We've all heard the saying: "In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity." I have witnessed many debates among (supposedly) Christians where charity went out the window pretty quick. One of the reasons the body of Christ is still so divided to this day may have to do with the fact that we cannot even agree on what is essential and what is not.
For some, issues like keeping women out of the pulpit or modes of baptism are essentials and they are fighting tooth and nail to defend their views. For others, almost anything is free game other than the principle of love.
So who gets to decide what is essential and what is not? I would suggest 2 guidelines that may help us get closer to what those essential things are:
1. If Scripture in its overall perspective explicitly says that it's of primary importance, we better pay attention!
Examples: Hebrews 1:1-4 Jesus as God's final and supreme word to humanity.
For some, issues like keeping women out of the pulpit or modes of baptism are essentials and they are fighting tooth and nail to defend their views. For others, almost anything is free game other than the principle of love.
So who gets to decide what is essential and what is not? I would suggest 2 guidelines that may help us get closer to what those essential things are:
1. If Scripture in its overall perspective explicitly says that it's of primary importance, we better pay attention!
Examples: Hebrews 1:1-4 Jesus as God's final and supreme word to humanity.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Elements of "first importance" in the saving gospel: Jesus death for our sins, his burial, his resurrection (compare also 2:2 - Jesus and his crucifixion as the exclusive and most important part of Paul's preaching and teaching).
Matthew 22:37-40 The greatest commandment: Loving God and loving our neighbor sums up God's will for us.
2. Ask yourself the question: what would really change in my life if it was not so? There are issues that make all the difference in the world. If Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:17). If on the other hand there should be conclusive evidence one day that the age of the earth is not what coincides with my original interpretation of Genesis 1, then I would still believe that God is creator of everything and that the whole world is still in His hand.
Maybe you can add some more criteria which could help us to recognize what is essential and what is not.
2. Ask yourself the question: what would really change in my life if it was not so? There are issues that make all the difference in the world. If Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:17). If on the other hand there should be conclusive evidence one day that the age of the earth is not what coincides with my original interpretation of Genesis 1, then I would still believe that God is creator of everything and that the whole world is still in His hand.
Maybe you can add some more criteria which could help us to recognize what is essential and what is not.
