Clay Stauffer is the preacher for the Woodmont Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Nashville. He frequently writes the “Faith and Values” column that appears in the Saturday edition of The Tennessean, Nashville’s daily newspaper. Dr. Stauffer is a gifted writer and I enjoy reading him, though I do not always agree with all of his conclusions.
In the June 10, 2017 edition of the newspaper, he had a column titled “Experiencing God more important to young people than doctrine.” Among his observations were the following: “One of the reasons many young people give for not being interested in the church is that they view it as boring. Compared to many other options in our entertainment culture, many millennials look at church as dull, irrelevant and out of touch.” Dr. Stauffer had earlier referenced the absolute fever that has prevailed in Nashville for several days over the Nashville Predators’ pursuit of the Stanley Cup in the National Hockey League’s Championship Series with the Pittsburg Penguins.
My question is, should we put “church” in the same category with sports and other forms of entertainment? Should we have the same kinds of “entertainment expectations” when we go to church as when we attend a sports or musical event, a movie, or a play?
Dr. Stauffer cited Harvard theologian Harvey Cox and his book The Future of Faith in which Cox says we have entered the “Age of the Spirit,” and argues that “in this new era, doctrines and creeds are not nearly as important as breaking down barriers between religions and denominations.” Stauffer quotes Cox as saying “that spirituality is now replacing formal religion, and actually experiencing God is much more important than maintaining correct beliefs about God.”
How does the preceding measure up against the teaching of Christ and the New Testament? Is “experiencing God” and correct beliefs about God mutually exclusive? Is it a matter of “experience” versus “doctrine”? Is doctrine/teaching no longer relevant and necessary?
Christ warned that “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” results in vain worship Matthew 15:9. In the mind of Jesus there was a connection between acceptable worship and doctrine that is true to the word of God. Paul wrote that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” II Timothy 4:3-4, NASB. If the old apostle were present today I think he might say we are in one of those times! People love myths more than they love sound Bible doctrine, and there are plenty of religious myths floating around today to “entertain” the gullible and superficial!
John often described as the apostle of love because he said so much about love warned that the one who goes beyond the doctrine of Christ does not have God, while the one who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son II John 9. How is that for a statement by an inspired apostle as to the relationship between “experiencing God” and doctrine? It is hard for even the casual student of the New Testament to miss the connection between correct doctrine and a right relationship with God. To have God and His Son in our lives, we must abide in the doctrine of Christ!
Clearly, our lives must be transformed by the power of the gospel so that we reflect the presence of Christ in our lives Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:7-12, but this transformation does not take place by osmosis or by some alleged working of the Spirit apart from the faithful teaching of God’s word and its life-changing principles Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:17. God’s grace teaches indoctrinates us in how to live such a transformed life Titus 2:11-14. Only in this way are we “transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” II Corinthians 3:18. As Stauffer noted in his article, “Healthy religion touches both the head and the heart and leads to an authentic experience of God.”
Whether we are Centennials, Millennials, Generation X-ers, Baby Boomers, or Traditionalists those born before 1945, let us learn to worship and serve God according to His will, “nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine” set forth in Scripture I Timothy 4:6.
If you are looking for entertainment, follow your favorite sports team, attend a good play or concert, watch a good movie or a clean TV program, but don’t go to church expecting the same kind of entertainment experience. That is not the church’s purpose. It has a much higher and nobler purpose and that is to show how Christ can transform our lives, making them “useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” II Timothy 2:16.
Hugh Fulford
