RIGHT or WRONG? Doctrinal disagreements

Posted: 9/14/07

RIGHT or WRONG?
Doctrinal disagreements

I’ve just come across the statement:  “In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.” Where does that come from, and is it actually a valid principle for congregational relationships?

Richard Baxter, a 17th century English clergyman, is credited with a slight variation of this statement from his long and prolific career as pastor, writer and theologian. Baxter held deep theological and political convictions during a tumultuous period of English history. Eventually, he became alienated from the Church of England, but he spent his life seeking unity among numerous Protestant groups. Baxter once wrote:  “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.”

At first glance, each phrase makes sense for congregations. There are foundational beliefs and behaviors essential to the Christian life and Christian community. There is one God. Jesus Christ is Lord. Reject these, and there is no common faith. Necessities, by definition, require unity.

Nonessentials, on the other hand, call for freedom. Congregations need to grant liberty on matters such as what version of Bible to own, whether to wear a coat and tie to worship, how often to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and whether to have a worship service every Sunday night. No harm is created when liberty is granted, because these are nonessential matters.

All congregational relationships deserve to be conducted with charity. It is easy to be loving when we agree, less so when we grapple with real differences. The New Testament teaches us to love everyone, whether we agree with them or disagree. The Spirit arms us with traits like patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control, all of which are useful in treating others in a loving manner.

Baxter’s slogan generally is a good one, but the devil is in the details. One church member believes a doctrine is essential for salvation, church membership or, for that matter, fellowship. Other members consider that same doctrine to be peripheral or nonessential. Who decides what is essential and nonessential? Most Baptist churches leave that to the congregation. But some want to empower the pastor, deacons or denomination with that responsibility. And what criteria are used to make such judgments? Many would argue the Bible. But whose interpretation of the Bible?

There is no simple, neat solution where one congregation’s essentials are another congregation’s negotiables. For this reason, the third phrase is the most useful in congregational relationships. Even when we cannot agree on essentials and nonessentials, we can treat each other with respect as brothers and sisters in Christ, and if not brothers and sisters in Christ, then as human beings for whom Christ died.

Michael Clingenpeel, pastor

River Road Church, Baptist, Richmond, Va.

Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to [email protected].

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