Take a moment to conceptualize the word 'doctrine' via the synonyms and antonyms. Note "truth" is not included in the listing.
Synonyms: article, article of faith, attitude, axiom, basic, belief, canon, concept, convention, conviction, credenda, creed, declaration, dogma, fundamental, gospel, implantation, inculcation, indoctrination, instruction, position, precept, pronouncement, propaganda, proposition, regulation, rule, statement, teaching, tenet, tradition, universal law, unwritten rule
Antonyms: disbelief, heterodoxy, skepticism, unbelief
Now anyone can believe anything and believe it to be 'true' for them. This is personal conviction. I'm not saying personal convictions are bad. They can help one stay on the 'straight and narrow'. However, some believe killing in the name of Allah is necessary. Others believe eating meat is wrong. Still others believe blogging is fun. The list runs infinitely in this world. Groups believe music genres are better, brands are more effective and regions, races, sexual orientation, yadah, yada, ya- you get the picture. So if you have a personal conviction, a belief you feel very strongly about, but others around you in your family and friend circle believe you are wrong would you 1. change your view 2. find a new group with a similar view 3. argue your view to change your circle's view 4. start a war 5. remain silent 6.___________. And are you bold enough to adhere to a personal conviction without having a clique to support your belief, as well as impose your belief on others? What would one have to gain by imposing their personal conviction upon others? Unity and a warm fuzzy feeling inside like der Fuhrer must have had when convincing a nation of their supposed superiority? We went there, wow!
Truth is not elusive. Truth is knowable! If you believe truth is relative for each person then I urge you to stop reading and get a cookie or walk your pet. Truth. perfect truth is found in the word of God- the Holy Bible. But you need to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. God's word is the standard of the Christians' belief. Our beliefs cannot be subject to our own decisions, to the decision of the clique nor can they be relative to what each person wishes to believe. Sound Christian doctrines are defined by the word of God alone (see 2 Tim 3:10-16). Sound doctrine is when we rightly divide the word of God to get the whole counsel of God through a proper study. We cannot force fit and twist it to what we want it to say or look up a single verse to prove our point. We will be fooling ourselves. "God help us." The more we understand the context of the character of God He reveals to us through scripture, the less likely we'll be fooled by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:11-16). This is why it is so important to know Him through His word, through prayer and fellowship. As the old saying goes, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
