Dear Cornerstone Family,

In Titus 1:9, Paul calls Titus to appoint elders for the churches in Crete who would “hold firm the trustworthy word as taught, so that [they] may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” In this verse, we learn much about what doctrine is, and why it is so important. The word doctrine simply means teaching or instruction. Paul specifies that the doctrine he has in mind is rooted in the trustworthy Word of God—the Bible. Thus, a doctrine is “what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular topic.”[1]

More importantly, Paul calls elders to teach sound, or healthy, doctrine. In other words, not only should an elder’s teaching be sound or accurate in reference to the Bible, but his teaching should also bring spiritual health to those who learn from him. Sound doctrine is concerned with more than accurate theological information; it is “an active process of teaching that leads to spiritual health.”[2]  But if sound teaching brings spiritual health to God’s people, the opposite is also true: unsound teaching will produce unhealthy disciples. Therefore, it is imperative for elders to rebuke those who contradict sound doctrine.

As your elders, we have a responsibility to provide you with trustworthy teaching from the Bible and to protect you by correcting teaching that contradicts the Bible, so that by the grace of God, we all may grow together in health and maturity in Christ (Eph 4:11-16). This doctrinal statement is our attempt to briefly and carefully articulate that which we believe to be sound doctrine that accords with the Bible and will lead you to spiritual health. As we prayerfully continue to study the Bible, learning from one another and from our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world and throughout church history, we believe this document is a faithful summary of core biblical truths. However, this is not a finished document. It is a living document that can and will be updated at regular intervals as we grow in our understanding of biblical truth, as our culture’s use of language continues to change (necessitating that we learn new ways to communicate timeless truth within our present time), and as we seek to address future cultural developments with the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

We envision two main purposes for this doctrinal statement. One is to clearly articulate our key doctrinal positions so that prospective members—as well as other churches and ministry organizations—may see how we understand biblical truth. But the most important purpose of this document is for the discipleship of our members, so that as we grow in our understanding and love for sound doctrine we may also grow in health and maturity in Christ. May God bless our efforts, correct us where we may have erred, and lead us by his Spirit “to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…” (Eph 4:13).

In Christ, 

The Elders of Cornerstone Church