11. How Do I Know Whom to Believe

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Honest Answers to Honest Questions: Question # 11 Why do you Christians disagree so much among yourselves about what the Bible says? You can't even agree on the proper administration of your two Sacraments — Baptism and the Lord's Supper* How do I know your church's interpretation is right?* In short, "Whom?" should I believe and "Why?" should I believe them?***

Question # 11 presents us with a number of very honest, very fair, and very important Questions — Questions that need to be honestly addressed.

So, how exactly are we to know ...

"'Whom?' to believe and 'Why?' we should believe them?"

We will give our Answer to these Questions in Four Parts Part I: Why do we have disagreements in the first place and what does it mean that we disagree?

Part II: The different levels of disagreement — Heresy versus mistakes and errors.

Part III: Give our Answer to the Question, "'Whom?' should I believe and 'Why?' should I believe them?" Part IV: Explain how to progress from being a Christian "babe" subsisting on "milk" to the "full age" of Christian maturity subsisting on "solid food", so as to be able to "by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." [Which, by the way, you are commanded to do.]**

Part I: Why do we have disagreements in the first place and what does it mean that we disagree?

Dr. R. C. Sproul in his book "Now, That's a Good Question", a book that "answers more than 300 frequently asked questions about life and faith", a book that we highly recommend, gives us great answers to both of these Questions ...

First, as to what disagreement does not mean ...

"The multiplicity and variety and even contradictory interpretations of Scripture really have little or nothing to do with the question of its origin. Let me give you an analogy.

We've seen all kinds of interpretations of the United States Constitution, but even though political parties and different judges have different views of what the Constitution says and means, and what it intended, none of that difference of opinion casts a shadow on the source of the Constitution. We know who wrote the Constitution. We know where it came from and what it is."

Dr. R. C. Sproul, "Now, That's a Good Question", Page 84,

Tyndale House Publishers

Second, as to why there are disagreements in the first place, Dr. Sproul continues ...

Not only do we find Christians disagreeing about what the Bible teaches, but some of the greatest minds in history disagree on some very significant points. I would say that there are three primary reasons great minds disagree on fundamental issues.

One is that we are prone to logical errors. We are given the capacity to reason, but we are not perfect in our reasoning powers. We will make illegitimate inferences. We will commit errors that violate the laws of logic. I remember when I studied the introduction to logic in college and was given examples of fallacies. The examples printed in our textbooks were not drawn from tabloid newspapers or comics but from the writings of some of the most brilliant people in history: Plato, John Stuart Mill, and David Hume. These men are universally recognized as some of the most brilliant people who ever walked the face of the earth. They made glaring logical errors that served as illustrations of how not to reason in an 'Introduction to Logic' textbook. Mental errors are the first reason.

The second reason is empirical errors. Every one of us is limited in our perspective and field of experience. Not one of us has been able to survey all of the data. Sometimes our eyesight or our hearing fails us. We are limited in the senses we use to perceive reality around us. Limitations of sense perception add to making mistakes.

And the third great cause for error, whether it's in understanding the Bible or in understanding science, is bias. We're prejudiced. Sometimes we come to a problem or to a study biased against the data. We don't want to believe what the data will tell us. When we become Christians, we are not cleansed of the ability to sin. We don't always want to believe what the Bible teaches, and so we will make errors of interpretation as a result of our clouded thinking because of the hardness of our own hearts or because we don't know the tools of biblical study. We haven't learned the language sufficiently, or we have not been skilled or trained in legitimate inferences or the laws of immediate inferences, and so on.

The main reason Christians disagree on what the Bible teaches is that we are sinners. It's a sin to misunderstand the Bible and to misinterpret the Bible because ultimately it's a result of our being less than fully diligent in applying ourselves to seeking the truth of God's Word. We have the assistance of the Holy Spirit, and we're called to love God with all of our minds. The person who loves God with all of his mind is not casual in how he handles the Scriptures."

