THE CHRISTIAN ESSENTIAL

Chris Bounds

 

In the past few years, I have had students struggle with a number of theological questions and issues such as these:

 

 

At times as my students wrestle with these issues, they appear to enter into a crisis of faith, believing that holding to a non-traditional answer to any or all of these questions might mean that they are no longer a Christian. While all of these questions are important, address a diversity of Christian teachings, and have challenging ramifications, they each have one thing in common – they address issues not immediately essential to the Christian faith. In other words, Christians can hold to different and opposing positions on all of these and still be a Believer.  While important, people are not “saved” by their understanding and response to any of these issues.

In the midst of wrestling with theological teachings, remembering that there are levels of importance in Christian belief can be helpful.

 

In the midst of wrestling with theological teachings, remembering that there are levels of importance in Christian belief can be helpful. There are some doctrinal issues more important than others. In reflection upon Scripture, particular doctrinal teachings, and evaluation of personal faith, the categories of (1) Essential Beliefs, (2) Important Beliefs, and (3) Peripheral Beliefs needs to be kept in mind.      

 

Three Categories of Beliefs

 

(1) Essential Beliefs includes the non-negotiable beliefs of Christianity. These are what are held to be the fundamentals of Christianity. These are beliefs Christians would be willing to die for because of their importance. To surrender or compromise one of these beliefs would be to fundamentally render the Christian faith unchristian. Scripturally, there are not many dogmas or essential beliefs. These would include beliefs like the bodily resurrection of Christ, the incarnation – the full divinity of Christ, and reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. (These tend to be theological Christian truths all Christian bodies tend to hold together, ecumenically.)

 

(2) Important Beliefs includes key beliefs, beliefs that impact people's lives and the Church, but with which there can be sincere disagreements. They are important; Christians might argue for them, fight for them, but would not be willing to die for them. These are theological ideas with which there can be (great) latitude of belief. These would include beliefs about predestination, eternal security, original sin, infant baptism, and all of the questions raised at the beginning of the essay. (These tend to be the distinctive beliefs of specific Christian groups or denominations in contrast to other Christian groups and denominations.)

 

(3) Peripheral Beliefs includes beliefs and practices that are not really that important. Christians should not "lose any sleep" over disagreements in these areas. These might include debates over modes of baptism, appropriate dress, ecclesiastical organization, the appropriateness of smoking and drinking, being a Democrat, Republican, or a Socialist, etc.

 

Realizing that there are degrees of importance can be helpful. Hence, disagreements over doctrines deemed not essential, should not become an occasion to abandon the Christian faith. However, if an essential belief is being brought into question, there truly should be cause of concern.

 

The Non-negotiable in Christianity

 

At this point, let me try to identify in greater detail that “necessary, minimal indispensable body” of doctrine in the Christian faith.[1] It is the non-negotiable in Christianity. The Apostle Paul clearly states it in his first letter to the Church in Corinth in which he quotes a creed that was operating in the church before his conversion to Christ:

 

"Now I remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you have received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold fast – unless you believe in vain. For I delivered to you as first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep." (1Corinthians 15:1-8)

The essential doctrine of Christianity centers on the historical person of Jesus Christ and his redemptive work

 

The essential doctrine of Christianity centers on the historical person of Jesus Christ and his redemptive work on behalf of humanity. The promise of salvation from sin, guilt, and death through a relation of trust in God who becomes flesh in a person who actually lived in history, died and was bodily resurrected, and forever lives is the doctrinal center of the Christian faith. Christianity everywhere of all sorts, times, languages, and cultural assumptions understands the life, death and resurrection of Christ as the fulcrum of their own personal faith and teaching.

 

Christianity centers on the fact that in the person of Jesus Christ, God became incarnate and through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection humanity was reconciled to God. With few exceptions, this consensus has held firm and is abundantly seen in the scriptures, liturgies, hymns, and sacraments of the Church. This affirmation constitutes the essential doctrine of the Christian faith. This is what has been persistently held throughout the various developments in Christian understanding. Without agreement on this, there can be no Church and no Christianity. Nevertheless, in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries there have been those who have tried to amend what Christians have repeatedly said was the core of the Christian faith.

 

From this central doctrinal affirmation of the Church other teachings arose which have been crucial to the Christian faith by further clarifying the center. For example, two of the most important developments addressed the doctrine of the Trinity and the theandric nature of Christ. The doctrine of the Trinity addressed the problem of the New Testament’s teaching that there are three divine persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), yet one God. The theandric understanding of Christ arose from the recognition that in Scriptures Jesus Christ was both fully God and fully human in one person.

 

Christianity centers on the fact that in the person of Jesus Christ, God became incarnate and through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection humanity was reconciled to God. …Christianity rises or falls on this core assertion

 If a person is wrestling with the truth of Christianity, this is the issue with which to examine. Christianity rises or falls on this core assertion. It is easy to get sidetracked in theology and make some “Important Belief” or “Peripheral Belief” the basis upon which Christianity rises or falls. However, an evaluation or reflection upon Christianity must begin here.

 

 

 

By Chris Bounds,  4/14/05

Professor of Theology

Indiana Wesleyan University


[1] I am indebted to Thomas Oden’s book After Modernity What?...An Agenda for Theology for this argument.