Is Doctrine Important?

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard it: “Doctrine doesn’t matter. All that matters is love.”

And I get it. On the surface, it sounds right. Jesus commanded us to love God and love our neighbor, didn’t He? (Matthew 22:37-39). That’s the greatest commandment, right? So, is doctrine important?

Why Love Without Truth Isn’t Biblical Love

But here’s the thing—what does it even mean to love God? How do we know what love looks like if we don’t have truth? 

Because if love is whatever we decide it is, then we’re no different from the world that preaches a “love” that tolerates sin, ignores truth, and bends to human opinion rather than God’s Word.

The Bible doesn’t separate love from truth. In fact, it tells us that real love is defined by truth—and truth comes from doctrine. If we reject doctrine, we’re not just rejecting dry theological discussions; we’re rejecting the very foundation of what it means to love and follow Christ.

So, let’s dive in.

Love Without Truth is Deception

The problem with the “all we need is love” mindset is that it redefines love apart from God’s Word.

Think about it—if someone says they love you but constantly lies to you, is that real love? No. Love is not just an emotional feeling; it is rooted in truth.

Scripture makes this clear:

1 John 5:2-3 – “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”

Did you catch that? Love is directly tied to obeying God’s commandments.

1 Corinthians 13:6 – “[Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”

If love and truth are inseparable, then any love that ignores doctrine is not biblical love—it’s a counterfeit. And a counterfeit gospel doesn’t save anyone.

Is Doctrine Important? Jesus Never Separated Love from Doctrine

Jesus taught doctrine constantly. He didn’t just walk around telling people to be nice to each other. He preached repentance. He confronted sin. He made it clear that knowing God rightly was the foundation of loving Him rightly.

John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

He didn’t say, “If you love me, just follow your heart.” He tied love directly to knowing and obeying His truth.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, did Jesus fight back with love? No. He fought with doctrine—the truth of Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11).

And yet, many in the church today say things like:

• “Doctrine is divisive.”
• “Let’s not focus on theology; let’s just love people.”
• “All that matters is being a good person.”

Sounds nice. But do you know who would love for Christians to stop caring about doctrine? Satan. Because the moment we stop caring about doctrine is the moment we become easy prey for deception.

False Doctrine Destroys, and God Warns Us About It

If doctrine doesn’t matter, then why does the Bible warn about false teachers so much?

2 Timothy 4:3-4 – “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

Paul didn’t say that people would reject love—he said they would reject sound doctrine in favor of feel-good messages that cater to their desires.

And let’s be real—we see this happening everywhere today. People don’t want the truth; they want affirmation. They want a Jesus who makes them feel good but never calls them to repentance.

That’s why Paul also warned:

Galatians 1:8-9 – “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

That’s serious. Paul is saying that even if an angel appeared preaching a different message, that angel should be condemned. That’s how serious doctrine is.

Is Doctrine Important? The Early Church Was Built on Doctrine

If doctrine wasn’t important, then why did the early church devote themselves to it?

Acts 2:42 – “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

They weren’t just gathering for food and fellowship. They were committed to learning and living out sound doctrine.

Paul even told Timothy:

1 Timothy 4:16 – “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Notice that? Doctrine isn’t just important—it’s a matter of salvation.

The Church Must Defend Doctrine, Not Dismiss It

The modern church is in trouble—not because we aren’t loving enough, but because we have abandoned truth in favor of a shallow, feelings-based Christianity.

People say:

• “Jesus was about love, not doctrine.”
• “As long as we love Jesus, we don’t need to worry about theology.”

But that’s exactly how the enemy works. He convinces people that knowing God rightly doesn’t matter, so they slowly drift from truth and accept whatever feels good in the moment.

Paul warns about this:

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

And Jesus Himself made it clear:

John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

Truth sanctifies us. Truth sets us apart. Truth keeps us from deception.

So if someone tells you “doctrine doesn’t matter”, they are contradicting Jesus Himself.

Love Without Doctrine is Not Biblical Love

At the end of the day, doctrine matters because truth matters.

Yes, we should be known for our love (John 13:35). But if our love is not rooted in biblical truth, it is not real love—it is compromise.

Paul summed it up perfectly:

1 Timothy 1:5 – “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

Biblical love doesn’t ignore doctrine—it flows from it.

So the next time someone tells you “doctrine doesn’t matter, all that matters is love”, ask them: What do you mean by love? Because if it’s not defined by God’s truth, it’s not love at all.

Blessings in Christ,
Wally

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