Dr. R. C. Sproul, "Now, That's a Good Question", Pages 84-86,

Tyndale House Publishers

It is noteworthy that while the main Protestant denominations might disagree over the correct mode of baptism, for instance, they all hold clearly to the orthodox tenants and fundamentals of the faith as it concerns Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins.

Which brings us to ...

Part II: The different levels of disagreement — Heresy versus mistakes and errors.

There are variations in the degrees of importance of conflicting doctrinal claims.

Some conflicting claims rise to the level of Heresy and directly affect salvation itself.

One such claim would be whether salvation is by "faith alone" (Protestant) or by "faith + works" (Roman Catholic). Both Roman Catholic and Protestant churches claim the other's belief in this matter to be damnable heresy.

Note: In the Section of our Website titled "Pain, Suffering, Death, and the 'Why's' Thereof",

Question # 9 addresses the great split between Protestants (who hold that Salvation is by "Faith Alone") and Roman Catholics (who hold that Salvation by "Faith + Works") in great depth.

Other conflicting claims, though very important in that they affect both our view and worship of God, are considered to be mistakes or misinterpretations that do not rise to the level heresy, affecting the salvation of the individual believer.

Examples here would include: The time of baptism (as an infant or later at the time of belief) ... The manner of Christ's presence in the Lord's Supper (purely symbolic versus varying degrees of spiritual (but not physical) ... the degree of relationship between the Old Testament and New Testament ("Covenant Theology" versus "Dispensational Theology") ... and other things like the use of choirs and musical instruments in worship.

One other area of difference concerns what may or may not be permitted in worship — Should only things specifically permitted in the Bible be a part of worship (commonly called the "Regulative Principle") or can anything that is not specifically prohibited in the Bible be used in worship?

For an example of an important conflicting claim that does not rise to "heresy" ...

... We will look back to Question # 10 which addressed the disagreement between Reformed Calvinists and Arminians on the topic of "Does 'Man Choose God' or does 'God Choose Man?"

As a Reformed (Calvinist) Christian, who has studied the matter a great deal, though I simply cannot see any meaningful Scriptural proof for either "prevenient grace" or that "Man Chooses God", though I fully think and believe there is serious error and a great number of terrible implications arising from Arminian Theology, as well as much loss of comfort and assurance of salvation for the individual Christian in Arminian thought, I still fully consider my Arminian friends and relatives to be my brothers and sisters in Christ and still believe that one day we will all stand around God's throne eternally praising Him for the grace and mercy that He has shown to us.

[Note: If you wish to delve more deeply into the issue, we refer you to or Question 10.]

A word on "Heresy"

There are certain orthodox doctrinal beliefs that one cannot deny and be a Christian.

Every organization has standards which must be held for one to be a member of that organization — medical, legal, accounting, etc. It is no different for being a member of the Christian church.

The church has throughout the centuries identified certain teachings as being heretical teachings and strictly warned against holding them, under pain of excommunication.

Now, we are well aware that the thief on the cross ...

... did not have a complex doctrinal theological system worked-out when he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42).

No, he made a very simple declaration of faith in Jesus as the Son of God dying for his sins and asked Jesus to accept him as a disciple. That was a simple and sincere expression of his faith that was sufficient for his salvation.

So, let's be very clear about what we are and are not saying here ...

We are NOT saying that the list below are things that you have to have worked out and understand before you can be saved.

We ARE saying that these are crucial fundamental truths that you cannot later come to deny and be a Christian.

Essential beliefs that one cannot deny and still be a Christian would include ...

A sound and firm belief in the Authority and Inspiration of the Bible

A Trinitarian view that there is but one God existing in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all three being eternal, co-equal and of the same substance.

