Although many of these doctrines we will examine in this section are, usually, connected with one particular faith community, this section will protray them as doctrines alone, seperate from any promoting body of believers.
It is necessary, always, to have a Berean attitude when 1. being confronted by other Christians regarding a doctrinal position, and 2. considering the application of such doctrines to our own faith experience. Let Scripture be our ultimate authority, rather than rhetoric.
On a cultural note, churches are finding it harder and harder these days to attract new members based on doctrinal issues. Todays generation cares little for the faith of their fathers, and is more interested in what is being made available to them, such as a good nursery, exciting and upbeat worship styles, a preacher with charisma, lots of off-street parking, clean tables in the kitchen, etc, etc. So, the point is this: While sound doctrine should be essential to any church seeking to promote the Gospel, reaching out to the unchurched through non-doctrinal issues is becoming more and more the key to church growth. How sound doctrine was presented to the people 50 years ago is no longer working today. Churches are advised to keep this fact in mind.
