The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum What is essential

Lichawa,

I think you will find that those terms vary greatly, although there has been historically a major consensus among Reformed denominations. You will always find extremes on both ends, but again there has been a major consensus on what is considered "essential" and "non-essential".

Further, the things included in those two groups vary according to the subject considered, e.g., historically, what is essential for salvation was nearly unanimously agreed upon among the Reformers and Puritans. Yet, on the subject of ecclesiology, there was a definite disagreement. On the matter of eschatology, the agreement was far greater than what might seem given the vast disparity of views we have today. In former years, e.g., previous to the 1800's there were only two received views; Amillennialism (the oldest although it was originally known as Postmillennialism) and the later Postmillennialism. They had their respective differences but they were both adamantly opposed to any and all forms of Chiliasm (Premillennialism).

So, how does one determine the historical understanding of what is essential and what is non-essential in regard to various subjects? I believe that is easily discerned by consulting the official Creeds, Confessions and Catechisms of the Church, beginning at the earliest days. On the matter of the nature of God, we have the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds. On the deity of Christ we have the Chalcedon Creed. On the matter of the Fall and its noetic effects, we have the Council of Orange. On a broader scale on the various Loci of Theology, we have the various Confessions of Faith; Waldensian, French, Helvetic, Belgic, Thirty-nine Articles, Westminster, London Baptist and Savoy Declaration. There is great unanimity between all those documents despite their minor differences on church polity.

What we are witnessing today, and this has been growing in intensity for the past 150+ years, is a tendency to minimize doctrine and life to the point of the absurd. We have today a "lowest common denominator" theology which has been used to develop a truncated and false gospel based upon Madison Avenue advertising philosophy and modern psychology's behavior modification. It has become so widespread that most people don't even realize what has been going on. In fact, whenever someone brings to the floor the "old gospel" of the Bible, which was preached and taught by the Reformers, Puritans and those who followed them through the centuries, it is looked upon as a very strange thing. It is criticized strongly as being 'narrow', 'divisive', 'too intellectual', 'oppressive' and many other pejorative slurs. I think we can give much credit to this falling away of sound doctrine and unanimity upon what is essential and non-essential to Charles Finney, a hero of such men as Billy Graham. His heresies have been a major influence upon most Evangelical denominations and churches. The "old paths" have been forsaken for "another way". (Isa 30:8-13; Jer 6:16,17; Hos 4:6)

Doubtless, MUCH more could be said on this subject, but hopefully, this brief synopsis will give you some food for thought.

And lastly, but certainly not least... Welcome to the Discussion Board!

In His grace,