The Virgin Conception and Birth of Jesus Christ

That Jesus Christ was both fully God and fully Man — and led a sinless life of perfect obedience to God's law

That Jesus Christ made a perfect and complete atonement on the cross for the sins of His elect, an atonement to which nothing can be added in any way, shape or form

That our Justification/Salvation is by "faith alone" and not by any admixture of "faith and works"

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

That all who have died and will die (together with those who will be taken up alive at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) will face a final day of judgment after which they will either enter into heaven to be with the Lord or be eternally consigned to hell

If you hold any of the above beliefs to NOT be true, the church throughout the ages declares you to be guilty of heresy. You need to go to God and ask Him to help guide you into the truth of the matter. If you diligently seek His truth, you will, with His help, find it ...

"... for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Note: In the "Pain, Suffering, Death and the 'WHYS?' Thereof" section of our website, in Paper # 8, "How Can I Know for Sure that I am a Christian?", Appendix 2, pages 48-56, we have a section titled "Self-Deceived Groups Who Think Themselves to be Christians, but are Not", that should be helpful to you in discerning heresy.

Before closing out Part II, that are two things that we want to note again ...

First, the basic teachings of Scripture — those of man's position before God, his need of a Savior, and how Jesus Christ fulfills this role are so very abundantly, simply, and clearly set forth in Scripture that even an uneducated man can easily read the Bible by himself or hear it preached and understand the basic tenets of salvation.

Second, that while the main Protestant denominations might disagree over such things as the correct mode and time of baptism, they all hold clearly to the orthodox tenants and fundamentals of the faith as it concerns Jesus Christ, His atonement for our sins, and salvation by "faith alone". Again, there is a vast difference between "heresy" and "mistakes and errors".

Let us now turn to ...

Part III: Answer the Question, "'Whom?' should I believe and 'Why?' should I believe them?"*

Our Answer is that you should not automatically believe what we say on the matter or what anyone else says on the matter. You should believe only what God's word has to say on the matter.

Even the great Apostle Paul praised the Bereans for "searching the Scripture" to find out whether what he claimed and taught "was so" ...

"Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Acts 17:10-11)

THAT is HOW you handle differing doctrinal claims. You ...

"... search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so."

If even the great Apostle Paul praised the "fair-minded" Bereans for searching out the Scriptures to see whether the things that he said "were so", we can ask and expect no less from our readers.

So, don't automatically believe me. Don't automatically believe the other fellow. Believe rather what the Bible has to say on the matter.

But this does present somewhat of a problem for many Christians ...

... for in order to be able to properly "search the Scriptures" and in order to "discern" the truth of a matter, you need to advance in spiritual maturity from a mere knowledge of the basic "first principles" of your faith to being "[skilled] in the word of righteousness" and having "by reason of use ... their senses exercised to discern both good and evil".

How to do this is addressed directly below in Part IV.

Part IV: Here we explain how to progress from being a Christian "babe" subsisting on "milk" to the "full age" of Christian maturity subsisting on "solid food", so as to be able to "by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." [Which, by the way, you are commanded to do.]**

Again, as stated above, in order to properly "search the Scriptures" and in order to be able to "discern" the truth of a matter, you need to advance in spiritual maturity from a mere knowledge of the basic "first principles" of your faith to being "[skilled] in the word of righteousness" and to having "your senses exercised to discern both good and evil".

As we will see, all three members of the Trinity and the Apostles Paul and John command you to do just that and admonish those who do not.

For example, both the author of Hebrews and the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians (probably one and the same person) sternly admonish believers for being content to remain unskilled "milk" or "baby" Christians that lack the spiritual maturity to discern between good and evil and for not progressing to the "solid food" of sound doctrine ...

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:12-14)

"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal". (I Corinthians 3:1-3)

Both of these groups of Christians were admonished for being Christian "babes", because they should "by this time be teachers", but they still need elementary instruction "in the first principles" all over again. They are also admonished for being "unskilled in the word of righteousness" and not being able to "by reason of use have [their] senses exercised to discern both good and evil". You can only reach that point of spiritual maturity by partaking of the "solid food" of sound doctrine.

