Doctinally sound Pt.2

As you can see, the main idea that I've expressed is really very simple. Most folks with whom I've talked agree with the sentiment. At least it can be said that most of us would agree that we must constantly guard against "missing the forest for the trees."

What is unusual is that I have labeled the pursuit of right doctrine as a constraint to understanding the concept of God's kingdom. I cringe every time I state it because I fear I will be misunderstood. To pit kingdom understanding against sound doctrine is, of course, a false dichotomy. What I am attempting to communicate is a need for us to clearly locate the proper place of sound doctrine in our overall religious pursuit.

The best manner of expressing the place of doctrine is as "means" as opposed to the "end." When I reflect upon my religious training and add to that my understanding other groups with fundamentalist leanings, I see a common trait of uncritically accepting the notion that if the doctrine is right, then the church is right. Not to mention the fact that very few can agree on what constitutes sound doctrine.

Landon Saunders has packed tremendous meaning in a simple line when he proclaims, "We must get the people right, then we can get the Scripture right." My thinking is an effort to unpack some of it. I think I am on the right tract when I assert that we have made sound doctrine an end, when should be only the means, and that this has constrained our ability to grasp the overall point of being a Christian.