Dogma and doctrine

We often hear that all Churches are equally good. This is partly true, since many Christians worship the same God. But some errors are serious. To find our way, we need to distinguish two notions: dogma and doctrine.

Dogma

The word comes from the Greek dogma, “opinion, conviction”. In theology, a dogma is a fundamental point of the faith that cannot vary without leading to a serious consequence. It is regarded as absolute.

The heart of the faith is what is called the kerygma, the basic proclamation of the Gospel, also known as the “rule of faith”. The book of Acts gives several examples of it:

• Acts 2:14-41, Peter on the day of Pentecost;
• Acts 3:12-26, Peter after the healing of the lame man;
• Acts 10:34-43, Peter at the house of Cornelius;
• Acts 13:16-41, Paul in Pisidian Antioch.

The Protestant theologian André Gounelle explains that a dogma is presented as a formula that perfectly expresses revelation, and therefore as untouchable. He observes that Catholicism has defined many dogmas, whereas Protestantism in principle considers all its teachings revisable in the light of Scripture. The Trinity is thus a dogma for the Catholic Church; many Protestants hold it to be the right explanation of the biblical message, while classing it among the doctrines.

Beware of the word “dogmatism”. It describes the attitude of someone who refuses all discussion. Having firm convictions does not require closing the door to dialogue.

Doctrine

The word comes from the Latin docere, “to teach”. Doctrine is the whole of what we believe and teach about God. It flows from dogma, but it allows for differences of interpretation, and even of application.

Some would like a faith made only of experiences, without teaching. David Petts answers with an image. A sailing boat needs wind in its sail, just as the believer needs the breath of the Spirit. But it also needs a keel, the lower part that stabilises it. Without a keel, the boat capsizes. Doctrine plays that role. All good doctrine should lead to lived experience; on the other hand, a personal experience is not enough to establish a doctrine for everyone.

After Pentecost, the three thousand new believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42). Jesus himself spent a large part of his ministry teaching: who God is, what is right and wrong, how to be forgiven.

Why doctrine matters

What we believe influences our relationship with God. A false doctrine about sin, for example, can lead someone to live in sin without being troubled by it.

The Bible warns against deceptive teachings (1 Timothy 4:1) and against precepts that are merely “the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). The Jews of Berea are a model: they examined “the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Conversely, sound teaching corrects, instructs and leads to life (John 8:31-32). Paul asks Timothy to devote himself to teaching (1 Timothy 4:13, 16).

The sources of teaching

We can learn from several sources:

1. The Bible, which has primary authority.
2. Christian books, useful but never on the same level as Scripture.
3. Oral teaching, in the local Church by people recognised as teachers, but also at conventions, in other Churches or on the internet.

Anyone can be wrong. But some sources are more closely checked than others. A teacher recognised by a Church that belongs to a union of Churches has been examined. On the internet, anyone can publish whatever they like. It is good to hear several points of view, provided we exercise discernment. This discernment comes from God, but it also requires training and reflection.

Differences of unequal seriousness

If there are different Churches, it is because there are doctrinal differences. Some are not serious: for example, whether the days of creation were twenty-four-hour days or long periods. Others carry more weight. We must accept that brothers and sisters think differently on secondary points without calling their salvation into question. The danger is twofold: taking a doctrine for a dogma, or treating a dogma as a mere opinion.

Dogmas and doctrines today

Many sermons broadcast online pass on one person’s opinions more than the fundamental truths of the Gospel. People then end up following a preacher more than Christ.

The Church can help everyone to do better, with biblical principles. But its first mission remains to proclaim sin, faith, salvation and reconciliation with God. It must remain centred on God.

Two principles of the Reformation

To conclude, André Gounelle recalls two principles of the Reformation. The first, called the formal principle, is the authority of Scripture: every doctrine must be constantly measured against the Bible. The second, called the material principle, is free justification by faith. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). May our dogmas and doctrines rest entirely on the Bible.