“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.” -Jeremiah 23:30
Are prominent leaders in the prophetic movement turning a blind eye to doctrine?
I’ve noticed a wind blowing across the prophetic movement recently. I’ve been hearing the same “word” from various ministries which are disconnected from each other. We’re being told that we need to stop worrying about doctrine and simply focus on Jesus, because at the end of the day it’s all about Jesus, and not about doctrine.
This sounds good on its face, doesn’t it? Who can argue with the statement that the Christian life is all about Jesus? I’m certainly not going to deny that! And yet there’s something that troubles me when it comes to laying aside doctrine for the sake of unity.
You never find the Apostle Paul making such statements. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. -1 Timothy 4:16
In his second letter to Timothy, Paul presses the point further.
Bend your every effort to present yourself to God, approved, a workman unashamed, expounding soundly the word of the truth. -2 Timothy 2:15
Not content to simply leave it at that, Paul finishes his letter to Timothy by spelling the point out in no uncertain terms. The expanded translation by Kenneth Wuest brings out the forcefulness of the Greek in such a way that it makes the modern church blush with embarrassment at how far we’ve fallen short.
I solemnly charge you as not only living in His presence, but also by His appearing and His kingdom; make a public proclamation of the Word with such formality, gravity, and authority as must be heeded. Hold yourself in readiness for this proclamation when opportunity presents itself and when it does not; reprove so as to bring forth conviction and confession of guilt; rebuke sharply, severely, and with a suggestion of impending penalty. Pleadingly exhort, doing all this with that utmost self-restraint which does not hastily retaliate a wrong, and accompany this exhortation with the most painstaking instruction. -2 Timothy 4:1-2
Does that passage sound like we should be de-emphasizing the importance of sound doctrine? I don’t question the motives or intentions of leaders who desire unity and have rightly exposed the fact that doctrinal schism is a big problem in the church right now. I do, however, feel that we’re being short-sighted if we tell people to simply “love Jesus” while taking the truth that He taught lightly.