Which is more important: Correct doctrine or a godly attitude toward others?

[dcontroversal]

I think words on a page cannot possible show motive or attitude unless it is obvious....We often judge motive or attitude when none is there.....Having said that I will also add....Jesus, John the Baptist, Paul, Elijah, Moses, The Sons of Thunder, etc....all at one time or another made very pointed, heated comments towards those who were in error and or those who were peddling mistruths and or a false gospel...the words fools, blind leaders of the blind, Satan, snakes, vipers, hypocrites, etc. were also used by these men of God and under inspiration.....Sarcasm and anger were also employed as well......

Based upon the above we can easily see that these mature servants of Christ and Christ himself used speech that you might include in your question about Christian God honoring character.......it is not false at times to fire someone up and or respond with anger, sarcasm and or very pointed comments....

Having said that I will now judge myself.....

Most who are regulars know me.....I have no problem engaging anybody on this site with decent, respectful dialogue even when in disagreement....at the same time I will fire up anyone who...

a. Puts words into my mouth that I did not say
b. Twist what I have said
c. Embellish what I have said
d. Devalue the work and or promises of Christ
e. Throw my Lord and Savior under the bus while pushing religious dogma

I know that I have said many pointed, straight forward, stiff, mouthy, sarcastic things "AT TIMES" when dealing with "a-e" above.....I have also APOLOGIZED openly numerous times when I have gone beyond the line and have also apologized behind the scenes individually at times as well.....

Jesus called all types to spread his word......We can see this truth throughout the whole bible....Some were loving and timid in their approach, some were fiery and bold, some used soft speech some ripped it up and so on and so forth...

AT the end of the day.....something we all need to understand....The power is in the message...not the messenger...God from day one has been using IMPERFECT MEN to preach his PERFECT WORD...........just saying!

 

[Depleted]

I believe he is not asking, "Who is Jesus in relation to God" but rather, "Who is the God of Jesus".

In the same way, one person may ask another on a bus, "To which god do you pray?" So to which 'god' did Jesus pray?

You must have far more interesting bus trips than I get. The deep questions asked on the bus in Philly are things like, "How do we get these new bus passes?" And, "Should he be bring that bike on the bus/should she be bringing that stroller on the bus?"

(I know. I get too serious at the wrong time, don't I?)

 

[Depleted]

The answet is the Father is the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't think so. God is triune, not a tribunal.

 

[Depleted]

There are differences in doctrine... but you'll only be judged according to the knowledge you possess. If you know to love people.. and love life... then you'll act accordingly... or you won't. And there is how you are sanctified... it's in the doing. Faith is a verb.. whether in the Greek or Latin... it is "the act the follows believing"... now.. whether we are all looking for the correct doctrine is another story... and another chance to faith... or not.

"Ignorance of the law is no excuse."

We're not judged on what we know. We're judged on what we do. And, judged by the Law. Mercy comes in when our judgement landed on Jesus on the cross, but even he was judged by the law. Not on how much he knew.

God is thorough in his judgement.

 

[Depleted]

I am told I speak of experience and heart knowledge to much lol

You and Miri do the same thing. You speak from personal experience and what you gained from it as seen through the Lord. I think that's a good thing.

 

[Depleted]

If you can't refute their doctrine, then attack their character and personality. I see this all the time.

Love without truth is too soft and truth without love is too hard. A proper balance of correct doctrine and godly character are both important.

Gonna have to disagree with this. Jesus and Paul were soft and hard, and that wasn't a median range. They blasted both extremes. I'm a tough old coot, yet sometimes they even shock me.

 

[Marcelo]

...... So, my question is, "Is it more important to have a 'correct' doctrine and treat your brothers and sisters insultingly, disrespectfully, and ungodly, or, is is better to have a God honoring attitude that reflects the love of Jesus to others and not necessarily have the 'correct' doctrinal position.

Both are important, but your question is "which is more important?" Well, godly attitude is more important because the Lord Jesus demonstrated it in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Both the priest and the Levite had "correct" doctrine, but it was the Samaritan -- whose religion was wrong -- who displayed a correct attitude.

 

[pottersclay]

I don't think you can have one without the other. Lip service is very prevelent in the church today. Be warm, be fed, be blessed seems to be a doctrine in and of it's self.
But as Jesus points out in the story of the good Samaritan it's taking the time and following through with your deeds that counts.
Being moved with compassion on a total stranger is heavenly sent.
Doctrinal truths benefit no one unless you can show the love of him who's the foundation of truth.
Yet you can have that godly attitude towards some one without explanation knowing that your father in heaven rewards such things which is a doctrinal truth.

