Church doctrines

LET me correct a Joshua Kiluwe statement “if we become too stubborn then our faith with God will fade because we have our faith basing on church doctrines” published in The National, Faith section, under the heading “Music ministry preaches worship without church doctrines” on July 19, 2019.
I commend Joshua’s effort in mobilising Christians from the two fronts, the Sabbath and Sunday keepers for Jesus march at one of their recent church conventions. I agree with Joshua when he stresses that Christ as the Lord and Saviour should be the theme and focus of every Christian practise and not church doctrine.
I do share the same feeling of discontentment of dogmatising church.
Until Christ is exalted doctrines become boring church statement and lose its essence for which it was intended.
While Joshua’s statement is true, it is also an understatement to dilute important truths of the Bible.
Doctrines are elaborated themes of the Bible that expound important truths that exalt Jesus as the central theme of all Scriptures.
Doctrines are sometimes called official church statement of belief.
They provide the basis for which a Christian church is founded with sound and define sense of mission and should not suffer public contempt.
One powerful tool that can be used as a model to illustrate this understanding is the Islamic religion.
Muslims believe Koran is the direct word from God. The teachings of personal God, the last judgment, and social and economic justice for all, to name a few are clear sets of belief on which Islamic religion is founded.
They give Muslims a sense of mission and direction. Their way of life, dress code, and prayer routine are influenced by these teachings. And they are significantly uncompromising tenets.
With the burning desire to conquer the world, Muslims are committed and dedicated to the teachings of the holy Koran.
It is a big deal for Christians! We have something much bigger and better to offer to the world.
There should be a clear demonstration of love, commitment and dedication to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures to make a difference.
Bible truths like, baptism by immersion, Christ’s high priestly ministry in heaven, the Biblical Sabbath, Sanctuary and the second coming of Jesus are some of the powerful themes of the Bible that must be traded for soul winning.
These truths and many others have stood the test of time. And they have proven to be the standard by which all Christian faith is measured.
Hence doctrines of importance that exalt Jesus as the theme of Christian religion, and thus demand our worship should not become the subject of public backslash.
Nor should they be watered down nor compromised for personal vendetta.

Jeffrey E.M. Saigomi
Chaplain, Nagum Adventist
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