An Attempt at Measuring Orthodoxy
15 05 2008Here is Matt Slick’s look at the doctrines of the faith:
Doctrine Grid
Following is a proposed chart that offers a layout of biblical orthodoxy. It is designed to help categorize various doctrines into levels of importance. I admit that some of these are debatable and I do not claim absolute correctness on all points — only the essentials. This chart is a suggestion.
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C H R I S T I A N D O C T R I N E |
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RELIGIOUS GROUPS |
IMPORTANCE |
SUBJECT |
| Groups denying these: Mormons - 3,4,5 Jehovah’s Witnesses - 1,2,3 Roman Catholicism - 3 Christian Science - 1,2,3,4 Christadelphians - 1,3 |
Primary Essentials Stated specifically in scripture that these cannot be denied and still be a Christian. They deal with the nature of God, the atonement, and its method of salvation applied to the believer. Denial of any Primary essential constitutes lack of regeneration, lack of salvation. Note: Regeneration means the believer is indwelt by God, changed, and enabled to understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:15) |
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| Comments: Denial of any of the above doctrines is stated in scripture constitutes being non-Christian. | ||
| Groups denying these: Oneness Pentecostal - 6 Mormonism - 6, 7? Jehovah’s Witnesses - 6 Christadelphians - 6 |
Secondary Essentials Not stated in scripture as essential, but are derivatively essential since they deal with accurately describing the true God and they are based, in part, on the Primary Essentials. Denial strongly suggests lack of regeneration. |
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| Comments: God is a Trinity and though a person may not understand or initially affirm the Trinity doctrine upon regeneration, he will eventually come to accept it since it is a biblically true revelation describing the true God. Jesus was born of a virgin which is essential when defending the two natures of Jesus: divine and human. If Jesus were not born of a virgin, then His patronage would be in doubt as well as His divine nature. Without a divine nature, Jesus would not be able to atone for the sins of the world. | ||
| Most Groups affirm: Moral integrity, marriage fidelity, inerrancy, etc. Mormonism denies 11, 12. ICOC denies 12 |
Primary Non-Essentials (1 John 2:4) Can be denied and still be Christian. Yet, denial would bring into question a person’s regeneration since acceptance of these show the work of regeneration of the heart |
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| Comments: The fruit of the indwelling Spirit of God is agreement in word and deed with the scriptures. The Primary Non-Essentials are those teachings that the Bible does not declare as essential to salvation; however, to affirm otherwise is evidence of lack of regeneration since they are the fruit of the regenerate mind and heart. | ||
| Denomination Division Denominational difference often result due to these issues. |
Secondary Non-Essentials Any of them can be denied, or affirmed, and regeneration is not in question. |
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| Comments: The subjects above whether affirmed or denied have no bearing on the status of a person before God. They are opinions, various positions held. Unfortunately, it is in these non essentials that many denominational differences result. | ||
| Liberal interpretation problem Examples of bad biblical interpretations |
Christian Heresies These do not contradict the essentials, but do contradict non essential teachings. |
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| Comments: Affirming the doctrines in this grey section are signs of significant lack of understanding of biblical theology. Nevertheless, believing them does not negate salvation | ||
Very interesting. It sure helps us in knowing what to let slide sometimes and to not get too bogged down in some of the non essential doctrines. I suppose the danger comes when the non esential crosses over into the essential
Heavyweight title
The bible (the word of God) encourages all believers to Study, showing ourselves approved of God, workman that need not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. The invite below is Christianity in its glory; (Paul on Mars hill) weak believers (Sheep) will avoid this debate for obvious the reasons. For those who are seeking truth, or to reinforce your truth tune in, or continue to stand looking upward.
Don K. Preston in an Up Coming Radio Debate
Covenant Radio, with sponsors Jeffrey McCormack and William Hill, will be hosting another debate, on May 22, 2008 at 7 PM EDT (6 PM CST).
The disputants for this debate will be Don K. Preston, who has engaged in debates on Covenant radio in the past, and Mr. Melvin Jones.
Mr. Jones has a BSEE from Tuskegee Institute 1974, and is of the Reformed/Monergistic persuasion. In his eschatology he is a premillennialist, and holds to a physical return of Jesus Christ. He teaches occasionally for the Standup Ministries (www.standupministry.com) through a web cast, and worships with Hillcrest Baptist Church, Temple Hills MD.
Mr. Jones is involved with the Website: http://www.pulpit-pimps.org a site that addresses the men and women who take advantage of the more vulnerable and ignorant members of the Body.
The debate with Mr. Jones came about due to one our regular visitors to this site, who had interacted with Mr. Jones and a related radio ministry. I was contacted, asking if I would be willing to debate someone from the ministry. I expressed my interest, but, the head of the ministry was not willing to engage me. However, Mr. Jones has stepped forward and the discussions will proceed. We appreciate his willingness to engage in these discussions, and feel that they will be profitable.
You can listen to the debate live, on http://www.Covenantradio.com on May the 22, at 7 Eastern time, 6 Central time.
