Ep. 339 - The Importance of Good, Clear Doctrine

Listen to this episode from The Living Waters Podcast on Spotify. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar dive into the importance of doctrine in the Christian life, challenging the idea that doctrine is cold or unnecessary. They emphasize that doctrine isn’t exclusive to Christianity—everyone has a belief system, even atheists. As soon as you begin to answer questions about who Jesus is, you’re entering doctrinal territory. Christians are called to meditate on the Word of God because without sound doctrine, it's easy to believe a lie. The guys talk about how many believers avoid doctrine due to a misunderstanding of the gospel. When you understand the gospel as adoption into God’s family, gratitude drives you to know your Savior more. There’s no divide between deep love for God and sound theology. Doctrine is rooted in theology, which is the knowledge of God—and you can’t love someone you don’t know. Each truth learned about God is another reason to love Him. Mark reminds us that good doctrine leads to doxology—right worship. The way you live spiritually and physically will catch up with you, and without sound doctrine, decisions lack a foundation. Discernment is knowing the difference between right and almost right, which can be the difference between truth and deception. As Ray mentions, a sign of the end times is people turning from sound doctrine to what suits their desires, following prosperity preachers who don’t teach the true gospel.Church history also reminds us of the weight of doctrine—people have died for it. While unity is important, the truth should never be sacrificed. Unsound doctrine often stems from a lack of seriousness about sin. The guys discuss how peace should be pursued where possible, but not at the expense of truth. Essential doctrines—like the authority of Scripture, the nature of God, the Trinity, the person and work of Jesus, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the church, and Christ’s return—are non-negotiable. Secondary issues, though important, are not hills to die on.The group also warns against extremes—those who read only the Bible and reject all theological resources, and those who rely solely on commentaries without reading Scripture. Doctrine should be both understood and lived out. Truths like the doctrine of creation remind us we are made in God’s image, and eschatology offers comfort in a chaotic world. When confronting false doctrine, we must do so with humility, remembering Philippians 2 and esteeming others higher than ourselves. Doctrine isn’t just information—it’s transformation, guiding how we live, worship, and walk with Christ daily.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at [email protected]. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro