In our view, absolutely yes. Because without a sound and faithful understanding of God’s truth revealed in Christ and the scriptures, we are inevitably tossed this way and that by the myriad of opinions, beliefs, and ideologies which swirl around us. And that matters, because it is only through God’s truth that we can have God’s saving grace.

Christian orthodoxy is not about being narrow, negative, nit-picking, or defensive. Rather, it is about whole-hearted confidence in the central and enduring affirmations of apostolic Christian faith. It is about being Christ-centred, biblically anchored, and Gospel-minded. It is about being careful not to slide away into half-belief, into inappropriate accommodation with worldly philosophies or values, or into unhelpful side-tracks and eccentricities. At its best, Christian orthodoxy is gracious in tone, seeking to echo that vast and expansive grace of God revealed in Christ and the scriptures. Biblical orthodoxy is protective of the Gospel, as set forth for us in the New Testament, and tries hard not to obscure, twist, or deconstruct that gospel.

It is possible to be biblically orthodox, but not very Christ-like in our thoughts and actions. But such an approach is clearly not endorsed by Christ.

Some people feel that doctrine is divisive. It can sometimes be so, when believers dig in and fight on very secondary doctrinal matters. But the New Testament view is that a shared faith in Christ, and a shared commitment to agreed biblical beliefs, is a strong basis not for dissension but for spiritual unity.

Author: Dr Stuart Lange

Dr Stuart Lange is the National Director of the NZCN and is a Senior Research Fellow at Laidlaw College, where he was formerly Vice Principal. Stuart wrote and presented the historical DVD documentary Te Rongopai: 200 years of the Gospel in New Zealand, 1814-2014.