So if you want to avoid being "unskilled in the word of righteousness", if you desire to "by reason of use have [your] senses exercised to discern both good and evil", if you want to mature from a "milk-fed" Christian "babe" to full maturity Christianity, you must grow and mature into the "solid food" of the deeper things of God and gain understanding of His doctrinal truths.

Doctrine is "solid food".

At this point, many will rather vehemently object with something like ...

"You want me to study — 'DOCTRINE'"!!!

"But I hate DOCTRINE"!!! I don't even like the sound of the word!

All I care about is Jesus and Him crucified and I don't need a bunch of side issues distracting me from Him!

That is a fairly typical response when the topic of reading or studying doctrine is first brought up. But that is, in fact, a very unbiblical response and, as we have seen, one that brings a fairly strong Biblical admonition on the one who makes it.

In reality, rather than hating "Doctrine", you are actually commanded to study it.

How so?

We'll show you, but let's first define exactly what "doctrine" is and means.

OK — What exactly is "doctrine"?

Well, "doctrine" is defined as ...

"That which is taught and believed to be true by a church."

Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms by Donald K. McKin

So, doctrines and creedal statements are really nothing more than statements about what our church or denomination believes the Bible says and teaches.

Doctrinal statements strive to be faithful to Scripture and understandable to those who read them and are always held under the Bible and never over it.

Doctrinal statements should also, by their very nature, be "systematic". Precisely because they are statements concerning God's inspired word, all "Doctrinal Statements" should be internally consistent with each other and never contradictory in any way.

As we will see later on, even churches and denominations that claim to have no creedal statements or doctrinal standards do, indeed, have very definite and very strict creedal statements and doctrinal beliefs — just try crossing them on any point of their "doctrine" and you will see that this is so. They most definitely do have doctrines and statements of belief; they are just not written down and systematized.

OK. But, again, how does an aversion to studying "doctrine" constitute a "very unbiblical" position, and bring "Biblical admonishment" upon the one who holds it?

An aversion to studying Biblical doctrine is "very unbiblical" and brings "Biblical admonishment" upon the one holding it because studying sound doctrine is not just an option for the Christian to consider, but is actually something that they are commanded to do by the Apostles Paul and John, by all three members of the Holy Trinity, and by the Bible itself.

We will give you nine examples of this below ...

"Doctrine" was one of the four reasons given by God, and the first listed, for which the Bible itself was written in the first place...

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16)

Note well that "doctrine" is held to be a "profitable" thing for you to pursue if you want to be "thoroughly equipped for every good work".

As we saw earlier, both the author of Hebrews and the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians sternly admonish believers for being content to remain unskilled "milk" or "baby" Christians that lack the spiritual maturity to discern between good and evil by not progressing to the "solid food" of sound doctrine

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:12-14)

Paul in a similar vein writes to the Corinthians ...

"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal". (I Corinthians 3:1-3)

These Christians were admonished because they should "by this time be teachers", but still need elementary instruction "in the first principles" all over again. They are admonished for being "unskilled in the word of righteousness" and of not being able to "by reason of use have [their] senses exercised to discern both good and evil". You can only come to that level of spiritual maturity by partaking of the "solid food" of sound doctrine.

So if you want to avoid being "unskilled in the word of righteousness" and "by reason of use have [your] senses exercised to discern both good and evil" you must grow into and partake of the "solid food" of the deeper things of God and gain understanding of His Biblical (doctrinal) truths.

Again, "doctrine" is nothing more that a statement (whether oral or written) of what a denomination believes that the Bible says.

"Doctrine" is "solid food".

Studying "doctrine" is God's "will" for your life.

God is very clear in the Bible about His "will" for your life. He tells us of it in I Thessalonians ...

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (I Thessalonians 4:3)

God's will for your life is for you to grow in "sanctification".

And how does one grow in sanctification?

Our Lord tells us how to grow in "sanctification" in His High Priestly prayer, wherein He prays to the Father for those who believe in Him ...

