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This Sunday's Tough Questions ACE (Adult Christian Education) class was on Doctrinal Issues. The purpose of the class and this post is not to settle doctrinal issues. Our goal is to clarify how to think about doctrinal issues and interact with others with differing views.
The first clarification is doctrine matters.
Three of the Urban Legends of Theology Michael Wittmer writes about are...
"It is important to believe in something and it does not matter what".
"Doctrine divides and love unites", and
"Theology puts God in a box."
Each downplays the importance of sound, biblical doctrine—doctrine that summarizes the Bible's teaching, is faithful to the Bible, and is useful for life (Jamieson).
Titus 2:1 - 6 begins with Paul's command to Titus to teach sound doctrine (v. 1). Paul then goes on to talk about how older men and older women are to live. Verses 4 and 5 share what older women are teaching young women. Then, the passage concludes with a command for younger men. The passage that begins with Paul telling Titus to teach sound doctrine is filled with how to live. Sound doctrine should impact how we live.
Doctrine leads to maturity and personal growth.
Ephesians 4:11 - 16 is Paul's explanation of what the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers do. They equip the church for ministry and for building up the church. The passage is filled with maturity and unity language. This growth and unity involves not being "carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."
The second clarification is that there are essential and non-essential doctrines, but this distinction does not mean what you might think it means. In Sound Doctrine, Jamieson writes, "'Non-essential for salvation' does not mean of no importance at all." (Jamieson) Just a reminder of the first clarification, Doctrine Matters.
Here are four basic categories of doctrinal triage:
- First-rank doctrines are essential to the gospel itself. Historic, orthodox Christianity.
- Second-rank doctrines are urgent for the health and practice of the church, and they frequently cause Christians to separate at the level of the local church, denomination, and/or ministry.
- Third-rank doctrines are important to Christian theology but not enough to justify separation or division among Christians.
- Four-rank doctrines are unimportant to our gospel witness and ministry collaboration. (adiaphora)
This clarification can be seen in the Paul's epistles
He writes about first-rank doctrine when he says in 1st Corinthians 15:3-4 "For I delivered to you as of first importance that what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures."
In Romans 14, Galatians 3, and other passages, you read Paul's teachings about food and holy days, which are issues of stronger and weaker brothers and sisters.
On a personal note, I understand there may be differing opinions and thoughts on what is first, second, third, and fourth-rank issues. A lesson like today's is very hard to teach because of differing views in the class. If nothing else, I pray this topic, taught in the way it was taught, encourages people to think through what is important for salvation, church fellowship, and Christian living.
A Call for Theological Triage by Albert Mohler
Christianity and Liberalism (PDF version) by J. Gresham Machen
