Doctrine

Doctrine (Gr. didache – denotes teaching, that which is taught, the act of teaching). It's a loaded word these days, isn't it? It's a word that people often try to shy away from. A word that people don't like to hear. A word that people don't want to use. And often someone says something like, “Just preach the gospel, and less doctrine.” Let us then consider what the Bible has to say about doctrine, and use that as our guide.

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

I Timothy 4:13-16

Paul, in giving instructions to Timothy on preaching and teaching, exhorts him to spend time teaching and following doctrine. In fact, there are more occurrences of the term “doctrine” in Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus, in instructing what to teach, than in any other section of scripture. This seems to indicate that understanding and teaching doctrine is pretty important. If it was important for Paul, Timothy, and Titus, it is important for us as well.
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Titus 1:9

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42

The early Christians continued in the doctrine taught by the apostles. If you recall, the apostles taught what Christ had taught (Matthew 28:18-20) and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They certainly didn't shy away from such things. And neither did the early Christians as they continued in fellowship. They observed proper doctrine. So must we.
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

I Timothy 10:10-11

This is another interesting passage: doctrine and the gospel are tied together. Sound doctrine is according to, and included in, the gospel. They cannot be separated. Doctrine, whether on salvation, worship, marriage, fellowship, or any other topic, is a part of gospel. If we reject the doctrine of Christ and the apostles, we reject part of the gospel of Christ. If we turn away from the gospel, we find ourselves in opposition to God (Galatians 1:6-9).

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Ephesians 4:13-14

We see three things in this passage in dealing with the subject at hand. First, doctrine is necessary for having unity in the faith. Second, that a mature Christian has knowledge of doctrine. Third, it is possible to follow after false doctrine. God gave one doctrine, and one doctrine only. We must adhere to it.

Doctrine was important to Christians from the very beginning. The doctrine, the teachings, of Christ and those men who the Holy Spirit worked through to give us the scriptures, must be important to us as well. We cannot turn from it. We must strive to know it. We must strive to follow it. We must strive to teach it.