----轉自麥種出版社

換言之，無論是否喜歡，我們都無法避免教義。新約聖經到處充滿了教義。因此，拒絕考慮教義，不單是拒絕相信聖經就是神的話，更是侮辱神自己。如果神選擇用義、稱義、成聖、救贖、代贖、和好、挽回祭這類詞語，那麽我們就有責任面對那些詞語，並且考慮它們的意義；不這麽做就是不尊重神。⋯⋯「你們說：『我們對教義不感興趣；我們關心的是生命；』這麽說是無濟於事的；如果你的教義錯了，你的生命也就錯了。』」⋯⋯

In other words, whether we like it or not, we cannot avoid doctrine… the New Testament everywhere is full of doctrine. So to refuse to consider doctrine is not only to refuse to believe in the Bible as the Word of God, it is insulting to God Himself. If God has chosen to use such terms as righteousness, justification, sanctification, redemption, atonement, reconciliation, propitiation, then it is our duty to face those terms and to consider their meaning; it is dishonouring to God not to do so. … ‘It is no use your saying, “We are not interested in doctrine; we are concerned about life"; if your doctrine is wrong, your life will be wrong.’ …

這是一方面的危險，但還有另一種極端的危險，也是同樣重要的。那危險是那些對教義非常感興趣的人所面對的。因此，我要試着清楚描繪這類型的人，像描繪另一種類型的人那樣。有些人非常關注教義與神學，但他們的興趣似乎是純屬超然冷漠的，純理論、思想的。他們單單以爭辯神學為樂；然而，他們在爭辯神學時，永遠像是為了某種抽象的科學、某種與生命毫不相干、某種與生活實踐相去甚遠的東西而辯論。

That is the danger on the one hand, but there is also a danger at the other extreme which is equally important, and that is the danger which confronts those who have a very great interest in doctrine. So let me try to paint this type of person as clearly as I have painted the other. There are people who are very concerned about doctrine and theology, but their interest seems to be purely detached, purely theoretical and intellectual. There is nothing they delight in more than arguing about theology; yet they do so the whole time as if they were arguing about some abstract science, something far removed from life, something quite apart from practical living.

我們必須竭力避免一種傾向，就是只為了尋找經文來證明自己特殊的理論和觀念，才來讀聖經。永遠不為教義而教義。永遠不要將聖經與生命分開。

… we must strenuously avoid the tendency to come to Scripture merely in search of texts to prove our own particular theories and ideas. Doctrine must never be considered in and of itself. Scripture must never be divorced from life.

我們要持定教義，但必須提防這種可怕的危險，就是與生命分開的純理論的立場。。

Let us hold on to doctrine, but let us beware of the terrible danger of a mere theoretical position divorced from life.

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Life in Christ: Studies in 1 John (Crossway, 2002), pp. 162-64, 170