Doctrine and Dogma

 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:14

     Consider the most familiar people and places in your life. Your home, your loved ones, your yard, the streets of your neighborhood, your workplace, the coffee shop where you meet with friends, the church building, the sanctuary where you worship, the hallways, the classrooms, etc. Your routine interactions with the people and places naturally desensitized you to the superficial details. Now, suppose your church, workplace, or coffee shop undergoes some sort of project that forces you to use a different entrance. The change of perspective causes you to notice details heretofore overlooked - paint colors, artwork, potted plants, hair color and style, signs, announcements, and dozens of other little things appear new because of your fundamental change. 
     In the passage above, the Apostle Paul says, “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” Spiritual blindness in the Christian family is a matter of deep concern to me. It ranges from ideological idolatry to tunnel vision. In the previous paragraph, I presented a test for tunnel vision by asking you to give attention to details that have faded into the periphery. Tests for ideological idolatry are more complicated and might be offensive in some ways. For example, how do you feel about having the U. S. flag in the worship space, in proximity to the altar? Your answer to that question says something about your theology, doctrine, and ideology. When you think about church worship, programs, and governance, how much does personal experience influence your expectations? Does the term “tradition” refer to your tradition or long-standing practices rooted in doctrine? 
     Let’s define some terms before proceeding. Doctrine is “a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true.” (Dictionary 2021) My favorite definition of doctrine is: “the boundaries of a belief system.” Dogma is “something held as an established opinion, especially a definite authoritative tenet. (Dictionary 2021) Dogma is your tradition that may or may not be doctrinally sound. Church families, religious institutions, and societies regularly suffer because of dogma. Adherence to doctrine forces participants to play by common rules and submit to standards that keep boundaries intact. 
     While dogmatic devotional to personal traditions and lackadaisical disinterest seem very different from each other, they ultimately have the same effects. Their exemplars often regard things of the Spirit as folly. There is another way to look at spiritual blindness and tunnel vision: it is a matter of balancing feelings against facts. Feelings drive dogma and facts drive doctrine. So, how do you feel about infant baptism and why? What is the official doctrine related to it? How do you feel about church music, holy communion, pews vs. tables, Christmas, Easter, etc. etc.? What is the doctrinal standard? What did you decide about the flag and why? 
     My purpose in this critical thinking exercise is to discern the Apostle’s intention when he wrote, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) The Church at Corinth dealt with plenty of drama and dogma. Spiritual blindness was rampant and Paul rebuked them with truth in love. Christian love is a combination of grace and discipline. Most people prefer more grace and less discipline, but love is incomplete without the fullest measure of both. Doctrine appoints some persons according to call and qualification to exercise grace and discipline. Participants usually accept that kind of spiritual leadership because of their sense of anointing and virtue. 
     John Wesley described the pursuit of spiritual discernment “holiness of heart and mind.” It is a type of self discipline, informed by the Body of Christ and His Spirit in and through it, that embraces God’s grace and Christ’s discipline  - That’s why we call Him Lord. Spiritual blindness and tunnel vision not only cause discord in the Church, but it accommodates the Enemy in his dedication to defaming Christ’s character. Satan cackles, “See how they claim His grace but reject His discipline?!”
     Please stop and pray right now that God would increase your awareness of the Holy Spirit in your life and times. Ask Christ to lead your life, and humbly submit to His leadership, so that you can discern that which is real and reject the counterfeit Christianity of Satan.