Theological Differences in the Local Church

[Covenanter]

A local example - The Anglican Vicar reported that he had discovered meditation to help with a personal problem, so set up a series of "Stillpoint" meetings to promote it to others.

I went to one such meeting & found it as expected - Eastern meditation intended to quieten the mind , without reference to Scripture or prayer.

I wrote to the Vicar as follows:

Stillpoint - I explained my concerns at the March meeting, & reading the material you gave out hasn't helped. I don't propose to come to argue.

As I explained, my meditation is on Scriptural themes, often with songs in my mind, for instance, that chant "Jesus remember me" stayed with me & my meditation took me to the tremendous faith shown by a dying man in one who was suffering the same fate. I've added several verses:

Jesus, King of the Jews
Crucified for our salvation.

Jesus, remember me
When you come into your kingdom.

Truly, I say to you,
"You will be with me in Paradise."

Jesus, our risen Lord,
You are King of all creation.

Jesus, my Saviour,
Welcome me into you kingdom.​

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Our sole rule for all matters of faith and practice is scripture. Yes. I know that people disagree with what scripture teaches. This board would not exist if everyone agreed. Still, there are certain doctrines that are held by all Christians. I do not believe in so-called secondary doctrines since all truth is God's truth. That is why studying God's word is so important. We need to know it and understand it. We also need to live in accordance with what it teaches. Because of disagreements on what scripture teaches, denominations came into existence. But while all truth is God's truth, not every disagreement is worth dividing over. Some things are. IMHO anything that imperils the message of the gospel is a clear reason to break fellowship. Other reasons may seem more or less compelling than others but there are plenty of things to discuss in that regard.

In Ephesians 2:8-9 and in this I fervently believe.

 

[atpollard]

Our sole rule for all matters of faith and practice is scripture. Yes. I know that people disagree with what scripture teaches. This board would not exist if everyone agreed. Still, there are certain doctrines that are held by all Christians. I do not believe in so-called secondary doctrines since all truth is God's truth. That is why studying God's word is so important. We need to know it and understand it. We also need to live in accordance with what it teaches. Because of disagreements on what scripture teaches, denominations came into existence. But while all truth is God's truth, not every disagreement is worth dividing over. Some things are. IMHO anything that imperils the message of the gospel is a clear reason to break fellowship. Other reasons may seem more or less compelling than others but there are plenty of things to discuss in that regard.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that the difference between 'Essential Truths' (those which imperil the message of the gospel and are a reason to break fellowship) and 'Non-Essential/Secondary Truths' (those that do not imperil the message of the gospel and are not a reason to break fellowship over?

Your objection to 'Secondary Doctrines' seems to be purely semantic since even you recognize two classes of truths: One to break fellowship over and one to simply discuss. (Perhaps I do not correctly understand the term 'secondary doctrines'.)

 

[Covenanter]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that the difference between 'Essential Truths' (those which imperil the message of the gospel and are a reason to break fellowship) and 'Non-Essential/Secondary Truths' (those that do not imperil the message of the gospel and are not a reason to break fellowship over?

Your objection to 'Secondary Doctrines' seems to be purely semantic since even you recognize two classes of truths: One to break fellowship over and one to simply discuss. (Perhaps I do not correctly understand the term 'secondary doctrines'.)

A common point of discussion here is -
Is the modern state of Israel the fulfilment of OT prophecy?
My answer is a very definite "NO!"
Or is that a secondary doctrine we are free to disagree about?
My answer is a very definite "NO!" It is a serious error that ignores the truth that our Lord Jesus Christ himself fulfilled OT prophecy.

PLEASE don't post lots of arguments either way, I'm simply posting a clear example of a "secondary doctrine."

Another example is -
Should baptist churches accept into membership a faithful servant of God who has not been baptised as a believer by immersion?
My answer is a very definite "YES!"
Incidentally the new church we are attending will have to answer that question with respect to my wife. She considers her infant baptism was valid.
Also the Reformers & Puritans practised paedobaptism.

 

[Reformed]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that the difference between 'Essential Truths' (those which imperil the message of the gospel and are a reason to break fellowship) and 'Non-Essential/Secondary Truths' (those that do not imperil the message of the gospel and are not a reason to break fellowship over?

