The Importance Of Sound Doctrine In The Church

Sound doctrine is instructions, knowledge, teachings or content of what is taught by a church through Scripture.

The word "sound" here means healthy or good. Doctrine means a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.The bible teaches us about a healthy or good doctrine.

I grew up in a strict church. Men were not allow to have beards or goatee. Women were not allow to cut their hair and wear pants. All year long they wore dresses or skirts. No jewelry was allow only a marriage ring. We were taught that was the sound doctrine.

Many church denominations have their interpretation of sound doctrine. I have heard many people ask, "Is that a church of sound doctrine?" In Spanish is called, "Sana Doctrina" (Sound Doctrine).

They are referring to the way they dress and look. Many denominations believe that the sound doctrine is about an outer appearance. They say, "we have to look different than the world". According to certain denominations, that is the only way to distinct ourselves from everyone else.

Every church have their doctrine or teaching, but do they teach the sound doctrine. The true sound doctrine is not taught as often anymore.

The sound doctrine is part of our foundation as Christians. Christianity should not be a tradition. Christianity should be about teachings not about feelings. What Jesus taught was a sound doctrine.

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

Christianity without sound doctrine is just another religious practice with empty tradition, emotional, and legalistic or a meaningless list of rules. This is how most people view it today. This should tell us something.

Titus 1:9 says, "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."

Throughout the bible, we see that GOD was concern about the heart of men. Sound doctrine has been taught since the old testament. The behavior of men and women was out of control.

Sound doctrine is about our conduct.The way you dress and the way you conduct yourself are two different things. In 1 Timothy 4:3 says, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

You can hide who you are by the way you dress, but there is always someone watching the way you behave. Clothing can be very deceiving. If you have been taught the true sound doctrine it will reflect in your character.

Titus 2:2-5 says, Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

I now realize that our conduct plays a huge role in our Christian walk. I, once thought that as long as I look different I am okay. Many people are worrying about how they look and others are making sure that they please GOD with their heart. Sound doctrine is about being self-controlled, loving, being good to one another, patient and full of faith.

Titus 2:6-11, Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Bond servants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

As Christians supposed to represent Jesus. The sound doctrine is a teaching that helps you mature in GOD. Paul is telling us that we should live our lives sincere. Most churches condemn you when you don't know how to act right, but yet they don't teach sound doctrine Our youth have a lot of questions. They want to know what is right or wrong.

It is a shame that many of the adults don't know the sound doctrine. They let themselves be guided by other people instead of actually opening their bibles. The bibles teaches everything you need to know about sound doctrine.

Titus 2:11-14 says, For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

GOD has called us to turn away from our wicked ways. Don't do harm to anyone. The sound doctrine is about loving GOD, ourselves and others. GOD does not want us to mistreat our bodies.

Titus 2:15 says, Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Paul want us to teach the sound doctrine. Chapter 2 in the book of Titus is very clear about sound doctrine. In chapter 1, shows that not only to teach the sound doctrine, but as a teacher or leader you must live in sound doctrine.

Our churches should major on sound doctrine like this and not be divided over disagreements about the return of Christ, or over doctrines of tongues or the rapture, or predestination, or any other superficial topic, we could actually live out true sound doctrine as Paul describes.

We have fight over doctrines because we allow them to become more important than the unity. Jesus Christ is what makes us one not our agreements on freewill, or using the same bible, or agreements of baptism. Christ is more than enough for us to be one.

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." (John 13:14-15)

Sound doctrine is important because there is a specific message that we need to deliver. Through our conduct and behavior we can change lives. What we believe in affects what we do.

We should be an imitator of Christ. Keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example Jesus left. Practice the things that you have learned and received about the sound doctrine and GOD will be with you.

"For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate." (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7)

"Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God." (3 John 1:11)