There is a good deal of talk here about "meaningless talk," "interest in controversies," "quarreling about words," and "godless chatter." This theme can also be found in tomorrows reading of Paul's letter to Titus. It might be an apt criticism of this blog where I've highlighted stories and text that seems to fly in the face of the status quo. It is certainly not my intention. But it is a part of our tradition in the churches of Christ. What we honestly consider to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" and rejecting "false teaching" is often, in my estimation, "godless chatter" and "quarreling about words." We think the excellence of doctrine and ability to follow the letter of the law will save us. If we don't think this, well, we at least model in our actions this is what we believe.
But the real goal of sound doctrine is love. Or as Paul begins his letter to Timothy:
"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work -- which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wondered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. they want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm." [1 Timothy 1:3-7]
Do they "not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm" because all of their facts are wrong? Or is it because there doctrine is a "clanging cymbal?" It does not first and foremost honor the command to "love?" Is their teaching and doctrine based on strictly "knowledge?" Or does it come "from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith?" I think we hold up substance too often in our doctrine without love. It's not what's written in the book that matters. It's what written on our heart.
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