A paper I wrote for my General Epistles class at Davis College. I actually enjoyed writing it and am pretty passionate on the topic, so I thought I'd share. Hope you enjoy!
Dr. Charles Colton
General Epistles
13 November 2014
Core Christianity
Doctrinal disagreements and differences have been causing division in the church since the time of Paul. This problem only continued to get worse with the spread and growth of the Christian church. It seems that there are at least two opposing views to every area of doctrine out there. Naturally these disagreements have resulted in the tens of thousands of denominations of Christianity that exist in the world today. With so many denominations, all worshiping in different ways and believing varying doctrines, the worldwide church is no doubt much more divided than Jesus and early church leaders ever would have intended it to be. But there is hope for unity and room for fellowship despite doctrinal disagreements among denominations. This hope can be found when churches are willing to unite at the basic core of Christianity. Believers must consider what core beliefs are essential, when fellowship with core believers is necessary, and when cooperation with groups that do not believe in the core is appropriate.
Christians must consider what truth are an essential part of these core beliefs. A challenge when determining the basic core of Christianity is deciding which truths in the Bible are nonnegotiable for the Christian believer. This is a challenge because there are so many things that believers disagree on and argue about. So what are the basics that a specific denomination or body must agree on in order to meet the qualifications of being a part of the core? John gives some insight into what this core should be in 2 John 1:7, 9-10 when he says, “I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the Antichrist… Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” John offers believing in Christ as God in the flesh and continuing in his teachings as the basis of core Christianity. If someone does not believe that Jesus is the son of God who became flesh in order to be an atoning sacrifice for believers, they cannot be considered a core believer. Jesus himself makes it clear that there is no room for negotiation on this point when he says in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no other way to be saved from our sins other than to believe and accept the grace of God through Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. This is how a believer comes to the father. So as referenced in both passages, a believer cannot have the father unless they have Jesus first. Jesus is the truth. So believing in Jesus and continuing in the things that he taught during his time on earth defines the core of Christianity. If someone does not believe this, John even goes as far as calling these people that reject the teachings of Christ “deceivers” or “the Antichrist.” These are serious statements for John to make but it shows how nonnegotiable belief in Jesus and his salvation is. Based on these passages of scripture, a body of believers must teach five basic things to be considered part of core Christianity. The body must teach that Jesus is the incarnate son of God. They must teach that he offered his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. They must teach that it is only by accepting this gift of grace that one is saved from the punishment of sin. They must teach that he rose from the dead on the third day. And lastly they must not “run ahead” but continue in the teachings of Christ. These five things are the truths that determine the core of Christianity.
With the core of Christianity established, believers in that core must decide when fellowship with core believers but varying doctrinal differences is appropriate. It is human nature to wish to be separate from those that are different or disagree with us. This has certainly played into the way many denominations in the Christian church work today. Doctrinal differences have not only led believers to worship separately, they have also led believers to do things like outreach and community work separately. God is a personal God and so it makes sense that believers would experience him in different ways and believe different things when it comes to details of Christianity aside from the gospel core. Because of this, it also makes sense and is not necessarily wrong that believers would want to worship separately so that a believer may find a worship setting that matches their individual worship style and preference. Weekly worship is an area where it is permissible for core believers to separate from fellowship. However, these preferences should never be something that leads a believer to refuse fellowship completely. It is imperative for core believers to be willing to set minor doctrinal differences aside in order to fellowship with fellow core believers when opportunities arise. As stated in Core Christianity by Dr. Charles Colton, “On doctrinal issues, only those views which would deny the Person and salvific work of the Lord Jesus Christ… would disqualify churches from at least limited joint fellowship or ministry” (Colton 103). The church has failed when it comes to inter-denominational fellowship, not because doctrinal differences and denominations exist, but because many believers are unwilling to fellowship with core believers in spite of those differences. As a result the church is suffering because it is divided. Instead of being a single, strong force, reaching the world for Christ, the church is a series of divided lesser forces reaching scattered parts across the world. The church’s testimony and impact on the world suffers when core believers refuse to work together with other core believing bodies. Believers are warned against this in Philippians 2:1-3 which states, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Believers are called to be united on the basis of Christ. Believers take an unjust position of pride over fellow core believers when they refuse to fellowship with those that disagree doctrinally with them. And that attitude of pride is detrimental to the church and its growth. Core believers must accept that no one has perfect doctrine and so the church must act in humility and work together to reach non-believers in spite of their differences. This could be as simple as hosting trainings, attending Bible studies, or working together in outreaches in fellowship with other core believing churches. No matter what form it takes, for the sake of church growth and expansion, core believers must learn to walk in humility, set differences aside, and fellowship with other core believers.
Core believers must determine when cooperation with non-core believers is appropriate or necessary. Core believers certainly could not cooperate with non-core believers when it comes to things like worship or missionary outreach. Core believers should not set out to go door to door alongside a Mormon of Jehovah’s Witness. Due to the vast differences on the core belief, doing something like that would be impossible to do without compromising gospel truths. However, there are instances when it is possible for core believers to partner with non-core believers for sake of penetrating the world with the gospel. Colton states in Core Christianity, “…Churches must work within a set of cooperative guidelines that will preserve a clear biblical testimony, and yet leave doors open to both institutional and personal ministry” (Colton 119). Some examples of this kind of setting might be a situation like a ministry or church setting up a booth at a community fair or festival in order to share the gospel with the people there. A church might also take the opportunity to work alongside Mormons or Catholics in disaster relief or in meeting community needs like poverty or hunger. This is not only permissible for core believing bodies to do so, it is to some extent necessary in order to be able to reach secular people with the truths of the gospel. Unsaved people are not always likely to come to the church to hear the gospel. The church must be willing to take the gospel into the communities when the opportunity arises. If a core believing body has the opportunity to share the gospel without compromising any of its truths in a community setting among non-core believers, that body should take the opportunity. Taking such opportunities brings the gospel to ears of people that might not otherwise hear the truths of Christ.
The core of Christianity can be defined as the belief in Christ and his gospel message. Core believers must be willing to humbly fellowship with other core believers for the sake of church expansion. Core believers should take opportunities to share the uncompromised gospel in cooperation with non-core believers. In all things as followers of Christ, believers must follow his example and show love to those around them. The greatest commandment that God gave his people found in Mark 12:30-31 simply states, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” This has nothing to do with doctrinal preferences. It does not require believers to tolerate only those that agree with them and yet it is the greatest commandment. Believers must set doctrinal beliefs aside and choose to love one another, believers or non-believers. Love conquers doctrine. So walk in love before walking in doctrine.
Works Cited
Colton, Charles J. Core Christianity. N.p.: Panama Baptist, n.d. Print.
