Is Sound Doctrine Important for Ministry?

In his Institutes of Christian Religion, John Calvin writes, 

 We have given priority to doctrine, which contains our religion, since it establishes our salvation. But in order for doctrine to be fruitful to us, it must overflow into our hearts, spread into our daily routines, and truly transform us within. Even the philosophers rage against and reject those who profess an art that ought to govern one's life, but who twist that art hypocritically into empty chatter. How much more then should we detest the foolish talk of those who give lip service to the gospel? The gospel's power ought to penetrate the innermost affections of the heart, sink down into the soul, and inspire the whole man.

While Calvin’s words can be applied broadly, certainly they can be applied specifically to the life of the Christian minister!  Doctrine, rightly understood and rightly lived out in the life of a pastor, brings tremendous blessings to himself and his congregation.

Sound doctrine saves

Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:16 (ESV), “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”  Notice both things upon which Timothy is to “keep a close watch” – himself and the teaching, i.e., doctrine. 

If he does that, two things will happen: 1) he will save himself and 2) he will save those who hear him preach.  Now, to be clear, no one can save himself nor anyone else for that matter.  Only God can save a person’s soul.  Paul’s point, rather, is this:  If the preacher rightly teaches the Word of God and applies those truths to his own life, he is providing the means by which God grants salvation.  

Without a doubt then, doctrine is important in this sense.  If Timothy aborted this instruction and failed to keep a close watch on these things, he would at minimum stunt the spiritual growth of his church, or at worst, damn them to hell if they believed a false doctrine.

Sound doctrine defends

In Titus 1:9, Paul states that sound doctrine enables us to defend against false teaching.  It reads, “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.”

Notice that last phrase, “rebuke those who contradict it.”  The only way one can defend against bad doctrine is to know good doctrine.  The pastor who regularly and carefully teaches sound doctrine gives his listeners what they need to refute the continual barrage of bad doctrine that floats around the Internet, across the TV waves, and in several popular “Christian” blogs.

Sound doctrine unifies

In yet another passage, Paul writes, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them” (Romans 16:17).  

Bad doctrine leads to division.  How so?  When teachers teach bad doctrine, it in essence creates “camps” of people within the church opposed to one another.  Instead of rallying around the truth, you might hear, “Well, maybe that’s your truth, but it’s not my truth.”  The fact of the matter is, there’s only one truth!  And when that truth is taught accurately and the church unifies around it, they also unify with one another.

Sound doctrine equips

Doctrine cannot be separated from devotion.  In other words, what one believes is what one ends up living out.  It’s impossible to separate what one worships from how one lives.  We were created that way!

Therefore, sound doctrine orients the heart toward God and the character of God.  The more we know about that God, the more we love that God, worship that God, and begin to live like that God.

Paul understands that quite well.  In fact, notice the order of what he says in Titus 2:1-10.  He starts off in verse 1, “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.”  Then, from verses 2 through 10 he lays out the practical manifestations of that sound doctrine:  “older men are to be sober-minded…older women are to be reverent…younger men to be self-controlled…” and so on.  

Paul connects the two in such a beautiful way, showing that sound doctrine equips people to live Godly lives.  The preacher who therefore spends time teaching good, solid doctrine – the attributes of God, the sacrificial nature of the Christ, the empowering presence of the Spirit – simultaneously gives his hearers what they need to live it out because they begin living like the God they worship.

Sound doctrines guards

In one of his last letters, Paul writes, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 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.” (2 Tim. 4:1-4)

Pastor, do you want to guard your people from wandering off into myths?  Commit yourself to the only thing that adequately builds healthy fences around the flock: sound doctrine.  Teach it and preach it all the time!  Patiently and consistently feed your flock the rich, life-saving words of God.  

Pastor, doctrine affects all of life, especially your ministry.  “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:5)