Monday, October 27, 2008

Doctrine

We must not, even in a trivial matter, turn aside from the path of truth.---St. Epiphanius of Salamis ( 4th Century )
 
We will always hear vicious attacks on doctrine in our culture . It seems the devil has even turned many modern day Christians against the importance of doctrine. But what do we have without doctrine? We have teachings that tickle the ears and lead millions away from holiness and right thinking! We have "preachers" on television and in pulpits with huge audiences saying things that have no foundation in the truth of the Church. Without the magisteriam of the Church, we have 33,000 denominations that can't even agree on baptism. The "paths of truth" that St. Epiphanius spoke about in the 4th century are the doctrines handed down from the Apostles, doctrine that stands forever as our faith...Jesus is both fully God and fully Man, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. God is Three Persons in One, and One in Three. He died, descended to the dead, rose from the grave, He ascended into Heaven. He has given us Himself in the Eucharist as our Real Food and Real Drink. He is coming again to judge the living and the dead.... These are a few doctrines that makes us who we are. Without these, and all of the doctrines of the Church as our foundation, we become individual bodies without a Head, just ears waiting to be tickled.
 
wkm
 
St. Epiphanius

No comments: