As I've said in previous posts, it's become quite fashionable in our day for Christian speakers and writers to bash "theology" and "doctrine." They are treated as big negatives.
The problem with that is the Bible clearly regards doctrine and the study of God (which is what “theology” is!) not just as strong positives, BUT IMPERATIVES (I Timothy 4:6, 13-16; II Timothy 3:16-17; 4:1-2; Titus 1:9; etc.)
I believe this is a very dangerous trend and is the fulfillment of what was prophesied by the Apostle Paul (II Timothy 4:3-4). To counter it, in my own small way, I will be (Lord willing) posting thoughts now and then from various men of God on the subject.
Here's from Pastor Chester A. McCalley, who is now with the Lord:
"WHAT IS DOCTRINE? The word DOCTRINE is found in both the Old and New Testaments and means TEACHING. Doctrine is simply the teaching of the Word of God on any given subject. Deuteronomy 32:2 likens it to rain, dew, droplets, and heavy showers. "Let my teaching (doctrine) drop as the rain, my speech (doctrine) distill as the dew, as the droplets on the fresh grace and as the showers on the herb." Why are these metaphors appropriate? Because rain NOURISHES and rain REFRESHES. A constant supply of water is essential to all life -- plant, animal and human. So the Truth of God is ESSENTIAL to maintenance and growth in the Christian life."
"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained." (I Timothy 4:6).
Beloved, be on WATCH concerning this trend. It can be subtle, and the perpetrators are not always completely honest and forthright about what they're doing, as they undermine and disparage the importance of sound doctrine in the church (I Timothy 3:15; II Timothy 3:13).
"Evil flourishes when good men do nothing." Abraham Lincoln