Agabus (mark adams)

Every Christian needs a set of principles for interpreting the Bible, for discussing God’s word among believers, for “no prophecy of scipture is a matter of one’s own interpretation…” (2 Peter 1:20). One idea, a rule, you might say, is, “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.”

Above all things theology should unite. Jesus prays, “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:11). And Paul writes, “I… urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called… eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). The church is under an obligation to maintain unity and orthodoxy, not one at the expense of the other. This is an especially difficult challenge, but God lays it before us nevertheless.

In the formative years of the church, the fathers debated complex matters of doctrine, ultimately approving the creeds that define essential Christian beliefs. The Apostles Creed best exemplifies this model (see text at end of blog). They defined the core beliefs of Christianity in the simplest terms possible. The Apostles Creed in particular is appealing as it encompasses the widest scope of orthodox Christianity, Catholic or Protestant: it maintains unity and orthodoxy.

The first part of the “rule” — in essentials, unity – is affirmed. These are the essentials, and in them we are united. The second part of the “rule” is more difficult. What are the non-essentials? Addressing the secterian influences of the Corinthian church, Paul writes, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2), as this alone was necessary for maintaining unity among believers. He chose to reduce the gospel to the commonest factor, and thus enlarged his ministry. Paul left other matters (non-essentials) to individuals and their consciences. These included food regulations and times of worship, and perhaps also theological schools of thought.

Some bristle at the suggestion that in matters of faith there are non-essentials at all. Here is a sample of this objection:

There are a couple of things wrong with Augustine’s slogan. First, it fosters an approach that boils down Bible truths to the bare minimum “essentials.” … Secondly, it makes distinctions in Bible teachings that results in a pick-and-choose attitude (source).

Actually, the phrase originated among Protestants (cf., “In Essentials Unity”: The pre-history and history of a restoration movement slogan), but substantively, the statement above represents a common and fair objection. Can we pick and choose? The answer is firmly, no. Yet, the slogan does not encourage picking and choosing; rather, it suggests a means by which Christians might obey a divine injunction: “maintain unity.” In essentials, unity: the deity of Christ, blood redemption, the resurection of the dead. In non-essentials, liberty: rites of baptism, times of worship, styles of music, ideas about the inspiration of scripture, and even creationism. Not, the term is liberty, not license. We must have the freedom to acquire truth, but not to manufacture it. It may well be that the non-essentials are merely the things God keeps from us until the Second Coming, things that defy definition in order that we might acquire God, not merely knowledge.

In the objection quoted above, the author does not explain how the slogan “may not express scriptural truths and thus can cause great harm to individuals and the Church.” He does not provide concrete examples for his complaint. One would do well to note that the slogan is not a biblical truth, but rather a rule for engaging others in religious discourse. Perhaps in this context the slogan is less objectionable. (How the slogan “eliminates the need for Christ to be both Savior and Lord,” as the author asserts, is beyond comprehension.)

Essentials define; non-essentials distinguish. Elevating non-essentials to the status of essentials only divides the body.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Note: The Apostles Creed as it is known today is a later manifestation of earlier creeds. These texts and their history is noted in Documents of the Christian Church, by Henry Bettenson.

Similar Posts:

• Thoughts on essentials and non-essentials
• What is “non-essential”?
• Knowing the Essential
• Nothing but the blood of Jesus: A theological perspective
• “In Christ, there is unity”

© 2008 – 2009, Mark Adams. All rights reserved. For inquiries press here.

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