Non-essential Christian Doctrines

[tourist]

NightTwister believes correct Doctrine is a non-essential Christian Doctrine. This whole thread is based on NightTwister trying to remit his guilt by getting rid of correct Doctrine once and for all. This will never happen. Thank you Jesus.

Don't really believe that @NightTwister is trying to remit his guilt. What do you believe that he was guilty of?

 

[Winslow89]

Also, explained in the original post.

Explained how it’s advocating contradictory beliefs.

 

[NightTwister]

Explained how it’s advocating contradictory beliefs.

Advocating? I don't believe you understand the meaning of that word.

 

[NightTwister]

It would be helpful if you were to define 'non-essential'. On what basis do you define it? In what context? Fellowship? Living in the truth as an individual child of God? Maintaining order in a local new testament church?

All doctrine is essential. The question is - regarding whatever part of doctrine is being considered - what is it essential for?

I'm pretty sure I explained that in the original post.

 

[Winslow89]

Advocating? I don't believe you understand the meaning of that word.

Your post is insinuating people can believe contradictory beliefs. Would you be ok with attending a place that believes you must be water baptized, sprinkled, that you must sing without instruments, but then another member says you must sing with instruments, that we are saved by faith alone, but then another member of that same assembly says we are saved by faith, but not faith only, that you must tithe, all while being told you don’t have to, that women can speak over men while they cannot? Would you accept all these conflicting and contradictory beliefs to be true and harmonize with the others? No? Yeah, me either. Why is that? You know why.

 

[NightTwister]

Your post is insinuating people can believe contradictory beliefs. Would you be ok with attending a place that believes you must be water baptized, sprinkled, that you must sing without instruments, but then another member says you must sing with instruments, that we are saved by faith alone, but then another member of that same assembly says we are saved by faith, but not faith only, that you must tithe, all while being told you don’t have to, that women can speak over men while they cannot? Would you accept all these conflicting and contradictory beliefs to be true and harmonize with the others? No? Yeah, me either. Why is that? You know why.

Explained in the original post. Did you actually read it?

 

[NightTwister]

NightTwister believes correct Doctrine is a non-essential Christian Doctrine. This whole thread is based on NightTwister trying to remit his guilt by getting rid of correct Doctrine once and for all. This will never happen. Thank you Jesus.

No guilt here.

 

[Winslow89]

Explained in the original post. Did you actually read it?

I did. You explained how contradictory views aren’t essential, which means you believe it’s ok to have contradictory views of God’s word.

 

[Dino246]

Your post is insinuating people can believe contradictory beliefs. Would you be ok with attending a place that believes you must be water baptized, sprinkled, that you must sing without instruments, but then another member says you must sing with instruments, that we are saved by faith alone, but then another member of that same assembly says we are saved by faith, but not faith only, that you must tithe, all while being told you don’t have to, that women can speak over men while they cannot? Would you accept all these conflicting and contradictory beliefs to be true and harmonize with the others? No? Yeah, me either. Why is that? You know why.

He’s not saying that individual Christians (or a local church) should or can believe contradictory things but rather that as the body of Christ, the Church, has some members who believe one thing while other members believe something contradictory.

 

[NightTwister]

I did. You explained how contradictory views aren’t essential, which means you believe it’s ok to have contradictory views of God’s word.

So you think every doctrine is essential and those you don't agree with you are not Christians. Or maybe you just didn't read the entire original post.

 

[Follower777]

It is only intended to discuss whether or not these are non-essential doctrines..

You just implied that correct doctrine is foolish; tell that to Jesus,

Do you consciously choose to be a jerk, or are you just oblivious to your own bad behaviour?

I would suggest that many “doctrines” are distinctly non-essential, because they neither confirm nor deny one’s salvation. The issues identified in the OP are in that category.

Is it a salvation issue whether someone “tithes” to their local church? No. That’s the point. Christians can disagree on these issues and not be heretics.

Now, I believe that there are correct answers for most if not all of these questions, so some people are actually wrong in their views. However, unless people are causing division or excluding others from fellowship then the Lord, then there is freedom to disagree.

Like I said, in the "False Prophet & False Christ" thread, I can tell from your "short" comment here, (and Nighttwister's ) of which spirit you are of ... Your disregard for The Authority of God, and His Word Jesus, ... Matt 23:24 You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
nuf said

Tithing as a divine institution ordained by God to acknowledge His lordship, express dependence on Him, and restore human dignity as stewards of His goods. Tithing is an act of recognition that God is the source of all blessings, a way to cultivate beneficence and gratitude, and a means to keep God as the center of life. It was instituted by God even before the Mosaic law, linked with God's creative and redemptive work, but it was not repealed by Christ and remains binding (Matthew 23:23). The focus is on tithing as an expression of loyalty and stewardship rather than a salvational prerequisite.

