What Church Doctrine Should I Be Following?
Luke 11:37–54
Rabbi Dr. Rev. Michael H. Koplitz
37 Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have lunch with him; and
He went in and reclined at the table. 38 When the Pharisee saw this, he was surprised
that Jesus had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. 39 But the Lord said to
him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish; but your
inside is full of greed and wickedness. 40 “You foolish ones, did He who made the
outside not make the inside also? 41 “But give that which is within as a charitable
gift, and then all things are clean for you. 42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you
pay tithes of mint, rue, and every kind of garden herb, and yet you ignore justice and
the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting
the others. 43 “Woe to you Pharisees! For you alove the seat of honor in the
synagogues and personal greetings in the marketplaces. 44 “aWoe to you! For you
are like unseen tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.”
45 One of the lawyers *said to Him in reply, “Teacher, when You say these things,
You insult us too.” 46 But He said, “Woe to you lawyers as well! For you load people
with burdens that are hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the
burdens with one of your fingers. 47 “Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the
prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them. 48 “So you are witnesses and you
approve of the deeds of your fathers; because it was they who killed them, and you
build their tombs. 49 “For this reason also, the wisdom of God said, I will send them
prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill, and some they will persecute,
50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may
be charged against this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of
Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it
shall be charged against this generation.’ 52 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken
away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those
who were entering.”
53 When He left that place, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be
very hostile and to interrogate Him about many subjects, 54 plotting against Him to
catch Him in something He might say.
What church doctrine should I be following? That’s an incredible question—one that
believers continue to ask today. This message is based on Luke 11:37–54, where Jesus
confronts the scribes and Pharisees over the ritual of handwashing before meals.
Interestingly, there is no verse in Scripture commanding us to wash our hands before
eating. So why was Jesus expected to follow this tradition?
In Jesus’ day, many rules and regulations were created by religious leaders—primarily
the scribes and Pharisees. Scribes, sometimes referred to as “lawyers” in Scripture, were
responsible for interpreting the Bible and determining how people should live in
accordance with it. The Bible is God’s manual for living a life that pleases Him. Most
people want to do that—unless they’ve been corrupted by evil. Since you’re reading or
listening to this message, I’ll assume you’re someone who desires to please God.
One fascinating detail in this passage is Jesus’ mention of almsgiving. In His time, giving
alms was considered a righteous act. Even bandits and robbers would set aside a
portion of their stolen goods to offer to God, hoping for forgiveness when they stood
before Him. Wealthy individuals who gained riches through exploitation often gave
generously to charity for the same reason—to demonstrate care for the poor and seek
divine mercy.
In the Near East, almsgiving and hospitality were seen as blessings from God. The more
you shared, the more God would supply. Generosity was not just a virtue—it was a
spiritual strategy.
Now, let’s return to the original question: What church doctrine should I be following?
Scripture has been interpreted for centuries, and church doctrine has often been shaped
by the cultural and historical context of the time. For example, I own a 1835 Methodist
Episcopal Discipline—a small book that outlines how followers of John Wesley should
live according to Scripture. It’s about half an inch thick and fits in the palm of your
hand.
Compare that to the 2024 United Methodist Discipline, which is thicker than most
Bibles. It’s filled with doctrines, rules, and regulations, which seem designed to control
local congregations. It outlines what members must believe about God, Jesus, and the
Holy Spirit to be part of the denomination.
I don’t have original rulebooks from other denominations, but I’ve seen their size—
and they’re not small. I even purchased the Catholic book of rules and regulations, and
it’s enormous. As you read through these doctrines, you should ask: Where is this in the
Bible? You’ll likely find that about 90% of what churches teach isn’t directly biblical.
But let’s not rush to condemn the church. Christianity, as a religion, had to be defined
over centuries to guide people in their love and faith in Jesus and God. Some doctrines
may not be found explicitly in Scripture, but they reflect the spirit of the law rather than
the letter. Many rules make sense—they help us live lives that are pleasing to God.
Still, some regulations are more about control than spiritual guidance. If Jesus were here
today, I believe He’d reject a large portion of the United Methodist Discipline.
As churches grew and acquired buildings, property, and money, denominational
leadership became more involved. And where there’s money, unfortunately, there’s
often corruption. Some regulations were likely created to protect congregations from
losing their assets or being taken advantage of.
For example, the Discipline includes rules to prevent one person from dominating
church leadership. I once knew a man who served as administrative board chair for 25
years. Eventually, a rule was introduced limiting service to three years. Is that biblical?
No. But it’s practical—and necessary for healthy leadership rotation.
So again, what church doctrine should you follow? I believe it’s a personal decision.
When my children became adults and moved away, I told them to examine the doctrine
and statement of faith of any church they considered joining. If they agreed with at least
90% of what they read, and felt welcomed and supported, then it was a good fit.
My advice to you is the same: If you can live with the rules, regulations, and doctrines
of your church—and they help you grow spiritually—then stick with it. View these
guidelines as tools to help you serve God better. But remember, Jesus was clear that
many of the Pharisees’ rules were not godly. That’s a discernment you’ll need to make
for your own church.
Years ago, I attended a United Methodist annual conference in Central Pennsylvania.
A motion was passed prohibiting members from buying lottery tickets—even though
lottery proceeds in Pennsylvania help fund medications for people on Medicaid. The
motion passed overwhelmingly, but I suspect many who voted for it still bought tickets.
The motion didn’t address what would happen to those in need if lottery funds dried
up.
This is just one example of how church regulations can be disconnected from real-life
concerns. So, in conclusion, examine what your church stands for and decide whether
it’s a place where you can grow in faith.
Ultimately, the reason we go to church is to worship and learn how to live lives that
please God. I hope you’ll continue to worship, reflect, and seek ways to act and speak
in ways that honor Him. Church doctrines and regulations are meant to guide us—not
bind us—and when used wisely, they can help us better serve the Lord.
