The answer is yes. We need both right doctrine and right living. There are numerous examples in the Bible where the church battles heresy. Yet, when we look at the Bible it has so much more to say about right living than it does about right doctrine.
In Titus 2 the Apostle Paul writes, “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” Paul acknowledges doctrine is important. It is the first thing he mentions in this chapter. But as we go on to read the rest of the chapter he takes an interesting turn. Listen to what he says in verse two:
“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.”
What Paul is doing here is connecting right doctrine with right living. They go hand in hand. He goes on to address older women, younger women, and younger men. then we come to verse 11 where he says:
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It is teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age . . .”
We spend a lot of time protecting doctrine in the church, but I wonder if we are spending our time wisely. Do we have a bigger issue with false teaching or a bigger issue with moral failing? Yes, there are certainly false teachers out there, but I know many more Christians that struggle with moral failings than I know Christians who struggle with false teachings.
As a pastor of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, I am glad to be a part of a church body that is so well grounded in its theology. But right doctrine does not guarantee right living. Better teaching does not mean better living. If better doctrine meant an end to conflict, then we would have done away with conflict long ago.
When we are called to Christ, we need to know he wants more than just our minds, he wants our hearts too.
