IN view of the apostasy which is every day becoming more evident, and the corrupt doctrine which infidel teachers are propagating on all hands, it behooves Christians, with more zeal than ever, to hold fast to sound doctrine. We are plainly warned of the fact that, “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:33For 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; (2 Timothy 4:3)); and, judging from what one sees all around, that time has come. But, just as apostates are turning away from it, Christians are exhorted to hold fast to it. Herein lies the difference between the real and the unreal.
Man, who follows the natural bent of his unregenerate heart, much dislikes a religion that restrains his vice and corrects his practice. On the other hand, he will not altogether reject religion, for it distinguishes him from the lower creation. His spirit goes upward; that of the-beast goes downward (Eccl. 3:2121Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? (Ecclesiastes 3:21)). He is a religious being; the beast is not. What happens is, he invents a religion that will not restrain his vice, nor correct his practice. He assumes a form of piety, but denies the power thereof. He turns the grace of God into lasciviousness. In brief, he brings divine and holy things down to the level of his corrupt and sinful nature. The teachers, to whom he lends his ear, are avowedly of this adapted religion; and the doctrine which they teach, since it is diverted from practice, is spurious and unsound.
While the principle of adaptation is the rule among the religious unregenerate, who follow their own lust with a form of piety, it is not restricted to them. It may extend its baneful influence among Christians and affect them. Very easily they may take color from the age in which they live. They only need to become lax in practice, and they soon slip down on the descending scale. When this is the case, the doctrine must suffer deterioration. As to this there need be no question; for when doctrine and practice cease to be shown in just proportion, the former of necessity loses its soundness.
If, by way of illustration, we take two vessels and place them on a level surface, connecting them underneath with a tube, then pour water into one, the quantity of water in each will be equal. This is the result of the known law that water rises to its own level. In normal Christianity doctrine and practice are equally balanced—never divorced, never disproportionate. The one is but the accurate expression of the other. Soundness of doctrine is seen in soundness of practice. We would not expect the hand of a clock to indicate differently from the working of its mechanism. We should not expect to see practice different from doctrine; they go together, inseparable and proportionate. This is normal Christianity.
The Apostles were careful to enjoin Christians to be watchful as to this. Dorine and practice, faith and works, were never divorced, and never considered as separate things—always viewed as one inseparable, proportionate whole. In fact, James says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (2:26). And Paul, exposing ungodly professors, says, in Titus 1:16,16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Titus 1:16) “They profess that they know God,” (this is doctrine); “but in works they deny Him” (this is practice). This, we may observe, is just the antithesis of what should be.
Without attaching undue importance to the meaning of words, in the discussion of principles, we would draw the reader’s attention to the significance of the word “sound.” It means that which is whole or entire, in all its component parts, in contrast to that which is “corrupt,” or broken up in its component parts. Doctrine becomes corrupt when it is severed from practice. Its essential element is wanting and decay follows. Sound doctrine is maintained by setting it forth in practice. No better example could be given than Paul, himself. He said: “Those things, which ye have learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do” (Phil. 4:1919But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)). This was sound doctrine. It was taught by him, and Christians learned it; it was given by him (authoritatively as Apostle), and they received it; it was clearly preached by him, and they heard it; and, best of all, it was seen in him, and they saw it. Doctrine and practice, in his illustrious case, were one inseparable and proportionate whole.
Now much is said these days about rival. Christians, generally speaking, want revival. How are they to get it? By prayer? This is not enough. Not only by prayer but also by coming under the power of piety in individual life. This cuts at the very root of the trouble. It would be very incongruous for Christians to, come together for prayer as to revival in the Church, when they are lax in practice, carnal in walk, pleasure-living and easy-going in their individual life. Begin at Jerusalem we would say. God has always had His center for operation. The center from which revival will operate is the individual life of godliness. From here it will extend to the Church; from the Church to the world.
Sound doctrine maintained by individual Christians is the great center from which all spiritual movement will take place. We do well to see to it that we are subject to the Spirit; that our doctrine is sound, as shown in life; that carnal ease, worldly pleasure, conformity to the age in which we live—all is eliminated from the life, and that for us to live is Christ.
Then—but not before it—we may expect great blessing all round, and surely this is needed as never before! Israel’s remnant had to bring in before. God would pour out (Mal. 3:1010Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)). We too will have to bring in before we can expect God to pour out. Dispensations may change; the principles of God’s government never change.
J. Houston.