicar. Someone who can advocate on our behalf and absorb the punishment for our transgressions that we owe to God (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus Christ was/is now that ongoing perfect sacrifice for mankind's sin. Despite the erroneous view of some who believe that God the Father punishing His Son was "cosmic child abuse" do not understand God's love for us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16). No greater love is there than this that a man would lay down His life for His friends (John 15:13).
Mankind's sinfulness is so egregious and offensive to God that it took the necessity of the spotless, sinless Son of God to be sent from heaven to come and die a sinner's death on our behalf. Sin is a debt owed to God. The payment for sin is bloodshed and death (Romans 6:23). It had to come from someone who was sinless in order for God's wrath to be appeased. Jesus was the only one qualified to fulfill this vicarious sacrifice. He who knew no sin became sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is what scholars call double imputation. We placed our sins on Christ when we believed. He in turn grants us His righteousness like He did with Abraham (Genesis 15:6).
Here is tremendous wisdom from Paul, "who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised for of our justification" (Romans 4:25). Did you catch the import of this one verse? We are the reason salvation is necessary. Ours sins were in the way of having a relationship with the Father. But, because of Jesus Christ being the bridge that we had to cross in order to get to the Father provided the only way for our broken fellowship with the Father to be repaired. Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me (John 14:6).
Immutable doctrine yet with a gentle spirit.
This is the unequivocal gospel we MUST preach to the nations. It is the only gospel that saves the soul.
The Bible is full of grace and truth. Love is never absent from grace and truth, please remember that. The problem is not with the message, but many times with the messenger - the one delivering the message. Why our good is often spoken of as evil is because the person delivering the truth is malicious- they are speaking the truth, but NOT in love like the Bible commands (Ephesians 4:15). This makes God look bad to the world because of the way we sometimes misrepresent him. Those who share the gospel MUST be humble, never looking to condemn a person. The word of God will do that to a guilty sinner on its own. We have to be a mouthpiece of kindness and truthfulness with a burden for the lost person's soul.
Another way to say Immutable doctrine with a gentle spirit is speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). If you want to see these virtues in action, read the gospels that portray the life of Jesus. Read the books of Paul where he explains how to live the Christian life doctrinally. Read the books of Peter, James, Jude and John that also teach how we are to live as Christians in a world that is under the influence of Satan (1 John 5:19).
Contrary to contemporary popular opinion, the gospel is not hate speech, its truth and love speech. Man is dead in sin that is why his thinking is backwards. The gospel is a living breathing organism full of the Spirit of God. God desires to give man life - eternal life, but sinful man is seeking death - everlasting death. How do I know? How about some Old Testament wisdom: There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). King Solomon talking about righteous wisdom personified: "For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord. But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:35-36).
Concluding, the opposite of Immutable Doctrine with a gentle spirit is what the writer call a flabby doctrine with a deceptive spirit -i.e. a person that rejects Biblical truth will turn to fables. Because they are in a church atmosphere, the music is loud and melodic. The person on stage is quoting Bible verses out of context because they are anemic on doctrine, the layperson is emotionally caught up. For them, this is a visitation from the Lord. Their mind is disengaged and the "feel-good" is all that matters to them. They have reached their euphoria for a couple of hours, and they go back home having learned nothing about God's word; even more spiritually deficient than before they entered the building. Friends, we need to care way more about our growth in the Lord than a lame pathetic experience like that! On top of that they are going to beg for your money and lie about the cars, houses, healing and riches you're going to receive in return.
Paul commanded Timothy to:
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, will all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
- 2 Timothy 4:2-4