How Should We Handle Interpretation Differences on Secondary Doctrines?

This was a page that the professor handed out for the second to last class of Intro to Biblical Interpretation. I thought it would be a good page to also show you and include as part of the blog rules, because it illustrates doctrines that are essential or non-essential, and how we should respond to differing views on secondary doctrines. Brackets are mine, and Bible verse were removed, leaving only their references to save room, please look them up on your own.


    "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity [grace]" - Augustine

Some examples of secondary doctrinal issues:

    ~ Eschatology [How/when Christ will return]  ~ Ecclesiology [How the church should be run
    ~ Baptism                                                       ~ Interpretation of the Creation Account
    ~ Spiritual Gifts                                               ~ Divorce and Remarriage
    ~ Women in Leadership                                  ~ Calvinism and Arminianism

Some recommendations of what we should do

    1.  Study the Various Views with an Open Mind, Changing our View if the Biblical Evidence is Convincing (Emphasis Added)
         (2 Tim. 2:15)
         (1 Cor. 13:9-12)

    2.  Study the Various Views as Expressed by those who Hold them, not just those with opposing views that criticize them.

    3.  Develop our own Convictions, yet hold them with humility
         (Rom. 14:5)
         (Eph. 4:2)

    4.  Treat Those who Hold Other Views with Dignity and Respect
         (Matt. 7:12)

    5.  Make Every Effort to Preserve the Unity of the Spirit Through the Bond of Peace, Established by the Lord Jesus.
         (Eph. 4:3)
         (John 17:22-23)

Some recommendations of what we should not do.

    1.  Be Uninformed, or Lazy/Apathetic
    2.  Be Dogmatic; Closed Minded toward other views [on secondary doctrines]
    3.  Misrepresent the views of others, in an attempt to win an argument
    4.  Make secondary issues the litmus test of salvation or evangelical orthodoxy [if you don't believe in infant baptism, or that the world was created in 6, 24 hour days, then I don't think you are a true Christian.]

This really spoke to me during the class, and I really thought "this is how I want the people on my blog to behave," so I thought I would pass it on to you. Let us be salt and light to the world, not have the world drag us down with useless bickering and divisions in the Church due to petty issues.

Mission of the Blog

   In the days of the Reformation, Christians would often meet together in taverns to discuss the ideas of the Reformation. One such inn, known as the White Horse in Cambridge England, became the regular meeting place of a small group of English Scholars, who would gather together to discuss their views. My intention is that this blog become a similar place, if you are uncomfortable with adult beverages then you are more than welcome to not include those, and the medium of the internet allows you to not have to observe any drinking if you do not want to. (We'll be dealing with alcohol and the Bible in a future post). But why did I choose "Eternity's Christianity" instead of "Today's Christianity"? Very simple, Today's Christianity implies that it was different today then it was yesterday, and it is my belief that the church is the same throughout history, and should continue to be the same today.
   The mission of Christians all over the world is explicitly stated by Christ in Acts 1:6-9, when Christ commands his followers to "be my witnesses in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the Earth." Also, in Matthew 28:19, Christ tells the Disciples to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." That being said, the mission of this blog is not entirely to fulfill the Great Commission, but to instead indirectly fulfill it through causing you, the reader, to examine your faith and affirm your beliefs. I cannot tell you that I have all the answers, that would be EXTREMELY arrogant of me (and wrong), instead, "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" I plan on learning just as much from these blog posts as I hope you do.
   This blog is entirely open for debate (in fact, that is a portion of the purpose) but i ask that you keep the comments section free of derogatory statements, generalizations, obviously foolish statements, or useless banter of any kind for that matter. Please back up every claim with a reference verse, in any Bible translation of your choice, and use your statements, whether they are in support or opposition of an entry or a comment, to build up yourself and your opponent's understanding of the word.
   This is just a small portion of the mission of this blog, and it will continue to evolve (with micro evolution, not macro) as this blog continues to develop and take shape. Feel free to make yourself comfortable and I hope your walk with Christ grows through this experience.