Study Guide: Religion & Relationships

Purpose: To have a discussion about the balance between having right doctrine and having right relationships, and how sometimes we become imbalanced on the priority of these two essential concepts.

Texts: 1 Timothy 4:16; Titus 2:1-10; 1 Timothy 6:2b-5; 1 Corinthians 15:33

Icebreaker Question: What first comes to your mind when I say the word "doctrine?"

(Examples: The Inquisition, Debates, boring religious professors/preachers, something that mostly divides people, fussing over Bible trivia, doctrinal hair-splitting).

Spiritual Questions:

(1) Have you ever seen such an emphasis placed upon "right doctrine" to the exclusion of "right relationships" in the church? Discuss.

(2) Do you think it is possible to overreact to a lack of emphasis on relationships and ignore the importance of right doctrine? Discuss

Scripture Study and Questions:

(1) 1 Timothy 4:16 - "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching." Although first given as instructions to a preacher, this principle applies to all Christians. We must not only watch out for our own spiritual relationship with God, we must pay careful attention to the doctrines that we believe.

(2) Titus 2:1ff- "But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine...." We often think of "sound doctrine" as believing correct theological concepts. However, Paul instructs Titus to teach "sound doctrine" and goes on to discuss right relationships that people have with one another.

(3) 1 Timothy 6:2b-5- "If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing." Paul stresses how essential that believing right doctrine is to the Christian's life. Too many people make bold statements about truth that are nothing more than "puffed up" opinion that reflects little if any true understanding of biblical doctrine. The Bible stresses the importance of being grounded in right doctrine.

(4) 1 Corinthians 15:33- "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.'" This is a verse of Scripture that is often quoted but not understood in its proper context. Paul gives this admonition amid his warning that people were teaching wrong doctrine about the resurrection (see 15:12). Paul warns us not to be deceived into thinking that we can listen to false doctrinal teaching and associate with those who believe wrong doctrine and not be affected--"bad company will ruin good morals." This verse shows a direct connection between right relationships and right doctrine (see also 2 John 9-10).

Open Reflection and Application Questions:

(1) What kind of attitude have you had toward doctrine in the church?

(2) What kind of attitude have you had toward relationships in the church?

Helpful Insight:

(1) Christianity Today Magazine, March 2010. For many years evangelical churches have stressed the importance of relationships and subjective spiritual experience and have tended to deemphasize doctrine. Many are beginning to realize that this approach is imbalanced and are striving to emphasize the importance of doctrine and theology. The cover article of the March 2010 issue of Christianity Today was all about the importance of theology. James Steinberg observes that doctrine should not be viewed as a "boundary" but a "compass" that can orient us (23). Steinberg quotes James K.A. Smith who says, "Theology is not some intellectual option that makes 'smart' Christians; it is the graced understanding that makes us faithful disciples" (24). In an interview with Joshua Harris, he states, "We shouldn't say, 'Eggheads, you do your doctrine thing,' or for people who are spiritually inclined,' 'Let's have a prayer meeting.' We can't have an experience of Jesus Christ apart from what he's revealed about himself" (29).

(2) Philip Yancey's The Bible Jesus Read page 26. "Jesus told a story of two men who built houses that, from the outside, looked alike. The true difference between them came to light when a storm hit. One house did not fall, even though rain poured down, streams rose, and winds beat against it, because its foundation rested on rock. The second house, foolishly built on sand, fell with a great crash. In theology as well as construction, foundations matter."

(3) R.C. Sproul's The Soul's Quest for God page 47. "The modern Christian tends to ignore or decry the importance of right doctrine. Tired of endless disputes, Christians today embrace the idea that what really matters is right relationships, not right doctrine. The idea that one is more important than the other is a faulty premise; both right relationships and right doctrine matter."