SOUND DOCTRINE by George C. Tenney

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 25, 1893

SOUND DOCTRINE.

By George C. Tenney

BY ELDER G. C. TENNEY.

"SPEAK thou the things that become sound doctrine." Such was the emphatic charge of the great apostle to his son in the gospel.

Truth in our day has no greater enemy than the foes which are in the house of its friends. It maintains an unequal fight against error, because of a weak-kneed policy which prevails among those who profess to be upholders of its banners. Positive religious convictions are giving way to a sickly sentiment which favors catholicity of creeds at the expense of positive statements of doctrinal truth. It is considered by many very narrow to entertain a well-defined outline of faith as regards religious forms or specific duties. It is magnanimous and broad, in the same minds, to ignore all distinctions of faith and practice, and to contend that one church is just as good as another. Dogmatism is spoken of with a contemptible emphasis on the "dog," as if it were canine to entertain a definite idea of Christian doctrine, and to believe those doctrines to be right and essential.

In the midst of this popular clamor for peace on any basis or no basis at all, we would respectfully raise the question, Must a man be considered a bigot because he cannot say that he believes that those who differ with him in important matters are as nearly right as himself? It would really seem that this is the case. And the consequence is a wishy-washy gush about "love," and "charity," and "only believe," which in its boneless folds would inclose the pure and the impure in one body, all being on an equal footing.

We claim to be as much in favor of brotherhood as anyone. But at the same time we claim that true Christian brotherhood has its distinctions, which clearly mark between the true and the false. Its basis is truth. For truth it must seek and contend. Says Christ, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." It is the will of God that furnishes the Christian with the specifications of his duty. "My brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it." Not those who say, "Lord, Lord," but those who do the will of the Father, will at last enter heaven.

In the instructions of our Saviour the word of God was always held up as the standard of righteousness and of judgment, the means of sanctification, the embodiment of the truth. Its study is urged upon us. It is declared to be profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and for instruction in righteousness.

It is true that we have no right to sit in judgment on the characters of those about us. God will judge all things. But at the same time no man with a trace of moral backbone can neutralize his own convictions of truth and duty by admitting that those who radically oppose those convictions are in as acceptable a position before God as he is. And if his convictions possess the same elements that those of Paul and all the good men of the past have possessed, he will feel it to be his duty, in the spirit of kindness and courtesy, to shed abroad the light of truth, and thus lead others to a knowledge of the truths he loves. There is nothing inconsistent with pure Christianity in this, nothing that savors of bigotry.

We need not undertake to judge of the sincerity of others who differ with us, much less to impugn their motives. We should recognize the fact that others honestly hold opinions which are opposed to what we hold to be the truth. We should regard the feelings and rights of such to be as sacred as our own; but at the same time we need not conceal our deep and solemn conviction that they are mistaken in their views, and that our own approach nearer to a correct interpretation of the divine will.

There are, however, plenty of people about nowadays who are ready to cry, "Pestilent fellow," "Setter forth of strange doctrines," "Turning the world upside down," as were the Pharisees in the days of Paul. To such we commend the wise counsel of Gamaliel (Acts 5: 33-39), and the example of the noble Bereans (Acts 17: 11).

It is very easy to raise the cry of heresy; it is natural to cleave to the things we have been taught; and it is dangerous to be drifting about with every wind of doctrine. But to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth should be the purpose of everyone. Sound doctrine is necessary to a sound faith and stability of character. It is necessary to symmetry of character. Good, sound, and distinct doctrines and principles are to character what the skeleton is to the body. We shrink impulsively from contact with a creature that has no bones. The clammy, flabby folds of the jellyfish are repulsive; nor do we, on the other hand, really admire the arrangement of the shellfish, which wears its skeleton on its back. We rather admire the human form, which consists, in its perfect state, of a firm, unyielding skeleton, clothed, modified, and beautifully rounded with sinews, muscle, skin, and other tissues.

Do not let us wear our moral skeleton on the outside, lest we appear deformed and cause pain to ourselves and others. Rather let us "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." But at the same time, when we clasp friendly moral hands with our fellow-men, let them feel, beneath the warm grasp of Christian charity, the impress of firm conviction. Let them know that we love them all, and that we love the truth, and we wish them to know it and love it too.