Promoting a Live and Let Live Approach to Doctrine Biblically
The concept of "live and let live" in doctrine, while seemingly promoting peace, is not consistently supported by biblical teaching, which often emphasizes the importance of adhering to sound doctrine and contending for the faith. The Apostle Paul, for instance, urged Timothy to "Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you" [5]. This highlights a direct connection between careful attention to doctrine and salvation.
The New Testament frequently calls believers to unity in belief and purpose. Philippians 1:27 exhorts believers to "stand firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel" [3]. This suggests an active engagement in upholding and defending shared doctrinal convictions, rather than a passive acceptance of diverse views. Similarly, the author of Hebrews encourages believers to move "unto perfection, not laying again ye foundation of repetance from dead workes, and of faith toward God" [2], implying a progression in understanding and adherence to foundational truths.
John Calvin, a prominent Reformed theologian, argued against a passive approach to doctrine, particularly when it comes to fundamental truths. He criticized those who are "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth," and even more sharply those who "avowedly affect to know nothing" [7]. Calvin also stressed that the true knowledge of Christ involves receiving him "as he is offered by the Father, namely, as invested with his Gospel" [7]. This perspective suggests that certain doctrines are essential to understanding and experiencing Christ.
While there is a call to provoke one another to "love and good works" [1], this encouragement for mutual edification does not necessarily extend to an indifference regarding doctrinal differences. Charles Hodge, an Old Princeton theologian, emphasized that a theologian's business is "to ascertain and exhibit what is God’s system" as revealed in the Bible, rather than setting forth one's own system [8]. He also noted that spiritual life, which is a "New Birth," manifests itself in ways appropriate to its nature [6]. This implies that genuine spiritual life is connected to a proper understanding and embrace of God's revealed truth.
Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, strongly condemned those who enter ministry for personal gain, stating that "Their doctrine is deadly; they are not commissioned by Christ, and therefore they cannot profit the people" [9]. This underscores the critical importance of sound doctrine and the potential harm of erroneous teaching. The Bible itself speaks of eternal life as knowing God and Christ [4], further emphasizing that correct understanding of divine truth is paramount.
Sources
- Hebrews “Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, -- Hebrews 10:24”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 6:1 (Geneva1599) — Therefore, leauing the doctrine of the beginning of Christ, let vs be led forward vnto perfection, not laying againe ye foundation of repetance from dead workes, and of faith toward God,”
- Philippians “Philippians 1:27 (LEB) — Only lead your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent I hear ⌞your circumstances⌟, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Eternal — Christ is -- 1Jo 1:2; 5:20. Revealed by Christ -- Joh 6:68; 2Ti 1:10. To know God and Christ is -- Joh 17:3. Given By God. -- Ps 133:3; Ro 6:23. By Christ. -- Joh 6:27; 10:28. In Christ. -- 1Jo 5:11. Through Christ. -- Ro 5:21; 6:23. To all given to Christ. -- Joh 17:2. To those who believe in God. -- Joh 5:24. To those who believe in Christ. -- Joh 3:15,16; 6:40,47. To those who hate life for Christ. -- Joh 12:25. In answer to prayer. -- Ps 21:4. Revealed in the Scriptures -- Joh 5:39. Results from Drinking the water of life. -- Joh 4:14. Eating the ”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:16 (BSB) — Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 6: acknowledged, they should be) devoted to securing them for ourselves and others. This is one of the forms in which the Bible sets forth the doctrine of regeneration. It is raising the soul dead in sin to spiritual 35 life. And this spiritual life unfolds or manifests itself just as any other form of life, in all the exercises appropriate to its nature. It is a New Birth. The same doctrine on this subject is taught in other words when regeneration is declared to be a new birth. At birth the child enters upon a new state of existence. Birth ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: feeling. But this docility, with a desire of further progress, is widely different from the gross ignorance in which those sluggishly indulge who are contented with the implicit faith of the Papists. If Paul severely condemns those who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,” how much more sharply ought those to be rebuked who avowedly affect to know nothing? 6. The true knowledge of Christ consists in receiving him as he is offered by the Father, namely, as invested with his Gospel. For, as he is ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 8: sin, of liberty, of obligation, from the facts of the Bible. He should remember that his business is not to set forth his system of truth (that is of no account), but to ascertain and exhibit what is God’s system, which is a matter of the greatest moment. If he cannot believe what the facts of the Bible assume to be true, let him say so. Let the sacred writers have their doctrine, while he has his own. To this ground a large class of modern exegetes and theologians, after a long struggle, have actually come. They give what they regard as t”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 10:10: But for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy - Those who enter into the priesthood that they may enjoy the revenues of the Church, are the basest and vilest of thieves and murderers. Their ungodly conduct is a snare to the simple, and the occasion of much scandal to the cause of Christ. Their doctrine is deadly; they are not commissioned by Christ, and therefore they cannot profit the people. Their character is well pointed out by the Prophet Ezekiel, Eze 34:2, etc. Wo be to the shepherds of Israel, that do feed themselves! Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the”