…at 4:30 in the morning, I awake to a terrifying amount of smoke. My husband miraculously crawls through the house to try to get to the kids. I am unable to follow him and jump out the nearest  window and meet him at the front door. We stand screaming and sobbing and helpless,unable to get up the stairs to our kids. Caiti, my guardian angel daughter, who only by a miracle was even sleeping upstairs, was already awake and ushering the little girls out of harms’ way. She even has the forethought to have them cover their faces with their pillow. The image of my oldest daughter ushering her sisters through mortal danger to safety will forever be imprinted on my heart.

She’s the angel on the bridge.
My forever hero.

She then runs around to the basement to wake Cody. He rescues our dogs. Less than  two minutes later, our house is engulfed in flames and  before daylight is burned to the ground.    Everything.   Gone.   I don’t think I stop crying all day.   And shaking on the inside. I can’t stop thinking ‘what if’. And then I can’t stop saying prayers of thanksgiving. Only God can save 6 people and 2 dogs without so much as a singed strand of hair. I cannot plumb the depths of his love and mercy.

I, on the other hand, follow websites and blogs that focus more on theological ideas.  I’m interested in what pastors, professors, and theologians are saying in the realm of the Bible and doctrine.  For example, I follow my colleague Fred Sander’s blog. In a recent post, he speaks about how Christmas is more about the person of Jesus and Easter more about the work of Christ.  Here is Fred in his own words.

Of course it’s possible to focus on who Jesus is, even while telling the story of his death and resurrection. But at Christmas, it is unavoidable: the baby is not doing anything, and we can only stand amazed at who he is. Easter may be the festival of what Jesus did, but Christmas is the festival of who Jesus is. That is why so many of the Christmas carols come back to the note of simple adoration: “Come, let us adore him.” It is also why so many of them pose questions to us like “What child is this?” Adoration for who Jesus is, rather than thanksgiving for what he does, is the secret of the strange hush that steals over us at the center of this holiday. It is why all we can do is celebrate, gather with loved ones, and exchange gifts and gratefulness.

Perhaps comparing our online reading says something about basic differences between men and woman.  Or perhaps it just illustrates a basic difference between my wife and I (and not necessarily between men and woman).  In either case, it is interesting how my wife and I compliment each other.  She pulls me out of my world of ideas and helps me be more relational and perhaps I help her with the world of ideas (?).

Perhaps there is less of a difference between us though.  The Bible and the doctrine that flows from it are personal.  The Bible tells the story of a personal God breaking into our world in order to re-establish a relationship with us, one that is characterized by a new family relationship. And the stories of people that my wife exposes me to teach me about the every day playing out of this relationship between God and His children.  I’m thankful she exposes me to people like Edie so I can witness faith in action.  By the way… Edie, you and your family are in my prayers.  Thank you for sharing your story and how God is working in and through this tragic situation.

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

__________________

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.