Religious Book
~ Donald L. O’Dell
Understandiing Religion Versus Doctrine
Five Practical Distinctions Of The Bible
Scope
As a religious book, the Bible provides a broad overview of faith. Not necessarily a proven "thing" or "person" but rather a very tangible experience based on faith that resides within. The Bible is a tool of spiritual journeys told as stories, history, and poetry from people living in the time of Jesus.
When considering it a doctrine, the Bible contains specific teachings and instructions related to attaining a relationship with God.
Authority
When viewed as a religious book, the Bible may be seen as one of several sources of religious insight and inspiration.
As a doctrine the Bible is the main written source of divine teaching because God Himself inspired its writing by His Holy Spirit. For traditional Christians, the Bible is the only source to determine correct doctrine.
Interpretation
Considering the Bible as a religious book allows for a wide range of interpretations, focusing on personal meaning and spiritual experiences.
Approaching it as a source of doctrine requires discerning the correct meaning and building godly lives based on specific interpretations.
Focus
Reading the Bible as a religious book might emphasize its historical and cultural context, exploring the stories and traditions of faith based on individual interpretations.
Doctrine uses biblical theology, which focuses on the teachings of the individual authors, and the books of the Bible, as Scripture was created due to historical developments at specific locations in the past.
Application
As a religious book, the Bible is a resource to understand life and interpret one's journey through experiences while discovering a connection with inner divinity.
As a doctrine the Bible will govern individual lives. Biblical doctrine is the will of God in the lives of people. It teaches them about the nature and character of God, the path to salvation through faith, instruction for the church, and God’s standards of holiness for their lives.
Personal Freedom
As Paul wrote, "'I have the right to do anything,' you say—but not everything is beneficial. 'I have the right to do anything'—but not everything is constructive" (1 Corinthians 10:23). This principle underscores that true freedom involves the responsible exercise of choice, guided by discernment and a concern for the well-being of ourselves and others.
Discernment, the ability to distinguish between good and evil, truth and falsehood, is crucial in this process of authenticating our journey through life as a Christian.
For traditional Christians they will apply biblical principles to specific situations and make choices that align with God's values.
Spiritual Christians use discernment in their own God experiences. They go within to examine the understandings they have developed through life experiences using their personal connection with God - the divinity within.
Discernment always protects against deception and promotes spiritual growth. As we grow wiser on our journey our muscle of discernment becomes stronger as we learn to interpret life's circumstances.
The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in guiding Christians as they seek to understand God's teachings. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach His followers all things and remind them of everything He had said (John 14:26). This means that Christians can trust that the Spirit will illuminate their minds, open their hearts, and lead them into truth as they study Scripture and seek to follow God's will.
Religion Versus Spiritual
Doctrine is often seen as an organized way of connecting with God through specific rituals, beliefs, and structures. Religion is often understood to have the same meaning.
However, spirituality is understood as a more personal and flexible path to living God's word: the truth in life and in personal matters. Spirituality emphasizes a direct, personal relationship with God, often described as formless, nameless, and omnipresent.
Personal freedom is essential to religion and spirituality. That is to say, discernment will always be exercised by Christians; traditional and spiritual.
Personal Relationship vs. Organized Religion (Doctrine)
Spiritual Christianity prioritizes a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and Biblical teachings. It emphasizes experiencing God's presence within and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide one's life in an experiential faith that is rewarding and not submissive or based on fear.
Organized religion is often based upon following a framework of scriptures and interpretations. These scriptures require adhering to specific beliefs and teachings in order to lead a meaningful life. This approach to God has a significant risk of being dead, orthodoxy or dogma. This seems contrary to the Apostle Paul when he emphasizes personal freedom, stating, "It is for this freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1).
We are discussing two points that relate to all Christians: understanding God as a subjective experience or as an objective experience.
Let's consider that spiritual Christianity values the emotional experiences of God’s presence within and the personal power that comes from living the word of the Holy Spirit. It recognizes the natural personal development process that sentient beings travel through to increase self-awareness and consciousness of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Organized religion has always emphasized biblical preaching, which is literally interpreting the sacred meanings, or reading scriptures in such a way that they have become doctrinal dogmas.
In my experience, true worship and understanding of God is only found by living the gospel of the Holy Spirit, which is subjective.
Summary
It is clear to me that God supports personal freedom by allowing spiritual Christians to use their faith to discover His teachings.
This freedom is not a license to do whatever we want but a call to responsible living, guided by discernment, love, and a commitment to mankind.
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