Take The High Road

The current fiasco in dis-honoring the flag and the national anthem in the NFL is an emotionally charged issue.  Even though we have a right to protest in our country, is it always necessary, or is it the best choice?  The 'Left' clearly sees bias and racism in certain cases with minorities and police.  No argument.  And the 'Right' clearly sees insubordination and unrest in dealing with those who disrespect the law.  This is unsustainable.  Both have legitimate complaints and concerns that can only be resolved through the rule of law. 

Normally the Right promotes the rule of law and order as a matter of principle to maintain peace in our communities.  But the Left needs to do the same, for the Constitution and Bill of Rights is the rule of law, without bias or prejudice.  Instead of making an emotional response to the real issues of prejudice, taking the high road of respect to the rule of law is the best answer for this law also protects them.  The rule of law is for the protection of all Americans, and this shows respect for the principles of freedom that our country was founded upon.  Both sides need freedom and respect.

Often we forget the principles of freedom and pursue either the Left or the Right.  But I submit that in addition to the rule of law, the only way out is UP, the spiritual high road is the solution.  Men will hate and fight against each other if there is no spiritual answer, for it is in our nature.  Consider the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in Luke 6:27ff, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”  And with many other examples, Jesus teaches us a spiritual rule of law, the law of loving our neighbors as ourselves.  With the love of Christ, we are able to love our fellow man and respect the civil authorities.  This is the spiritual high road that changes our hearts and our minds.

PS - published in Letters to the Editor, CA, 10/1/17.

The Doctrine of Grace

Perhaps the greatest truth or teaching that every Christian would acknowledge is the doctrine of grace.  We love this doctrine because it means that God forgives us, he does not hold our sins against us, he blots out our transgressions from our records, and he restores us to fellowship with him.  This is all because Jesus lived a perfect life and then died in our place on the cross.  He has done what we could not do and lived a sinless life, and then died as a sacrifice and substitute in our place, so that his righteousness could be imputed to us.  The grace of Christ is what guarantees our ability of going to heaven if we receive it.  All we have to do is confess our sins, accept this grace, and live in faith for Christ.

The doctrine of anything is the "teaching" of any particular subject.  We can learn the doctrines of the United States Navy, or of Zen Buddhism, the Communist Manifesto, and even of the Royal and Ancient (R&A), rules of golf.  Every organization and institution has teachings, guidelines, doctrines, requirements, and standards to live by.  This is necessary for an organization to function and thrive.  There must be teachings on the purpose, instruction, description, and correction to live by for any organization.  And so it is of course with the Christian faith.

Even more than simple teachings however, when some teaching is elevated to the level of doctrine it is considered an authoritative teaching.  This is a teaching that is in agreement with principles that are considered unchanging, foundational, and necessary.  The doctrine then is the official teachings that are aligned with truth and in principle above the opinions and preferences of man.  We may believe that 'it's just not fair to call a penalty stroke on ourselves' when we address a golf ball in the fairway, and by doing so it causes the ball to move a half inch.  But, those are the rules.  These rules have stood the test of time and have been reviewed by countless people and they have concluded that for the good of the game, it is necessary to draw the line at this point.  Any movement of the golf ball that is associated with the player's activity counts for a stroke in competition golf.  This is doctrine in golf.

As we study the Christian faith we see that grace is certainly one of the highest doctrines, because it is so central to everything.  We cannot come into the faith without the substitutionary atonement of Christ, we just cannot meet the requirements of a holy God in our sinful condition.  This is true.  And so we see the doctrine of truth is even more of a central teaching and requirement than the doctrine of grace.  For if somebody were to assert that salvation is not "by grace alone through faith alone," we would protest.  We know the truth of Scripture teaches otherwise.  And this places truth at the top.  Truth is the highest priority in all the doctrines of the Christian faith because all the other doctrines depend upon it.  Without truth we could not know if any other teachings were authoritative.

The doctrine of grace is dependent upon the doctrine of truth, or the authoritative teaching and existence of truth.  The only reason that any teaching can become a doctrine then is because it has truth that is independent of man's perspectives and preferences.  This is true no matter what we believe.  But our contemporary culture doesn't value truth or ultimate truth because it realizes that it then would have authority over them.  On the other hand, the truth provides tremendously wonderful doctrines such as grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration, healing, sanctification, and hope.  It is true that grace is real, that we can truly or really be forgiven in Christ.  But we must receive it and trust God, and also that we need forgiveness and grace.

The doctrine of grace is not the most important doctrine therefore in Christianity.  The doctrine of truth is at the top, for there could be no other doctrines if there were no truth and authority.  There could be no other truth in the Bible if there was no true God that holds all truth together.  We need both, for it is by grace that we receive the truth, and it is by truth that we can understand grace.  It's important to remember that grace and truth always go together, as Jesus was described as being "full of grace and truth," (Jn 1:14).  Grace and truth are both necessary, but truth is at the top, it is the doctrine that holds all other doctrines together.  Even more, from the truth of Scripture, we also discover that truth is a Person, that Jesus is the Truth, and He is the truth of grace.