Still doesn't prove that any doctrine is unimportant and that we shouldn't be concerned with "secondary" doctrines.
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The Bible position is the ALL THINGS principle.
Consider the Old Testament law. Its requirement was summarized in
Deuteronomy 27:26, which Paul cited as follows:
“Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law to do them” (
Galatians 3:10).
The Psalmist preached the all things principle.
“Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem ALL THY PRECEPTS concerning ALL THINGS to be right; and I hate EVERY FALSE WAY” (
Psalms 119:127-128).
Observe that the reason that the Psalmist esteemed all of God’s precepts was that he had a passionate relationship with and high view of God’s Word, loving it above gold.
Observe that the Psalmist did not merely hate those things that were contrary to the “essential” doctrines of God’s Word. He hated
every false way.
There is no “non-essential” principle in the New Testament either.
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to teach their converts “to observe ALL THINGSwhatsoever I have commanded you” (
Mat. 28:20).
The apostle Paul reminded the elders at Ephesus that the reason he was free from the blood of all men was that he had preached the WHOLE COUNSEL of God (
Acts 20:27).
The more plainly and fervently you preach the whole counsel of God, the less likely it will be that you will join hands in ministry with those who hold different doctrines.
In
1 Corinthians 11:2 Paul said to the church at Corinth, “Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in ALL THINGS, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.”
This passage deals with hair length and the Lord’s Supper, which are widely considered to be “non-essentials,” yet Paul praised the church for remembering him in ALL things.
In light of this clear Bible teaching, I reject the philosophy that rebukes those who make an issue of hair length rather than rebuking those who flaunt their “liberty” in this matter. When God’s Word speaks, our liberty ends. When God’s Word speaks on any matter, our liberty ends. When the Word of God says it is a shame for a man to have long hair and that long hair is the woman’s covering and glory, that is the end of the matter and it is our part to honor God by obeying His Word.
Paul instructed Timothy to “keep this commandment WITHOUT SPOT, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (
1 Tim. 6:14). A spot is a small, seemingly insignificant thing.
This particular epistle contains commandments about such things as the woman’s role in ministry (
1 Tim. 2:12), which is widely considered a “non-essential” today. Paul taught Timothy to have an entirely different approach toward such teachings.
I challenge anyone to show me where the Scripture encourages the believer to treat some doctrine as “non-essential” for any reason whatsoever. I have been issuing this challenge for years and I’m still waiting for a response.
We know there are “essentials” in the sense of salvation, but this is a different issue.
Some heresies are called “damnable heresies” (
2 Peter 2:1). This refers to heresies that damn one’s soul, heresies a true believer cannot hold. They are things such as the virgin birth, deity, humanity, resurrection, and atonement of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, a sound gospel, and the divine inspiration of Scripture.
We know that not all doctrine has the same significance and weight, but none of it is “non-essential.”
Consider the following issues that are widely treated as “non-essentials” today, even by those who call themselves fundamental Baptists.
Modesty is considered a non-essential, but in reality it is a fundamental doctrine, because the Bible has a lot to say about it. (In the book
Dressing for the Lord, we exegete 25 key Bible passages on this topic that contain principles that can be applied to any time or culture.) The Bible has spoken on the issue of modesty and we will not treat this as some sort of “non-essential.” Those who honor God’s Word might draw clothing lines in slightly different ways, but they will not treat this matter as a “non-essential.”
Sacred music, another so-called non-essential, is actually a fundamental doctrine (
Eph. 5:19;
Col. 3:16). Hundreds of Scriptures deal directly with music and many others contain principles that are applicable to music. Music is one of most powerful forces in modern society. Music is at the heart and soul of worldliness and compromise and apostasy today. It is a major element in the building of a one-world church. To treat music as some sort of non-essential is spiritual folly.
Unconformity to the world is a fundamental doctrine. Many Scriptures directly and plainly teach the doctrine of separation from the world (e.g.,
Romans 12:22;
Ephesians 5:11;
Titus 2:12;
James 1:27;
4:4;
1 John 2:15-17;
5:19;
Proverbs 4:14-15).
Worship in spirit and truth is a fundamental doctrine (
John 4:23), so the contemporary worship issue CANNOT be a non-essential.
Preservation of Scripture is a fundamental doctrine (
1 Pet. 1:25).
“Whosoever will” election is a fundamental doctrine (as opposed to “sovereign” election). “Whosoever believeth” is repeated seven times in five books. The Bible clearly teaches that everyone is invited to be saved and everyone
can be saved.
Repentance and proper soul winning is a fundamental doctrine. (I am convinced that “quick prayerism” is damnable and I refuse to associate closely with and minister together with those who practice it.)
Baptism is a fundamental doctrine, and the Bible’s teaching on the method of baptism is as clear as its teaching on the purpose of baptism. This is why I declined an invitation a few years ago to preach at a Bible Presbyterian seminary. I cannot treat election or baptism as “non-essentials.”
Pastoral humility is a fundamental doctrine (
1 Peter 5:1-3).
Church discipline is a fundamental doctrine (1 Corinthians 5).
Separation from compromising brethren is a fundamental doctrine (e.g.,
2 Thess. 3:6).
Reproving compromising preachers is a fundamental doctrine (
Galatians 2:11-15)."
In Essentials Unity