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17)

God's will for your life is that you are to immerse yourself in His word, the "truth", and grow in the knowledge of what it says and teaches (i.e., grow in knowledge of its "doctrine").

Thus, we grow in all the areas of grace, holiness, good works, knowledge and discernment by immersing ourselves in God's word. By so doing, you fulfill God's "will" for your life, your "sanctification".

Very importantly, our Lord Himself spoke of His own use of doctrine, the origin of His doctrine, and the importance of doctrine in the Christian's life ...

"Jesus answered them and said, 'My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority." (John 7:16-17)

In short, he will gain "discernment".

[More from our Lord on this matter is presented below, in Reason #9]

Paul refers to the gospel and its teachings as "that form of doctrine to which you were delivered" and which we are to obey from the heart, by complying with and conforming ourselves unto it. To do that, we must first know and understand it, i.e., we must study it.

"But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered." (Romans 6:17)

Consider that Paul repeatedly instructed both Timothy and Titus on the critical importance of studying and acquiring "doctrine" for both themselves and their hearers ...

"Till I come give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." (I Timothy 4:13)

"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." (I Timothy 4:16)

"For a bishop must be blameless ... holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict." (Titus 1: 1,9)

Good and worthy elders in the church are described as those who "labor in the word and doctrine" ...

"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." (I Timothy 5:17)

Both Peter and Paul have commanded us to ...

"Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure"
(2 Peter 1:10)

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves."
(2 Corinthians 13:5)

To do our Christian duty as set forth by both Peter and Paul, i.e., to be "diligent to make your call and election sure" and to "examine" and "test" yourself "as to whether you are in the faith", you will have to progress from the "milk" of "babes" to the "solid food" of sound doctrine.

Most important of all ...

In direct opposition to the anti-intellectualism of our day, all three members of the Holy Trinity tell us to use our minds to pursue wisdom and get understanding, i.e., to pursue the "solid food" of "sound doctrine".

Consider that ...

... our Lord Jesus Christ in responding to the question, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?", said ...
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)

So, very importantly, according to our Lord Jesus Christ, among the requirements of "the first and great commandment" is that the Christian is to love God "with all your mind".

So, do it! Use your mind to learn more about Him and about His "doctrine".

Consider that ...

God the Holy Spirit has told us in Proverbs to ...

"Get wisdom! Get understanding!" (Proverbs 4:5)

Indeed, the book of Proverbs itself personifies "Wisdom" as a woman calling "simple ones" unto herself for instruction and tells us that it was specifically written to help us

"To know wisdom and instruction,

To perceive the words of understanding,

To receive the instruction of wisdom,

Justice, judgment, and equity" (Proverbs 1:2-3)

Consider that ...

God the Father, bids us, through the prophet Isaiah, to ...

"Come now, and let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18).

Consider also that ...

God the Holy Spirit has given us in His Bible a large section of what is commonly referred to as "Wisdom Literature" — the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon —

... all of which are majestic in their scope, and which, along with the grand and eloquent exhortations of the great Prophets of Israel and the uplifting and awe-inspiring sayings and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, stand far above the great literature of the world and very far above all other so-called "holy" books.

These five "wisdom" books were put there by God to help you grow in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge — i.e., to grow in "doctrine".

So, use them!

Consider again that the entire Bible itself ...

... was given to us "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16).

So, use the Bible to develop the "solid food" of "doctrine", so that you might be ...

"... complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work"

Clearly, all three members of the Christian Trinity, the Apostles Paul and John, and the Bible itself call us to the pursuit of wisdom, reason, understanding and discernment. We are to use, not set aside, our minds for the glory of God and for our own personal advancement in sanctification. The Christian should always be growing in knowledge and sound doctrine.

Let's take our use of the Bible as an example of what we mean by advancing FROM "milk" TO "solid food" ...

