Not everything in life is equally important. Some things are more important than others. This is true about what we think and believe. Nowhere is it more important than what we believe about God and spiritual things. However, sometimes the way we believe and talk would not cause one to know that we believe this.
For your consideration, I suggest we give some thought to the following:
Core or Central Beliefs
God – Jesus.
Salvation by grace.
Resurrection.
Authority of Scripture.
These are things that we see as foundational to a belief in God, the Bible, Jesus Christ, and His great salvation provided to us through the Cross. If one does not believe these things, there is room for doubt about salvation.
Secondary Beliefs
Gifts of the Spirit.
Water Baptism.
Miracles.
While we believe each of these things, and think they are very important we do not see them as necessary for salvation through the blood of Jesus.
Tertiary
Creation.
Escatology.
Who wrote Hebrews or Isaiah.
Political beliefs.
Again, we may believe all these have importance in our lives, but they are not things that should divide us in the Body of Christ. Yet, as in the Corinthian Church, many such beliefs were allowed to divide that church because of their spiritual immaturity. And I fear that it is happening now in the Body of Christ in our day!
So, what can we do about it?
Lay aside, as much as possible, our preconceived ideas of God, His Word, etc., and begin to read and study it as if we were reading it for the first time. Establish a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. Spend some time and get to know Him from His ministry on earth from the four Gospels. See how He did things during His ministry. Then go through the books of Acts and see how the early church responded to His word to them. Spend some time in prayer fellowshipping with Him daily.
Let’s get beyond what separates us through an emphasis on the lesser things and put emphasis on the greater truths that can unite us as the Body of Christ. We can put whatever emphasis in our local church as we feel so led, but we can go beyond the things that divide us to work with other believers who may believe some things differently than we do for the sake of the world around us.
In our pastors’ prayer group in Louisville, we have ministers who hold different beliefs on the secondary or tertiary issues but believe the core truths of the Bible, therefore, we are able to work together in a broad sense. And, this can work in each local church as well,
For example, in the local congregation, you may have someone who has a very conservative take on political issues and someone else sees the same issues from a more liberal viewpoint. Yet, they can worship in the same church in peace if each of them sees their views as less important than the central beliefs the church holds. But the moment someone puts their political, or any other belief as necessary for fellowship, then division has set in which can have tremendous negative effects on the whole congregation.
Something to think about!