Featured Theological Differences in the Local Church

A local example - The Anglican Vicar reported that he had discovered meditation to help with a personal problem, so set up a series of "Stillpoint" meetings to promote it to others.

I went to one such meeting & found it as expected - Eastern meditation intended to quieten the mind , without reference to Scripture or prayer.

I wrote to the Vicar as follows:

 

In Ephesians 2:8-9 and in this I fervently believe.

 

Please correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that the difference between 'Essential Truths' (those which imperil the message of the gospel and are a reason to break fellowship) and 'Non-Essential/Secondary Truths' (those that do not imperil the message of the gospel and are not a reason to break fellowship over?

Your objection to 'Secondary Doctrines' seems to be purely semantic since even you recognize two classes of truths: One to break fellowship over and one to simply discuss. (Perhaps I do not correctly understand the term 'secondary doctrines'.)

 

A common point of discussion here is -
Is the modern state of Israel the fulfilment of OT prophecy?
My answer is a very definite "NO!"
Or is that a secondary doctrine we are free to disagree about?
My answer is a very definite "NO!" It is a serious error that ignores the truth that our Lord Jesus Christ himself fulfilled OT prophecy.

PLEASE don't post lots of arguments either way, I'm simply posting a clear example of a "secondary doctrine."

Another example is -
Should baptist churches accept into membership a faithful servant of God who has not been baptised as a believer by immersion?
My answer is a very definite "YES!"
Incidentally the new church we are attending will have to answer that question with respect to my wife. She considers her infant baptism was valid.
Also the Reformers & Puritans practised paedobaptism.

 

My example of primary and secondary doctrines would be that I can have fellowship with say an AOG pastor who believes in tongues and second act of grace and certain gifts, but when and if he moved into additional revelations, all should he healed by faith, one must speak in other tongues to be saved, name it an claim it, than that becomes a primary doctrine issue to me to divide over.

 

All truth of the scripture is indeed true, but not all doctrines and truths have equal importance.

 

I believe BASIC doctrine bnegins with the Lordship of JESUS CHRIST in all matters of faith/worship, and with one's personal relationship with Him. While there'll be differences in beliefs of eschatology, etc. there should be NO difference in belief of Jesus' supremacy and the BIBLE being the ONLY source of doctrines.

 

Big problem is that it seems many acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, but that they then turn around and deny say full inspiration of Bible, even though Jesus affirmed it, deny literal Genesis, even though Jesus affirmed it, deny that he is only way to be saved, even though Jesus affirmed it!

 

See my new thread about the Welsh Baptists in the history section.

I hope to develop the information into a Gospel oriented presentation.