Doctrine vs. Dogma

There is doctrine and there is dogma. Doctrine is the teaching of the Bible. Dogma is the historical statements of what the church believes doctrine to be. Doctrine is the objective study and recognition of truth but dogma is formed through subjective historical pressures. Church dogma is formed through the pressure plates of challenges to what the church’s consensus is on doctrinal matters.

The Book of Romans is both doctrine and dogma. Paul asserts inspired doctrine on vital areas – God, Christ, man, sin, salvation, holiness, predestination, Israel, the second coming, Christian morality and missions as well as Christian community. Both these “doctrines” and “dogma” were set forth in the context of challenges to Christian truth. Romans is written in the arena of conflict. Thus what Paul gives us as doctrine becomes “dogma” as it exudes from the pages of pressure. This is what Christians believe.

• How can God condemn the ignorant idolatrous world?
• Is Christianity contrary to Old Testament Law?
• Why did Christ have to die?
• Can we be secure in our salvation?
• Does grace lead to sin?
• How is a Christian perfected?
• Is God finished with Israel?
• Is Christianity contradictory to secular government?
• How can a church exist when different cultures with different preferences exist side by side in its pews?

I don’t think Paul simply decided to write a “Romans.” Pressures, challenges, slanders, corruptions, heresies and social discussions and “scuttlebutt” demanded the dogma of “what do we believe?”

Run your roots down deep into the marrow of our faith – Romans.