Is Doctrine Really Worth Fighting Over?

In this regular feature Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call.  Here is this week’s question: Dear Brothers Hunt and McMahon, I would like to hear you two discuss 2 Timothy:4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
See All..., 4.One of the growing frustrations in my life is trying to get fellow Christians even pastors I know to reasonably discuss the importance of sound doctrine.All I hear is that it leads to division and hard feelings in a church.I seem to be losing friends rather than influencing people in that regard.

Tom:

Well Dave, let me quote 2 Timothy:4:3-4 [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
See All... for our listeners, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.And Dave, I want to add one more scripture to that even though this is what this individual is asking for.But I think Titus:1:9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
See All...—one of the conditions for an elder in the church.It says, “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers (that is those who reject the truth).”

Dave:

Well we live in a day when sound doctrine is despised.

Tom:

We just had it in our last segment as an example.

Dave:

Right, we’re going to all get together.Forget doctrine—they said it!They said we are not here to discuss doctrine.Well let me go back to chapter 3:16-17.“All scripture—

Tom:

Of Timothy?

Dave:

Timothy, yes.2 Timothy:3:16-17 [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
See All..., “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable (or to be used for) for doctrine, for reproof,” well let’s go back up before then.Paul is writing to Timothy and in verse 10 he says, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, (and then he goes on) manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, and so forth.”So Paul’s life flowed from his doctrine.What I believe will determine how I will conduct myself.Now coming back then to verse 16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, (that is mature, complete) thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”Now we’ve got this ecumenical gathering that we had and there was nothing about doctrine.There was no reproof.Remember when we wrote Seduction of Christianity and Oral Roberts founded Charismatic Bible Ministries?Do you remember that and Jeremy Sponse and part of their what do you call it?Their charter or whatever was, “We will not correct one another.” We’re going to all get together, but we’re not going to correct one another.Paul says—

Tom:

Dave, can I just add this?Also in the charter was that they wanted medical insurance, they wanted to deal—these are faith healers! It was absurd.

Dave:

Yes, sorry about that, but anyway, let’s go back to the scriptures here.“All scripture is to be used…,” this is 2 Timothy:3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
See All..., what is it to be used for?“…Doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness….”Now Tom, I just have to say anyone who runs around the world preaching from the Bible and does not use doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, they are misusing this book!This is what it says.Now just before the verse that you read that this person asked about, chapter 4:2, “Preach the word…” how do you preach the Word? He says, Paul says to Timothy, I want you preach the Word.Now what are you going to do?“Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.”So we live in that day, and Tom, doctrine isn’t popular.

Tom:

Dave, let me just interject this.Doctrine—some people say well that sounds like it’s highly theological, academic and so on.It’s just Jesus’ teachings.What he says.And that’s what this program is about.Search the scriptures; we want people to know what God says.Not what Dave Hunt or T. A. McMahon, certainly we want to be God’s instruments, his vessels to present this, but we want to present HIS Word.

Dave:

Well then you could say then what does the Bible say guys, come on?Well, what it says is we stand on sound doctrine and we are going to get this doctrine from the Word of God.And as we preach the Word it reproves my heart.

Tom:

Exactly.

Dave:

It reproves each of us.We need some reproof; we need correction in the church.I would say that is the most desperate need.We’ve often talked about Paul from Miletum he sent for the elders at Ephesus and he says, you remember how in the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone of you night and day with tears.He said, “After my departing, grievous wolves will enter in, not sparing the flock; of your own selves men will arise speaking perverse things, in other words, not sound doctrine, but they’re going to change it.And you mentioned some perverse things that Kenneth Copeland teaches, that Kenneth Hagen and others of them teach that Jesus, he didn’t finish the work on the cross, although he said, “It is finished.”He said, “Father into thy hands I commit my spirit.”No, he didn’t end up in the hands of the Father, he ended up in hell in the hands of Satan where Satan dragged (this is their words) his emaciated spirit body up and down the corridors of hell torturing Jesus and that is where redemption comes from so you would have to say well then I guess Satan is our co-redeemer.If he didn’t torture Jesus enough we’re not saved.If he tortured him enough, do we thank him?This is not what the Bible teaches, this is blasphemy!This is a perverse doctrine that causes people to follow you then as the one who can interpret the Bible and it is dishonoring to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who from the cross said, “It is finished.Father into thy hands I commit my spirit.”And to the thief who believed in him he said, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”Furthermore Satan isn’t even in hell yet.He is not the proprietor of hell.He does not run the place.

Tom:

It’s the last place he wants to be, Dave.

Dave:

Right, and when he is there, he will not run it.He will be tormented and that will be in the lake of fire.But they overlook all of this.It doesn’t really matter, just so we use God words and if we can speak in tongues and we can heal people, seemingly, and do miracles, then it’s all okay.Tom, I’m sorry, it reminds me of Matthew:7:23-24 [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
See All... when Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in thy name?In your name we cast out devils, in your name we did miracles and I will say to them, I never knew you depart from me you workers of iniquity!”