Orthodoxy & Heresy: A Biblical Guide to Doctrinal Discernment

by Robert M. Bowman Jr.

How do we distinguish between truth and error? Which differences in belief should be tolerated? A leading researcher, Bowman shows how and where Christians must take a stand and calls for reasoned evaluation in love. Includes appendixes, a glossary of frequently misused words, and lists of other resources.

Genres: Christian, Theology

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Tom Talamantez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing what you believe and why is a central part of the Christian life and growth of our faith. We are admonished throughout the New Testament to study to rightly divide the word of truth, to be prepared to give every man an answer, to contend earnestly for the faith, to not be blown away by every wind of doctrine that blows through the church, to beware of teachers bringing empty philosophies and so on. In my humble opinion, discernment is the single greatest need of the Christian church today. Discernment is practical for the daily life of a Christian. Discernment will keep us from worshiping false gods, from distorted views of who God is, understand sin and repentance, give us a greater appreciation of grace, help us be prepared to speak when false teachers ring our doorbell rather than close the door on them, and even help us put things in perspective when we face trials. Sound doctrine build strong faith, but you have to know how to weed our false beliefs.

To properly discern will not only keep false doctrine out of our lives, but the church as well. I believe it will translate to a stronger faith and an impact of the church on our culture. How we prioritize, how we spend money, how we give, how we forgive, how we evangelize and how we take up our cross and follow Christ.

I realize that this has turned into more of a rant than a book review, but I strongly recommend this book as a guide to learning to discern. Why it matters, what is doctrine, how to recognize false doctrine, essential doctrine verses non-essential doctrine and when orthodoxy crosses the line to heresy. It's a little book that packs a punch.

In my experience, I have seen people of faith get derailed by embracing false doctrine, going into cults, getting caught up in spiritual trends, and leading others astray. This typically happens when we make converts and not disciples, a huge problem in Evangelicalism. Reading this book will help you take the lead in promoting discernment among Christians within your circle of influence. If you are not sure what you believe, start with the doctrinal statement at your church and compare that to what you have read in the Bible. If your church does not have a doctrinal statement, find a new church. For the Christian, you want to understand our essential doctrines which are the Trinity, the Deity of Christ (the Incarnation), the crucifixion, the bodily resurrection, the doctrine of sin, salvation by grace alone through faith alone, the virgin birth, the infallibility of the Bible, the ascension of Christ and His eventual return. There are many books that can walk you through essential doctrine if you have not already identified it by reading your bible. I would recommend 'Know the Truth' by Bruce Milne, 'Essential Christianity' by Walter Martin, 'Know What You Believe' by Paul Little, 'Know Why You Believe' by Paul Little, and 'Christian Theology' by Millard Erickson.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick but thorough read.