3. The Doctrine of Men
For the spirits that inspire such doctrine seek to sever men from the only Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
The doctrine of devils is therefore not limited to the obviously occult. It includes any system of teaching that contradicts the revealed Word, whether it comes from a philosopher, a false prophet, or a respected religious institution. Its origin is the father of lies, and its end is the destruction of souls. The believer must not be naive about this reality. The same serpent who deceived Eve by questioning God's Word continues his work through doctrines that appear wise but lead to death.
3. The Doctrine of Men Between the doctrine of God and the doctrine of devils lies a third category that Scripture addresses with equal seriousness: the doctrine and commandments of men. Paul warns the Colossian church against being beguiled by philosophy and vain deceit:
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:8
He continues in the same chapter to identify the nature of these human ordinances:
Which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men?
Colossians 2:22
The doctrine of men is not necessarily overtly satanic. It may be sincere. It may be well-intentioned. Yet it is insufficient because it originates from man rather than from God. It consists of rules, rituals, and regulations that have "a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body," yet are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Human doctrine attempts to achieve by external constraint what only the Spirit can accomplish by internal regeneration.
Our Lord Jesus Himself confronted the doctrine of men in His earthly ministry. Quoting Isaiah, He rebuked the Pharisees: "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." The tragedy of human doctrine is that it can coexist with diligent religious
practice while leaving the heart untouched. It substitutes tradition for truth, preference for precept, and culture for commandment.
The doctrine of men often arises when the church attempts to supplement Scripture with additional requirements for piety. It may begin with a legitimate application of biblical principle, but over time the application becomes codified as law. What was once wisdom becomes dogma. Soon, adherence to the human tradition is equated with faithfulness to God Himself. The conscience becomes bound not by the Word, but by the consensus of the community. This is the essence of legalism, and it is deadly, for it obscures the sufficiency of Christ.
Furthermore, the doctrine of men is unstable. Because it originates from human thought, it shifts with culture, experience, and leadership. What one generation forbids, another permits. What one denomination requires, another rejects. In contrast, the doctrine according to godliness is immutable because it rests upon the unchanging character of God. The Word of the Lord endures forever. The commandments of men perish with the using.
This is not to suggest that all human tradition is evil. Tradition, as practiced and ordered thinking about the faith, can be valuable. Yet tradition