Depending on the time available, there may be two propositions. Don K. Preston will affirm the following.
Resolved: The Bible teaches that the Second (i.e. final) coming of Christ occurred at the time of the fall of Jerusalem in A. D. 70.
: The Bible teaches that the Second (i.e. final) coming of Christ occurred at the time of the fall of Jerusalem in A. D. 70.
Don K. Preston: affirm
Melvin Jones: Deny.
If time permits, Mr. Jones will also have an affirmative, which will be:
Resolved: The Bible teaches due to Jewish unbelief and rejection of Jesus in the first century, Davidic Kingdom was postponed until the Second Coming of Christ, which will occur at the end of the current Christian age.
: The Bible teaches that due to Jewish unbelief and rejection of Jesus in the first century, the Davidic Kingdom was postponed until the Second Coming of Christ which will occur at the end of the current Christian age.
Melvin Jones: Affirm
Don K. Preston: Deny
We very much appreciate the opportunity to engage in these discussions, and express our appreciation to Jeff McCormack and William Hill for their good work on Covenant Radio.
Don K. Preston
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wow, good job, very comprehensive brother. I love it!
msamu,
Sounds like fun. I should have finished my exams by then, so I’ll try to tune in.
Well my brother I noticed that you have put predestination, election,limited atonement as non essential. However I totally disagree with you. Firstly i may put it to you that when one comes to true belief in God it is not by mental Logical correlation of the Facts. The bible states it categorically that it is by faith. The High Preists, Niccodemus and the phariseas all were well vexed with the scriptures but never believed except Niccodemus. Why Why Why ? Its because of Predestination.
Why does anyone believe and not believe = Predestination.
So I dont see how when God the Holy Spirit indwels you, He wont tell you that you are elect. Besides the most horrific thing when the Holy Spirit comes upon you suddenly you cant freely sin. By nature you dont want to do or be with believers but you will continue to change. Why Why and not everyone else.
So look at the Bible whenever God reveals himself to anyone the first question any human asks is who are you. God told Isreal I am YAHWEH and I have chosen you from all the tribes on earth. So you see true salvation begins with Predestination and the following chain. Or simply if it is not given to you, one carries on in unbelief even doubting the existence of God.
Besides everyone who comes into the world is either a believer or a non believer at birth. The difference is all true believers come to the Faith by indwelling of the Spirit at different times and are given the knowledge of the mysteries of God Gradually at the will of the Holy Spirit.
Predestination is essential in correct doctrine or else what is the reason does one come to prayer to God. No one can just barge in the presence of God and start talking to him. You need grounds and they must be true or else you die.
Hope to expand the comment in future.
I would definitely agree with you that predestination is a very big deal in Christian doctrine. It’s interesting that the guy who created the chart is a Calvinist, and even graduated from Westminster Seminary California. Like I said, it’s only an attempt at measuring orthodoxy.
Jude encourages the believers of his time to “defend” God’s unchanging truth, we’re also encouraged to
“Prove all things” “rightly dividing the word of truth”. The debate between Mr. Don Preston and Mr. Melvin Jones
is as biblical as it gets when there’re disagreements between believes, every believer should be thrilled
that the man of God has chosen not act as the world, but as men of God trying eschatology by the Word of God.
Don K. Preston in an Up Coming Radio Debate
You can listen to the debate live, on http://www.Covenantradio.com on May the 22, at 7 Eastern time, 6 Central time.
Depending on the time available, there may be two propositions. Don K. Preston will affirm the following.
Resolved: The Bible teaches that the Second (i.e. final) coming of Christ occurred at the time of the fall of Jerusalem in A. D. 70.
: The Bible teaches that the Second (i.e. final) coming of Christ occurred at the time of the fall of Jerusalem in A. D. 70.
Don K. Preston: affirm
Melvin Jones: Deny.
If time permits, Mr. Jones will also have an affirmative, which will be:
Resolved: The Bible teaches that due to Jewish unbelief and rejection of Jesus in the first century, the Davidic Kingdom was postponed until the Second Coming of Christ which will occur at the end of the current Christian age.
: The Bible teaches that due to Jewish unbelief and rejection of Jesus in the first century, the Davidic Kingdom was postponed until the Second Coming of Christ which will occur at the end of the current Christian age.
Melvin Jones: Affirm
Challenge your eschatology, because it’s not what I believe, it’s what the bible affirms is Truth……..
Hey man I struggle with Universalism. It denies that salvation is by grace through faith. Not to menetion how is Jesus being the only way not a primary essenitial. It is self defeating to say “grace through faith” is essential in category 1 and then to say that Jesus being the only way is not in the same category. Because then you ask Grace by whom and faith in whom?
Hey Bro. Lionel! Well like I said in the title, I saw it as an attempt at looking at orthodoxy. Left to me, I’d would’ve definitely put the exclusivity of Jesus as a primary essential [John 14:6], but then he does get the point right on several others…
Got you,
I was just curious how “grace through faith” is an essential without having the object of that faith being essential. All in all pretty good but definitely some holes.