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'You can believe in whatsoever you like, but the truth remains the truth, no matter how sweet the lie may taste.' - Michael Bassey Johnson

Doctrine (teachings) can carry a powerful influence. They are often presented with authority and can even press in on one if made with clever speech or compelling power. Like a powerful tidal current it can draw some into its conformity. This was what happened to Peter and Barnabas. They found it difficult to resist the social power of those carrying the doctrines of the Pharisees.

There are those who tout their intellectual accomplishments plumbing the depths of arcane writings to summon the power of bluster to bully others into compliance with their doctrines. While many on this path of elevating their own reason stop at the smug sense of superiority of the Pharisees, historically many completely left Christianity on the progressive path of Renaissance humanism, enlightenment, down to the liberalism of today.

Doctrine (teachings) can come from a humble heart seeking to point the way to a closer walk with God or they can come from one whose credentials and accomplishments testify to the approval of men. We know that there will be false teachers.

The Christian is well advised to avoid being taken in by often loudly and forcefully presented claims (doctrines) that may be misleading. The Bereans give us a good example of how to consider the seeming avalanche of doctrinal claims.

One of the hallmark characteristics of unhealthy doctrine is its presentation as something that has to be accepted. Truth is the only thing that can withstand scrutiny. The Christian has the advantage of the Spirit of truth.

Here again Christianity administered as an organizational system runs into problems. A system will maintain a doctrinal 'package' that is essentially inviolate. Some churches have a package that is closer to truth than others. While the question of how accurate a particular 'package' is remains, there is a larger problem.

Much of Christianity has lost the understanding that teaching (doctrine) is supposed to accomplish changes in the lives of its members. This relational engagement all too often has been replaced with lectures reiterating doctrinal dictums that seem abstract and have little traction in the actual life of a believer.

This may be that like the teacher who blames the student for failing, the church often blames its members for failing to figure out how to apply the word to their own lives. In all fairness, some church leaders have a sincere desire to aid their members in spiritual growth or recovery from fleshly entanglements, but are unable to because of the constraints of the system they administer.

Other church leaders attempt to focus on rule following as a means of spiritual growth and castigate their members fro failing to overcome their sin. It can be helpful to consider the nature of church leadership.

Obey = peitho = persuade, convince

them that have the rule = hegeomai = a chosen leader

submit = hupeiko = cessation of resistance

Alternatively = Stop resisting and allow yourselves to be persuaded by those you have chosen to follow.

God favors those who seek truth.

'Seeking' is an interesting word. It implies both initiative and evaluation. There is also an implication of progression such that false starts, wrong turns, and blind alleys can be expected along a path of seeking. Unfortunately this process is not very compatible with systems that seek to control and regulate.

Most of Christianity is presented in various franchise brands (denominations). There is a requirement to take an entire 'package' of doctrine and settle in. This does not leave much room for seeking. The Christian is expected to grow to maturity, yet often encounters systems that claim completion just as the Pharisees thought they had everything nailed down.

One way to avoid entanglement with the doctrine of the Pharisees is to recognize that if you think you have arrived, you haven’t.

Doctrines put forth that assert one has arrived at Christian completion create a religion of superficiality which is often manifest by worldliness, foolish talk, self-deception, and ignoring the needs of others.

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. - James 1:26-27

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