 

[pottersclay]

Both are important, but your question is "which is more important?" Well, godly attitude is more important because the Lord Jesus demonstrated it in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Both the priest and the Levite had "correct" doctrine, but it was the Samaritan -- whose religion was wrong -- who displayed a correct attitude.

Wow here's a witness....your just faster on this keyboard...

 

[preacher4truth]

Neither will incorrect doctrine cause ungodly attitude.

So, antinomianism won't cause a person to live lawlessly?

 

[preacher4truth]

Some of yus need a good prodding..

Yus we do.

 

[joaniemarie]

If you can't refute their doctrine, then attack their character and personality. I see this all the time.

Love without truth is too soft and truth without love is too hard. A proper balance of correct doctrine and godly character are both important.

I see this all the time too. Those who can't refute someone's doctrine will go after them personally. They want to be able to do it and do it often because they have not learned (nor do they want to learn) how to control themselves.

It's much easier not to discuss the Bible and instead go after guess-ti-mations about another person's character. I don't believe people like this can give up their anger very easily and may not know how to refute or disagree any other way with people. Angry people depend on anger. They think it "works" because it shuts down conversation. Unfortunately they don't realize no one wants to argue with an angry person. Our time is too valuable. Most often people want to just avoid any contact with angry people.

This is nothing for an angry person to be proud of or wear as a badge of honor.


Jesus was strong even when He was tender. He was tender when He was strong. People never took advantage of Him because He was of a Godly character.

 

[joaniemarie]

Both are important, but your question is "which is more important?" Well, godly attitude is more important because the Lord Jesus demonstrated it in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Both the priest and the Levite had "correct" doctrine, but it was the Samaritan -- whose religion was wrong -- who displayed a correct attitude.

Very good post. The love of God constrains and activates us because God is love. We love God because He first loved us. Those who love God and one another are of God. That kind of love comes from God in the name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. It's a fruit of the Spirit walked out in the new creation in Christ. We can't do it in our flesh.

 

[EarnestQ]

If you can't refute their doctrine, then attack their character and personality. I see this all the time.

Love without truth is too soft and truth without love is too hard. A proper balance of correct doctrine and godly character are both important.

It is my assertion that truth without love is arrogance, and love without truth is deception. But love with truth in balance is wisdom.

 

[Ralph-]

So, my question is, "Is it more important to have a 'correct' doctrine and treat your brothers and sisters insultingly, disrespectfully, and ungodly, or, is is better to have a God honoring attitude that reflects the love of Jesus to others and not necessarily have the 'correct' doctrinal position.


(We will assume a true belief and acceptance of God's Son, Jesus, as ones Lord and Savior on the part of the offending poster.)

The most important thing is how you act, not what you know:


"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."-Galatians 5:6

"what counts is the new creation."-Galatians 6:16

"17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God"-Romans 14:17-18

"9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.10We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat."-Hebrews 13:9-10

A second related question is: "Is Christian maturity measured by 'correct' doctrine or a God honoring character?"

Maturity is measured by character. Paul tells the Corinthians that their quarreling showed that they were immature and un-spiritual:


"1Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?"-1 Corinthians 3:1-3

 

[Budman]

Yep, it is impossible that Muslim share the same God with us, Muslim don't believe Jesus is God.

A Muslim co-worker told me that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.

I asked, "So Allah is Triune?"

He never said that again.

 

[Budman]

It is my assertion that truth without love is arrogance, and love without truth is deception. But love with truth in balance is wisdom.

I kinda admire Elijah's attitude:

"It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is musing, or relieving himself, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." (1 Kings 18:27 ESV)

 

[Ralph-]

I kinda admire Elijah's attitude:

"It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is musing, or relieving himself, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." (1 Kings 18:27 ESV)

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience"-1 Peter 3:15-16


You don't see much gentleness and respect in this or any forum. Most Christians are still immature. I blame the church. The leadership does not teach the importance of maturing in Christ. And I blame 'once saved always saved' for that.

Doctrine is important to the extent to which it leads you to that which counts, which is loving others as God loves (as opposed to how man conditionally loves others). The goal (loving as God loves) is always more important than the means used to get you there (doctrine).

 

[so-jesus-e-deus]

Both. Love and truth ought always to be together. Love without truth is profligacy; truth without love is tyranny.

 

[Ralph-]

The leadership does not teach the importance of maturing in Christ. And I blame 'once saved always saved' for that.

...and I also blame the belief that walking in a spiritual gift is what being a Christian is all about.

So many churches think if they get you evangelizing and participating in it's various programs that you are doing what counts and what constitutes the obedient life of the Christian. But they do not know that godly character is what counts and is more important than godly service.

If only they knew that the way to get people in the church to be active in Christian service is to first nurture Christian character in them.