There are different levels in our use of the Bible, such as reading, meditating on, and studying, which can take us from "milk" to "solid food". If you want to advance from "milk" to "solid food" in your Christian life, if you want to attain to the "full age" of Christian maturity, if you want to "by reason of use have [your] senses exercised to discern both good and evil", then you must move beyond merely "reading" the Bible to immersing yourself in it.

Your use of your Bible is your key to growth in Christian maturity and sanctification.

Thus do we see our Lord praying to the God the Father, in His High Priestly prayer, on the night of His betrayal, concerning His disciples ...

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17)

Thus does our Lord, in His High Priestly prayer, instruct us that the best way for us to advance in our sanctification, knowledge, wisdom, discernment, and Christian maturity, is to grow from living on "milk" to living on "solid food", through a disciplined, progressive, and increased reading, meditating on, and studying of the Bible.

The Bible is a treasure trove of gold just waiting to be picked up and discovered.

We can, simply by reading the Bible, find many gold nuggets just lying on the surface. For example, all the truths that we need to know for salvation are easily found by a simple reading or preaching of the word. These are the "first principles" that Paul speaks of in his Hebrews quote. This is our golden "milk" that saves, sustains, and strengthens us.

Other golden truths lie just under the surface and can, with a little more effort on our part and the aid of the Holy Spirit, be unearthed by surface "strip" mining (i.e., by meditation). Here we are progressing into "solid food".

But there are also a number of really deep truths of gold that have to have to be found by sinking mine shafts into the earth. These are found by Bible "study", which, again, requires some time and effort on our part.

But the "time and effort" spent are worthwhile because they are necessary to move us beyond being Christian "babes" to become "teachers", to move us beyond being "unskilled in the word of righteousness" to "by reason of use having [your] senses exercised to discern both good and evil".

The only way to come to spiritual maturity is by immersing ourselves in the Bible and partaking of the "solid food" of sound doctrine.

Again, "[doctrine" is nothing more than statements of what we believe the Bible teaches.]

And we must always remember, whether reading, meditating on, or studying the Bible, to always pray for the Holy Spirit's aid and "wisdom" in doing so.

Note: By spending "time and effort" ...

... we are NOT talking of spending hours a day in deep study or attending Seminary.

No, we ARE talking about fairly simple things like —

Getting a good Study Bible and reading some of its introductions and notes.

[I personally like the New Geneva Study Bible (NKJV) and the Reformation Study Bible (ESV). Both can be found at the Ligonier Ministries website.]

Joining a good Bible Study group at your church or with neighbors Attending your Church's Sunday School classes which often teach books of the Bible Watching some Bible Study teaching series by streaming or DVD — The Ligonier Ministries Store is a great resource source for adults and children Getting a good daily devotional guide — We highly recommend Tabletalk magazine, a monthly by Ligonier Ministries If your denomination has written Creeds or Standards to which they adhere, get a copy of them and perhaps also a good companion Study Guide to them.

[I personally love and highly recommend G. I. Willianson's Study Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith.]

Concerning Doctrinal Standards and Creeds Which again are nothing but statements about what your denomination believes the Bible teaches ...**

... People usually do not have to subscribe to a Church's Creeds and Doctrinal Standards to become members of the church. The Creeds and Doctrinal Standards are statements to guide them as to what the church believes the Bible teaches.

For example, my denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms as our doctrinal Standards. But, one does not have to subscribe to belief in our Standards to join our church.

No, we have only five simple Questions for membership, Questions which any Christian should be able to answer affirmatively. We put no restriction on entry into God's church, beyond those which He Himself has set.

The Questions are ...

Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?
Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the gospel?
Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?
Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?
Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?

These are the only Five Questions for membership that we have. One would, of course, have to subscribe to our Standards to hold the Office of Elder or Deacon in our church.

Lastly, we would refer you to our website's section on ...

"Pain, Suffering, Death and the 'WHY's' Thereof"

... Where we have a Paper titled ...

Paper # 9: Christians — "Weak" and "Strong" Why is there one? How to become the other!

The Joyous and Glorious Road to "Full Age" Christian Maturity

... A Paper that you should find very helpful in transitioning from "milk" to "solid food".

