Wie hoch ist der Stellenwert der Lehre in der Kirche einzuschätzen? Ist es möglich, dass wir die Lehre in unseren Gemeinden of stress and neglecting the more important "practical Christianity" in everyday life? At least, recently argued a pastor of a free church, as I mentioned to him that I think the teaching and preaching as the central element for the spiritual growth and life of the community. He felt it would be too much teaching, too much theology from the pulpit and little guidance for practical life. This pastor is far from alone in his view. It is even widely used and has long been the focus of many evangelical community level. Sound doctrine in the form of a thorough interpretation of the Bible and teaching biblical truth is perceived as dry theory and colorful, compared with sample stories ornate guide to a successful life.
I see two problems with this approach. First you can not hold the doctrine and practical Christian life against each other as if they were two things that are in conflict with each other. Second, we will if we - for whatever reason - are opposed to a thorough exposition of biblical truth in the community, pull ourselves the ground under their feet.
It is certainly not wrong to seek ways in which we (virtually all) can lead a life that God honor and pleasure ourselves. That's the goal of Christian life, as and the Westminster Catechism teaches. Only we will certainly not bring about, if we neglect a thorough study of the Bible and tension so that the cart before the horse.
I would now like to demonstrate some examples of how the New Testament emphasizes the good and right doctrine as a basis for a life pleasing to God.
The Son of God has come to live in our place a just life and to bear our sin and divine punishment. The time of his public was mainly a time when he taught the people, led by his disciples.
Mark the Evangelist says that Jesus is the many people saw who had followed him and was sorry that she did so because they were like sheep without a shepherd. What he made? "He began to teach them many things" (Mk 6:34).
The Gospels, in addition to the miracles that Jesus did, mostly about his teaching. He taught with authority, the sentence of his listeners. His miracles were signs that confirmed his theory. Jesus taught his contemporaries the truth about God, man, about sin and salvation. He did so in different situations. In the synagogue, the temple, in the open in front of large crowds, in debate with theologians and fundamentalists of his time with the disciples alone. If the
New Testament of such events reported, the emphasis on the teachings of Jesus. Very often it goes to the exact distinction between real and false doctrine, false and correct interpretation of the Old Testament. For example, in debate with legal scholars on issues of divorce, the resurrection or the typology of David. Or as he says in the Sermon on the traditional interpretation of the law and maintains its correct interpretation of the texts, against. Here, the Lord could very well go into each detail.
Jesus speaks often about the practical life to God's glory. But he always supported it on a proper understanding of the word from God. If we bias the New Testament To read, we can never say that the Lord Jesus is a practical Christian life of teaching against. Jesus taught the people so that they can live.
The Apostle Paul, the greatest missionary of all time, was also the greatest theologian of all time. There was perhaps no other, his life so (very handy!) At the service of the Gospel. We see in him that he slept very excited to lead a good life and to the delight and edification of others to be there. He was very important, is also a role model for others.
But now we see him like no other, that he this good life on a thorough and precise theological Established doctrine.
We see this if we only look at the structure of his letters. We find in Paul probably much of exhortation and instruction in all areas of everyday Christians. But they are smaller in volume than the more 'theoretical' doctrine and are each in the back of his letters. In Romans, for example, captures the first practical guide to the twelfth chapter. In Galatians in the fifth, in Ephesians the fourth chapter, and so also in the letters that do not have such a clear division, the Apostle especially the theological truth of the admonition or instruction.
He regularly shows the indicative (in the grammar of reality form that an existing fact describes) of salvation, and then hangs the imperative (command form) to it. In words, each looks like, he says: "Because ... [there it is - teaching], so ... [do this or that - a practical guide]." The doctrine thus has priority over the practical exercise.
Paul refers to his successor, Timothy, to do likewise. He tells him to have the eight teachings (1 Tim 4:16) and to promote the appreciation of the doctrine:
The elders who provided their duties well, were worth double recognition, especially those in preaching and teaching their best (1 Tim 5:17).
The Apostle exhorts his young successor several times to work for the preservation of the right and healthy-making theory. Even if some do not like and they prefer to listen to stories that challenge is not too much.
Even the church leaders Titus receives the same instructions, to keep his attention primarily on teaching. Especially if he uses in the community further conductor:
He must hold firm on the word that is reliable and teaching meets so he is able both to exhort by sound teaching and the spirit of contradiction to transfer (Titus 1: 9).
Spiritual leaders of the community should therefore mainly be teaching at home because guide them through the teachings of the church, the faithful will thus help to grow in their knowledge of the truth. As they grow in the teaching and stable are in it, then they are better able to live according to God's glory. Paul writes in Romans
6:17, that believers are no longer slaves to sin (and not have to serve it), but that it is "the image of teaching have been handed over" to which they are now obedient. This image (or shape), this part of the doctrine of her life. That means nothing other than that it is the truth about God, man, sin, salvation, etc., which gives our life the appropriate form. Basically
Paul teaches nothing other than that there is theological truth that brought us victory over sin. It's not the good advice and stories as a preacher to help us in everyday practical Christian life to exercise better. It is theology that helps us to correct - that is, to the glory of God - to live. The
confirmed the invitation of the Apostle in the early 12th Chapter of Romans. Just where he began to give instructions for practical Christian, he reaches back once more to what he has been taught and explained what is the basis of practical life:
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the Mercies of God to present your bodies a living, holy, pleasing to God victims, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, consider that you may prove what the will of God. The good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2)
That the believers their lives God as a living sacrifice, that is for him to live for His glory (ie, practical Christianity!), is only possible by the mercies of God. What are these mercies, he has just explained in the chapters before it (namely, the theology of justification and sanctification). You will now examine what the perfect will of God. This is done in that they are renewed in their minds. As the sense of being renewed? With the right teaching. The Paul teaches (give again before it starts, instructions for practical Christianity), among other things very clear in Ephesians:
And he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equipping of the saints for works of service, for the edification of the Body of Christ until we all reach unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to full manhood, the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Because we no longer want Minors are, back and tossed and carried about by every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, by their craftiness of deceitful scheming error (Eph 4:11-14)
referred to in verse 11 men equip the community to make it is capable to serve. The goal of service is the responsibility of the community that, to full knowledge of the Son of God comes. The opposite of this responsibility he calls in verse 14, it is the be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. In other words: Who is not fixed in teaching, is influenced by all sorts of opinions and false teachings. It may not ultimately lead a good life, because he, the necessary basis has not.
is interesting in the context that the Apostle Paul, Peter and John, every time they write in their letters about false teachers, also indicate their massive moral misconduct. False doctrine and bad life hang together as good teaching and good life. This has confirmed a superficial glance at the history and current church in the situation.
good, genuine biblical teaching that we can call it Theology is never just dry theory, but is the foundation of our Christian life. We need to know the truth about God, about ourselves, about sin and salvation, that we in the right relationship to a good God, that can result in life pleasing.
to why we insist that in our communities first and foremost made sure that we have the right knowledge of God. This we get by precise instruction in biblical teaching, say, theology.
So finally now a warning: You can pray for their pastors that they are prepared all the prophecies of doom to be teachers, despite the community! And you can teach!
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