 

[Dino246]

Like I said, in the "False Prophet & False Christ" thread, I can tell from your "short" comment here, (and Nighttwister's ) of which spirit you are of ... Your disregard for The Authority of God, and His Word Jesus, ... Matt 23:24 You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
nuf said

Yawn.

 

[NightTwister]

Like I said, in the "False Prophet & False Christ" thread, I can tell from your "short" comment here, (and Nighttwister's ) of which spirit you are of ... Your disregard for The Authority of God, and His Word Jesus, ... Matt 23:24 You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
nuf said

If only everyone believed perfectly like you.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

AI said:
Tithing as a divine institution ordained by God to acknowledge His lordship, express dependence on Him, and restore human dignity as stewards of His goods. Tithing is an act of recognition that God is the source of all blessings, a way to cultivate beneficence and gratitude, and a means to keep God as the center of life. It was instituted by God even before the Mosaic law, linked with God's creative and redemptive work, but it was not repealed by Christ and remains binding (Matthew 23:23). The focus is on tithing as an expression of loyalty and stewardship rather than a salvational prerequisite.

That's one of the most retarded things I've ever read. AI really is low IQ

 

[PaulThomson]

Do you believe correct doctrine is a non-essential Christian Doctrine?

Yes, a correct doctrine can be non-essential for one to hold to nevertheless experience fellowship and communion with God and His children by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Mat 9:13
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

And,

Jas 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

 

[Solitude]

Yes, a correct doctrine can be non-essential for one to hold to nevertheless experience fellowship and communion with God and His children by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Mat 9:13
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

And,

Jas 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

I believe all correct doctrine, but, for you it is o.k. if you don't.

 

[GaryA]

I'm pretty sure I explained that in the original post.

So - are you are suggesting that - if it is not 'salvation', it is 'non-essential'...? Or, are you saying that 'non-essential' doctrine is what "separates" believers into denominations...?

All doctrine is essential - as being part of the truth of scripture - which we should all endeavor to correctly and properly understand and follow.

However, at the same time, I can agree that believers may "agree to disagree agreeably" about "certain things" for the sake of fellowship - what those "certain things" are depend on the context - two believers [from different churches/denominations] who work together on their jobs or meet in a public place in town, two members of this website discussing something in a thread, two members of the same local new testament church together in a worship service or some other activity of the church - or, any other context - it actually makes a difference. We might all agree that it should not be any different from context to context; nonetheless, in reality, it really does make a difference. And, in each of these contexts, the two believers will have to be in agreement about what is-and-is-not essential for the sake of fellowship in that particular context.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Hello @NightTwister, I agree with you about how we should handle the essentials and non-essentials of the faith as Christians. As the famous quote (traditionally credited to Augustine) tells us,

In Essentials, Unity, in Non-Essentials, Liberty, in All Things, Charity (the third point or principle, I believe, being the most important of the three) .. e.g. Matthew 5:9; John 13:34-35​

I'm also in a church that officially promotes these principles* at the denominational level (the Evangelical Free Church of America), principles that have most often resulted in loving discussions between brothers and sisters in Christ, instead of the unloving, heated arguments like the ones that we so often see out here in online Christendom.

Here's a short, interesting article about these principles if you'd care to read it: In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity by Mark Ross

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy (David)
p.s. - the EFCA says: “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, charity. In all things, Jesus Christ.” *

​

 

[NightTwister]

So - are you are suggesting that - if it is not 'salvation', it is 'non-essential'...? Or, are you saying that 'non-essential' doctrine is what "separates" believers into denominations...?

All doctrine is essential - as being part of the truth of scripture - which we should all endeavor to correctly and properly understand and follow.

However, at the same time, I can agree that believers may "agree to disagree agreeably" about "certain things" for the sake of fellowship - what those "certain things" are depend on the context - two believers [from different churches/denominations] who work together on their jobs or meet in a public place in town, two members of this website discussing something in a thread, two members of the same local new testament church together in a worship service or some other activity of the church - or, any other context - it actually makes a difference. We might all agree that it should not be any different from context to context; nonetheless, in reality, it really does make a difference. And, in each of these contexts, the two believers will have to be in agreement about what is-and-is-not essential for the sake of fellowship in that particular context.

So, did you read the entire original post?

 

[Winslow89]

Goodbye.