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Mere Christianity?

In Books, Theology on March 3, 2009 at 6:29 am

I remember as a teenager first reading C. S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity.  I particularly liked the title and the concept of mere Christianity (i.e., those core beliefs that all Christians can and should agree on).  As a teenager, I was ignorant of the fact that many Christians fought not only over the peripheral issues in Christianity, but more surprisingly, even what seemed to be central issues (e.g., the person and work of Christ).  As I hit my twenties and headed for my thirties, I became disillusioned with the pursuit of the concept of mere Christianity or what some may call essential Christian doctrine.

But then, my in thirties, I took a class with my friend Kevin and he helped at least see a possibility for how to wrestle with what was primary, secondary, and tertiary.  Since first seeing this, I have worked on it over the years, trying to refine and clarify.  I’ve found it useful to frame discussions in classes I teach in church as it puts issues in perspective for people (or at least for me).  Here is what I have come up with so far with significant help from Kevin.  I hope it is helpful for others out there.

1. Primary (or essential) doctrines

1.1. Definition – a doctrine in which, if someone disagrees, they cannot be considered a Christian.

1.2. Examples:

1.2.1. The Trinity

1.2.2. The Person and Work of Christ

2. Secondary doctrines

2.1. Definition – a doctrine on which Christians can disagree and still be Christian, but in order to maintain harmony in the local church, they cannot disagree or major problems will result. Primary cause of denominationalism and church splits.

2.2. Examples:

2.2.1. Church government – you cannot try to practice Episcopalian government in a congregational church.

2.2.2. Charismatic gifts – you cannot practice sign gifts (e.g., tongues) at a cessationist church.

2.2.3. Sacraments – if you believe that the sacraments are unnecessary (Salvation Army), you cannot practice in a church that does uphold the practice of the sacraments.

2.2.4. Worship music – you cannot do hymns in church’s that only want to do modern, praise music.

2.2.5. Egalitarianism – you cannot put a woman pastor in a non-egalitarian (i.e., complementarian) church.

2.2.6. Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate – difficult for Arminians to feel at home in a Calvinist church and vice versa.

3. Tertiary doctrine

3.1. Definition – a doctrine which people can disagree on in the local body, but still live harmoniously within the local body in spite of the difference.

3.2. Examples – note: these can be elevated to primary & secondary issues by some

3.2.1. Style of worship

3.2.2. Amount of tithe

3.2.3. Clothes you wear to church

3.2.4. Role of angels in the Christian life

3.2.5. End time/millennial view

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C. S. Lewis made an attempt to define mere Christianity in his book of the same title, Mere Christianity.  You can purchase this book HERE through the Deus Tecum bookstore.  Just click on the button below to visit the store.

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Why Read The Dead Guys?

In Books on February 14, 2009 at 12:14 am

Last night I attended my reading group at church.  It was a truly enjoyable time sitting around the fireplace at church with the guys.  We are currently reading Martin Luther’s Concerning Christian Liberty.  I love Luther’s thesis…

“A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one.”

Doesn’t this sound like Paul?

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all…” (1 Cor. 9:19)

Luther uses the rest of this short book to unpack this statement.  Read these great quotes…

“From these considerations any one may clearly see how a Christian man is free from all things; so that he needs no works in order to be justified and saved, but receives these gifts in abundance from faith alone. Nay, were he so foolish as to pretend to be justified, set free, saved, and made a Christian, by means of any good work, he would immediately lose faith, with all its benefits. Such folly is prettily represented in the fable where a dog, running along in the water and carrying in his mouth a real piece of meat, is deceived by the reflection of the meat in the water, and, in trying with open mouth to seize it, loses the meat and its image at the same time.”

“Yet a Christian has need of none of these things for justification and salvation, but in all his works he ought to entertain this view and look only to this object–that he may serve and be useful to others in all that he does; having nothing before his eyes but the necessities and the advantage of his neighbour. Thus the Apostle commands us to work with our own hands, that we may have to give to those that need. He might have said, that we may support ourselves; but he tells us to give to those that need. It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own body for the very purpose that, by its soundness and well-being, he may be enabled to labour, and to acquire and preserve property, for the aid of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member, and we may be children of God, thoughtful and busy one for another, bearing one another’s burdens, and so fulfilling the law of Christ.”

“Here is the truly Christian life, here is faith really working by love, when a man applies himself with joy and love to the works of that freest servitude in which he serves others voluntarily and for nought, himself abundantly satisfied in the fulness and riches of his own faith.”

What a great evening we had.  It was not just talk about these ideas, but rather, it was talk about applying these ideas to our lives… about serving and loving others (e.g., our wives, etc.) out of the abundance of love God has given us, knowing that our service and love merit us nothing in God’s sight, but rather our rightness with God being found in the merit of Christ, who died our death for us so we could share in His resurrection life, a life of sharing and love.  And, we when we get up in the morning and don’t feel much like serving and loving, preaching the Gospel to ourselves that Christ died even for our lethargy.

So, why read the dead guys?  Simply they have much rich wisdom and powerful encouragement to share with us.  May I never become arrogant and think the past or those who lived in it have nothing to offer me.  The Holy Spirit used them mightily in death and He uses them mightily in death through the works they left behind.

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Book Recommendation: A Case for Historic Premillennialism

In Books on February 13, 2009 at 8:25 pm

One of the most popular eschatological (end times) systems is dispensational premillennialism, which involves a pretribulational rapture of believers followed by seven years of tribulation, Christ’s return, a 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, and then the final battle.  This is the system behind books and movies such as the Left Behind series.  This system has become so dominant in Christian circles that, at times, a person’s Christian faith can be called into question by not holding to it. One alternative to this system is what is called Historic or Classic Premillennialism, also known as Post-tribulational Premillennialism.

In 2007, a group of Christian scholars gathered at Denver seminary to discuss this topic and the book pictured above is the result of their discussion.  Their subtitle is An Alternative to “Left Behind” Eschatology. I hope people will read this book to at least see there are orthodox, evangelical alternatives to what we have typically been taught through the Christian media and in some of our churches.