Your objection to 'Secondary Doctrines' seems to be purely semantic since even you recognize two classes of truths: One to break fellowship over and one to simply discuss. (Perhaps I do not correctly understand the term 'secondary doctrines'.)

When I state all truth is God's truth, I mean exactly that. All scripture is God-breathed. That said, when we get some of God's truth wrong we may be meddling with the Gospel and that is not a thing to be trifiled with. But that does not mean other areas of God's truth are not important. Let us throw tongues out there for the sake of discussion. While believing or not believing in tongues will not imperil one's faith, it could fracture a local assembly. I have witnessed that with my own eyes. The timing of the return of the Lord is often relegated to secondary status, but it is anything but. TCassidy and I have been debating the Universal Church. Secondary? No. Necessary for slavation? No. Enough to break fellowship over? Not for a one-on-one relationship but it could be problematic if we were both in leadership in the same local church and it was a matter of debate as to what the church believes. Also, sometimes we do not know what we do not know. What seems unimportant to us now may be clouded by our ignorance in the moment and later be revealed that is important. I can only answer for myself. I try to weigh each doctrine in the moment. Is this the time to fight for truth or not?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Yeshua1]

Our sole rule for all matters of faith and practice is scripture. Yes. I know that people disagree with what scripture teaches. This board would not exist if everyone agreed. Still, there are certain doctrines that are held by all Christians. I do not believe in so-called secondary doctrines since all truth is God's truth. That is why studying God's word is so important. We need to know it and understand it. We also need to live in accordance with what it teaches. Because of disagreements on what scripture teaches, denominations came into existence. But while all truth is God's truth, not every disagreement is worth dividing over. Some things are. IMHO anything that imperils the message of the gospel is a clear reason to break fellowship. Other reasons may seem more or less compelling than others but there are plenty of things to discuss in that regard.

My example of primary and secondary doctrines would be that I can have fellowship with say an AOG pastor who believes in tongues and second act of grace and certain gifts, but when and if he moved into additional revelations, all should he healed by faith, one must speak in other tongues to be saved, name it an claim it, than that becomes a primary doctrine issue to me to divide over.

 

[Yeshua1]

When I state all truth is God's truth, I mean exactly that. All scripture is God-breathed. That said, when we get some of God's truth wrong we may be meddling with the Gospel and that is not a thing to be trifiled with. But that does not mean other areas of God's truth are not important. Let us throw tongues out there for the sake of discussion. While believing or not believing in tongues will not imperil one's faith, it could fracture a local assembly. I have witnessed that with my own eyes. The timing of the return of the Lord is often relegated to secondary status, but it is anything but. TCassidy and I have been debating the Universal Church. Secondary? No. Necessary for slavation? No. Enough to break fellowship over? Not for a one-on-one relationship but it could be problematic if we were both in leadership in the same local church and it was a matter of debate as to what the church believes. Also, sometimes we do not know what we do not know. What seems unimportant to us now may be clouded by our ignorance in the moment and later be revealed that is important. I can only answer for myself. I try to weigh each doctrine in the moment. Is this the time to fight for truth or not?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

All truth of the scripture is indeed true, but not all doctrines and truths have equal importance.

 

[robycop3]

I believe BASIC doctrine bnegins with the Lordship of JESUS CHRIST in all matters of faith/worship, and with one's personal relationship with Him. While there'll be differences in beliefs of eschatology, etc. there should be NO difference in belief of Jesus' supremacy and the BIBLE being the ONLY source of doctrines.

 

[Yeshua1]

I believe BASIC doctrine bnegins with the Lordship of JESUS CHRIST in all matters of faith/worship, and with one's personal relationship with Him. While there'll be differences in beliefs of eschatology, etc. there should be NO difference in belief of Jesus' supremacy and the BIBLE being the ONLY source of doctrines.

Big problem is that it seems many acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, but that they then turn around and deny say full inspiration of Bible, even though Jesus affirmed it, deny literal Genesis, even though Jesus affirmed it, deny that he is only way to be saved, even though Jesus affirmed it!

 

[Covenanter]

See my new thread about the Welsh Baptists in the history section.

I hope to develop the information into a Gospel oriented presentation.