One question that we barely had time to touch on last week was the idea of "Right Doctrine." It is a concept we have explored throughout 2010 and in light of our last class, I'm churning it over once again. Is there such a thing as "Right Doctrine?" In our faith communities, doctrine has been seen as a codification of beliefs, a summation of our position. However, according to Merriam-Webster, doctrine is defined as, "teaching or instruction; something that is taught." When looked at in this light, it appears to be more of a process than a result. Although it may be semantics, I think the idea of "Right Doctrine" suggests that our goal is to find a singular understanding and practice. While this tempting idea has found life in our tradition, I'm not sure that the Bible, as a whole, supports this idea. It's not a matter of right v. wrong, which I believe truly exists, but a matter of "one-size-fits-all." This is the inherent tendency in calling something "right," and scripture clearly demonstrates, from Genesis to Revelation, that our spiritual journeys are not "one-size-fits-all." Further, when God chooses to interact with His creation, it is not a "one-size-fits-all" approach.
