Does Doctrine Matter? | Liberty at Home

Orthodox doctrine for an unorthodox world.

What do I mean? Well, stay tuned to find out on

this week's episode of Liberty at Home.

Hello and welcome to the final episode of Liberty at Home for

2025 here on Easton Community Access Television.

I'm Madame Rivera, the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church and your

host for this weekly 5 minute devotional.

Today we're broadcasting from ECAT Studios where we're

preparing to watch college bowl games on the big stream come

January 1st. But we won't be watching UMass

or BC, seeing as they had a combined two wins between them

for the past season 2. Well, anyway, today I like to

talk about the need for doctrine.

Or do we need it? Well, let's go to the Word and

find out. We'll be reading today Second

2 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

Timothy chapter 3 verses one through 5 where it says this.

Know also that in the last days perilous times shall come, for

men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous boasters, proud

blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,

incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good, traitors,

heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of

God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof

from such turn away. In case you haven't noticed, our

world seems to be spinning out of control.

Of course, depending on your worldview, you could lay the

blame for our current tailspin at the feet of any different

number of people or organizations or special

interest groups. Who's right, who's wrong, what's

right, what's wrong? Is there any way to make heads

or tails of it all? Well, mankind seems to descend

deeper and deeper into the abyss as we just read.

Many churches have responded by, oddly enough, either minimizing

or completely changing their doctrine to match the culture.

Some churches have reduced their statement of faith so

dramatically that it could literally fit on a post it note,

And I wish I was exaggerating. These doctrinal statements are

so pithy that they may not offend anyone, but that's simply

because they don't really say much of anything at all.

Other churches, however, have taken a radically different

approach. Instead of reducing their

statement of faith, they completely change their doctrine

to be more palatable to society. Their reasoning?

Without changing their doctrine to match an ever changing world,

they believe the church will become inconsequential, a relic

of the past with no real relevance today.

In summary, they believe the church must adapt to the culture

or die. As for myself, I reject both

approaches as non starters. Instead, I humbly believe that

churches should look at the situation much differently.

There is no doubt in my mind that the world is descending

deeper into chaos. In fact, Paul talks about this

in the second Epistle of Timothy when he gave us that list we

just read of how the world will become more and more sinful.

Paul's description of the world could be ripped right from

today's headlines. One might wonder what Paul's

prescription would be for such a time of madness.

Curtail biblical teaching and preaching, change doctrine to

make people happy, ignore the preservation of the Bible, and

conclude that Scriptures are a good book but hopelessly riddled

with errors? Well, although these are many of

the options that churches opt for today, Paul didn't agree

with any of them. Rather, he told young Pastor

Timothy that as evil men and seducers wax worse and worse,

that Timothy should continue thou in the things which thou

has learned and been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned

them. Paul knew the solution was not

minimizing or changing doctrine. Rather the answer was to

compassionately yet candidly proclaim all the counsel of God,

as he said in Acts 20 verse 27. He concluded Second Timothy

Acts 20:27 2 Timothy 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3 by reminding Timothy that from a child thou has known

the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto

salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, is

profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for

instruction and righteousness, that the man of God may be

perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Paul also gave a similar exhortation to another young

preacher named Titus who was charged to speak thou the things

which become sound doctrine in Titus chapter 2 verse one.

Titus 2 · chapter mention

The implication from Paul's epistles, and I believe from the

entire volume of Scripture is clear.

In an increasingly unorthodox world, churches should embrace

sound doctrine from the Word of God more than ever.

The Bible reminds us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,

today, and forever. Hebrews chapter 13, verse 8.

Hebrews 13:8

Our Lord has not changed, nor have His teachings.

Let us with great boldness and with great love, as it says in

First Corinthians 13, to proclaim the Scriptures to the

whole world, and let us not dare change his message in an effort

to cater to societal whims and wickedness.

Well, it's time to close both this episode and the entire year

of 2025 here on Liberty at Home. I'd encourage you to start your

New Years off right by getting back to church.

And we'd sure be honored to have you at Liberty Baptist Church

where the Word is preached, the people are friendly, and Jesus

is glorified. Visit any Sunday or Wednesday

and you can learn more about us at my libertybaptist.org.

Well, this is Adam Rivera signing off for the last time

this year on Liberty at Home by reminding you that where the

Spirit of the Lord is, there's Liberty.

See you next week in 2026 on Liberty at Home.