Does Doctrine Matter?

With our society, as a whole, having the notion there is no absolute divine Doctrine and people can believe in whatever they choose. Well, the last half of that statement is true, to a point, because God made us a Free Moral Agency.   
 

God has endowed man with freedom of choice.

The scriptures urge man to "choose," "come unto me," and "open the door" (Josh. 24: 15; Matt. 11: 28; Rev. 3: 20). Adam and Eve were given the choice to obey or disobey God (Gen. 2: 17; 3: 1-6). The famous "curses" of the Hebrew Scriptures were based on the Jew's free moral agency: "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God...that all these curses shall come upon thee..." (Deut. 28: 15-20, 45). Jesus said to those who were spiritually doomed, "ye would not!" (Matt. 23: 37).

Man is responsible for his own actions.

Since man has the freedom to obey or disobey and God does not overpower the will of man, man is responsible for his own actions. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die," declared the prophet (Ezek. 18: 20). Sin, as such, is not inherited. "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son." The prophet further states, "...the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him" (Ezek. 18: 20, Cf. Matt. 18: 3-6; 19: 13-15).

Therefore, in regards to Doctrine, the hallowed teachings of Christ, does it really matter about a divine Doctrine [Teachings]? 

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them”.

(Romans 16:17—Cf. Matthew 23)

I can remember back in the earlier 60’s when we spoke about The Doctrine of Christ in truth, people spoke of us as, Bible thumpers and viewed our teachings as crazy. Also parts of the US was known as, The Bible Belt. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_Belt

However, in this Generation, when we speak the truth, according to the Doctrine of Christ, people think of us as judging them, are they say it’s a Hate crime are falsely Judging them.. Many people have always used the scripture that refers to, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1).

Doctrine can be abused and abusive in these days, it has been for several reasons. So why should we have and know about Sound Doctrine? Something is going to shape us, something is going to determine who God is and who we are.  

To get the whole lesson by; Bruce McLarty, Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in full, check out:

http://www.pvcc.org/Sermons-Online.html?sermonsite_action=view_sermon&sermonsite_sermonid=54275