Proverbs 4.26-27
“Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
Growth in the Christian life is the result of disciplined practice guided by right doctrine. Both are necessary. Life in Christ is about knowing the truth and practicing the truth. It is about belief and behavior. It is about doctrine and discipline. As the chart below indicates, neglecting either doctrine or discipline will cause major problems.
The challenge for many Christians is this: They don’t need for information, they need to start doing what they already know. It’s the knowing-doing gap.
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Doctrine focuses on what you know. Belief |
Discipline focuses on what you do. Behavior |
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Truth Principles … teaching Orthodoxy Mental work … habits of the mind |
Action Practice … training Orthopraxy Behavioral work … habits of action |
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Doctrine without discipline creates: Information without action Lack of effort Sit, soak, and sour Hearers who aren’t doers Faith without works Aversion to effort Self-righteousness and pride Rationalization Hypocrisy Loss of credibility Greater willingness to argue theology than to live it. Ready, aim … ready, aim … ready, aim |
Discipline without doctrine creates: Action without information Effort in the wrong direction Unguided missile Doers who aren’t hearers Works without faith Self-driven effort Self-righteousness and pride Rationalization Legalism Misguided reference point for action. Greater willingness to take action than to do the hard work of theology Ready, fire, aim |
We must be faithful followers of Christ who fully embrace both knowing the truth and doing the truth.
