In the previous editorial in this series, I said that the best antidote to false teaching is a steady diet of the real thing. I would like to explore that thought a bit more. We at The Sword and Trumpet aim to promote the health of the church by defending the gospel (as explored in previous articles) and by proclaiming and promoting the gospel. To these latter ends, we publish articles that teach fundamental Christian truths, emphasizing biblical doctrine and practice. We want to be known for what we are for, not just for what we are against.
We hope that as you read The Sword and Trumpet that:
Your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
— Phil. 1:9-11
Like the Apostle Paul, we want our readers to grow in knowledge and discernment, so that love abounds and holiness and purity increase until Christ returns for all of His own. We want to see more lives transformed by God’s grace. And with Paul, our desire for grace-filled people flows from our greatest desire—that God be praised and glorified. The more God’s people know and love Him, the more He will be glorified in them. Holy people make much of a holy God.
So we proclaim and promote the gospel and all the doctrines that undergird it. In the spirit of the Apostle Paul, we manifest the truth (cf. 2 Cor. 4:2) so God may shine into our hearts and yours to “give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). We believe God is pleased when His people take His Word seriously, believing and knowing Him according to His written revelation and responding with love and obedience.
We want to match the Bible’s emphasis on clear doctrine, but along with that we want to show how good doctrine transforms Christian living. We want more than orthodoxy; we want orthopraxy. Knowledge does no good if it only foments pride (cf. 1 Cor. 8:1). Rather, as indicated in the above passage from Philippians 1:9, God intends increased knowledge to coincide with increased love. As Paul says to Timothy, “The purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart…” (1 Tim. 1:5). The “commandment” mentioned here probably refers to Paul’s exhortation in verse 3, where he tells Timothy to “charge some that they teach no other doctrine.” Why oppose wrong doctrine? This “other doctrine” causes disputes rather than godly edification. Paul wants doctrine that will build up Christians. Paul is concerned that good doctrine be maintained, in order that love from a pure heart could grow in the hearts of believers.
This cuts two ways. One, it reminds us that doctrine is meant to be practical. If it isn’t practical, we’re doing something wrong. Two, it reminds us that love is undergirded by good doctrine. If we want to be loving people, we need to know the truth. “Love from a pure heart” follows doctrinal fidelity.
In addition to orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy (right practice), we want right affections. We want orthocardia. It’s not enough to have good theology. It’s not even enough to have good theology and moral lives. God wants renewed affections. Christianity is about more than belief and practice; God wants our hearts to be aflame with love for Him. Until our doctrine has made it into our hearts, we have work to do. True ideas about God are insufficient. True affections—produced by true ideas—are what God wants.
It is foolish to think that we can love God if we don’t know Him. This is why doctrine is important. But it is equally foolish to think that knowing facts about God is the same as knowing Him. As I think about the current and future ministry of The Sword and Trumpet, I want to see us continue to provide resources that will help God’s people know Him better, obey Him more faithfully, and love Him more deeply.