We would at this point like to respond to three common objections to studying doctrine ...

"Our church doesn't believe in creeds."
"We have no creed but Christ. All we need to know for our salvation is Jesus Christ and Him crucified!"
"I don't like doctrine and I don't believe I am required to pursue it!"

Our answers to them would be ...

Objection 1: "Our church doesn't believe in creeds."

Churches that so boldly proclaim "We don't believe in creeds", may sound very pious, but it is simply not true.

All churches have doctrinal beliefs, whether written down or not. They may deny having a creed, but just wait until you or someone else crosses them on one of their unwritten doctrinal points and you will see just how real and how strong their creedal beliefs really are.

In truth, they cannot avoid having creedal beliefs, whether written or unwritten.

Let's ask them, for example, what they believe about "Jesus Christ" Himself ...

How did He get here? Did He exist before He was born? What exactly is He? Is He God? Is He man? Is He both God and man at the same time? If so, does that mean that His person is a compound mixture of both? What about His nature — Is it of God or man? Are they amalgamated together? How can He possibly save us? What does He represent to the Christian? Can we make drawings of Him? How did He perform His miracles? Does the Holy Spirit proceed from Him as well as from the Father? Is He subordinate to the Father? What exactly is His relationship to the Holy Spirit?

Giving answers to these and many other questions concerning the Person and Offices of Jesus Christ will set any church pretty well on their way to having a sizeable set of creedal statements or doctrinal beliefs concerning Christ, whether written down or not. And this is only one issue.

Our answers to our next two objections will expand on this.

Objection 2: "We have no creed but Christ. All we need to know for our salvation is Jesus Christ and Him crucified!"*

It is true that a correct knowledge "of Jesus Christ" and exercising saving faith in "Him crucified' for our sin is all that we need for our salvation. We saw this clearly set forth in the case of the thief on the cross.

But God does not want you to just rest there, stagnate, and never grow and mature in your knowledge and understanding of the Bible.

No! If you are a Christian, God very plainly tells you that it is His "will" for you is for you to grow in your sanctification ...

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification." (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

And, as we have already seen, both the authors of Hebrews and I Corinthians tell you very plainly that you need to strive to progress on past "milk" to "solid food" — and admonish you if you do not.

As a Christian, you need to mature to "full age" and be among "those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Objection 3: "But I don't like doctrine and I don't believe I am required to pursue it!"*

If you "don't like doctrine" and really "don't believe that you are required to pursue it", then you should carefully read, or reread, our nine points above on the extreme importance and necessity of studying "doctrine" as taught by the Apostles Paul and John and, most importantly, by all three members of the Holy Trinity.

In closing, we would say three things ...

First, all creedal statements and doctrinal claims, whether made by individuals, by individual churches, or by entire denominations, should be fully supported and thoroughly backed up by numerous Biblical references to help the reader distinguish Biblical truth from the mere opinions of men. Always be very wary of those that do not, or cannot, thoroughly back-up what they claim with numerous Biblical references.

Second, you should always pray to God for "wisdom" in your growth into "solid food". He has promised it to you ...

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

All pursuit of "solid food" should always be approached with prayer for the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Third, always remember that Scripture is to be your guiding light to "discerning" the truth and to 'thoroughly equipping you for every good work' ...

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16)

Scripture, and NOT high-sounding and clever words, NOT intellectual or philosophical reasoning (standing by themselves), NOT TV evangelists or sports figures or popular TV personalities, should be your final guide in discerning the truth of any matter.

Again, even the great Apostle Paul praised people for "searching the Scriptures daily" to see if even the things that he said "were so" ...

"Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." (Acts 17:10-11)

You will never find a Bible commentator greater than the Apostle Paul. You also should strive to merit his praise "by searching the Scriptures daily" to find out if the things you are reading and people are telling you are "so".

Scripture itself should always be your final and deciding guide to discerning the truth.