Pentecost

“Doctrine divides but love unites. Doctrine tears down but love builds up.” Perhaps you’ve heard words like these before. Perhaps you have family or friends who say, “Doctrine doesn’t matter. All that matters is love for Jesus.” To many people doctrine is a frightening word. It smells of legalism and stuffy traditions. To some the word “doctrine” represents everything that is wrong and unloving about the Christian church. An actual headline from the Huffington Post reads, “Jesus Didn’t Care About Correct Doctrine, and Neither Should We.” Is there any truth to this? Should true followers of Christ not care about doctrine?

Before answering, let’s consider what the word “doctrine” means. Merriam-Webster defines doctrine as “something that is taught.” Jesus taught his words to his disciples. Therefore, Jesus’ doctrine is his words. So, did Jesus care about doctrine? We know from that Gospels, that he spent at least three years teaching his doctrine to the disciples. Jesus repeatedly warned them against the false doctrine of the Pharisees. And his final words to the apostles were this, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” These words are often called the Great Commission. What does it mean to make disciples? According to Jesus’ words, it means two things: Baptize them and teach them. And what did Jesus commission his church to teach? Jesus says, “[Teach] them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).

Jesus most certainly cares about doctrine and he commanded us to teach his words, his doctrine, to all nations. Can you claim to love Jesus if you don’t love his doctrine? Jesus says, “No, you can’t.” “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word… Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” (Jn 14:23-24). You can’t claim to love Jesus if you don’t love his doctrine. To “keep” Jesus’ words means much more that simply obeying his rules. The Greek verb which is translated “keep” also means “to guard or protect.” “Whoever loves me, “Jesus says, “will guard and protect my words.” This same Greek word is found in the Great Commission, “teach them to guard and protect all that I have commanded you.” The task of the church on earth is to make disciples of all nations by teaching them to guard and protect the faith which Christ handed over to us.

Make no mistake. The Church Militant, the church on earth, is engaged in a war over doctrine. We must fight and contend for the faith even though it means we will suffer ridicule, persecution, and even death. Our enemy, Satan, is formidable. He seeks, as he always has, to destroy our faith in the Word of God. In its place, Satan promotes his doctrine in our universities, our media, and too often in our churches. The doctrine of hell appeals to our sinful and lustful nature. It pretends to satisfy our need for forgiveness by eliminating sin. “Do you still believe in a moral code from a book that’s two-thousand years old? The human race has progressed way past that.” The doctrine of hell claims to be all about love. Who would dare speak out against “love” in whatever form it takes? The doctrine of hell promises us peace. But beneath this false peace the festering cancer of unforgiven sin remains. The world’s solutions for sin are worthless. It cries out “Peace, peace, but there is no peace” (Jer 6:14). Tolerance won’t help you. Loving yourself won’t save you. The solution for sin won’t be found in learning to embrace and accept your sinful nature. The true doctrine of heaven teaches you that only the blood of Christ can forgive your sins. Only he can grant you true forgiveness and peace. Luther said, “Doctrine is heaven. Life is earth.” The only way we poor sinners can escape the troubles of this life and hell in the next is by the doctrine of heaven which gives us faith in Christ. Doctrine is heaven.

Does Jesus care about doctrine? He cares so much, he gives us the Holy Spirit. Listen to this verse: Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (Jn 14:26). The Father sends the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, for the express purpose of teaching us everything that Jesus said. The Holy Spirit comes to teach us words. He comes to teach us doctrine. This is what comforts us. This is what gives us true peace.

The problem is not that the disciples had bad memories and needed help remembering. The Holy Ghost is not a divine tape recorder. The problem is that the disciples had sinful minds that corrupted the words of Jesus. They didn’t want to believe his words. Why? Because Jesus’ doctrine was centered around the suffering and death of the cross. The last place the Old Adam wants to go is to the cross. The last thing he wants to hear about is suffering. Remembrance is not about recalling facts; it concerns faith, and this is the work of the Holy Spirit. He brings to remembrance the words of Jesus, so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in his name (Jn 20:31). The Holy Spirit teaches you the doctrine of heaven that delivers the forgiveness of sins to you. He comforts you with the saving knowledge that the cross of Jesus is also your cross. There your festering, corrupt nature was crucified, died, and was buried. There your sins were washed away – not covered up as the world tries to do – but removed forever as far as the east is from the west. And now, just as Christ was raised from the dead, you too now share in his new life (Ro 6:4). This is the Christian doctrine and through the gracious work of the Holy Spirit, you have been brought to faith, you have heard the Word and believed.

The ruler of this world continues his raving. He mocks the true doctrine even as he floods the world with his false doctrine. But Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Jn 14:27b). “The ruler of this world is coming, but he has no claim on me” (Jn 14:29). He has no claim on Jesus, and through baptism which joined you to Christ, Satan no longer has any claim on you. His power is broken, his days are numbered, and even though he fills the world with his noise, Satan will not have the last word. That word belongs to Christ. In the Divine Service, the last word that the pastor speaks to God’s people is “peace.” But this is not the pastor’s word; it too belongs to Christ. For Jesus says to you, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you” (Jn 15:27a). The peace that only Christ can give is the forgiveness of all your sins. The peace of Christ can’t be shaken by the winds of doctrine that blow through this world. The peace of Christ doesn’t disappear during times of suffering. The peace of Christ is eternal, for nothing, not even death, can separate you from the love of God. And when death does come, you will close your eyes in this peace, trusting in the doctrine of Christ which was delivered to you, and open your eyes once again to the joy of heaven. Amen.

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