by Pastor Will Lohnes, DMin, ACBC & IABC Certified Biblical Counselor
Over thirty years ago I was in the office of an internationally known pastor. He had granted the interview because he had gone to seminary with my dad. Halfway through the hour-long talk, I asked him a question about doctrines and the differing levels of essential and non-essential aspects and how to wisely walk in understanding and applying them. He answered, "Will, all doctrine is essential." This response was a sure showstopper for me and redirected my ideas for the rest of the discussion.
How can all doctrine be essential? To answer that, I must define essential.
All doctrine is important and deserves attention and study. However, I believe there is a difference between essential and non-essential doctrine.
I define essential doctrine as "truth that I must believe, accept, and hold in order to enter heaven." It is essential for entering heaven.
What are the essential doctrines of the faith? They are the ones I would take a bullet for when tested. They are the ones I would die over if threatened with execution. The non-essential doctrines are those that good and godly men disagree on and see in different ways. Both are part of the kingdom of God.
What does one need to believe in to enter heaven? Below is a narrow focus that does not go into great detail but affirms the broad base of truth as laid out to a child in learning the faith. Here is my list of essentials.
These essentials are broad-based and tightly communicate the profound credence of God’s truth. Although they can be discussed and the particulars debated in each "-logy" or "-lity," these truths are worthy of our lives and ought to deserve our loyalty even unto death. When asked if I would die for them, my answer is yes. And will I live for them? Again, the answer is yes.
So, what about the non-essentials? How should we deal with them? The quick answer is with open hands and humble minds. We ought to be willing to say we believe them in our particular way but are willing to be persuaded by another’s sincere interaction from another perspective or position. For example, there are many positions on the topic of eschatology (study of end times). Personally, I hang with the pre-tribulation/pre-millennialism (rapture, tribulation, return, millennium—in that order) crowd but have advocates of both post-millennialism (millennium, return) and amillennialism (return) in my congregation. Would I die for my personal beliefs on eschatology? No. I see the wisdom of each position and, given the right presuppositions, all are logical and biblical. We will learn in heaven what God intended from the beginning of time for the end of time as we know it.
The problem is that when we have studied a non-essential doctrine and come to a reasoned and determined position, we can become unteachable and arrogant in our stand because we have studied it and know all the positions, arguments, histories, individuals, discussions, and reasons, concluding with the one right position. I am right and you are wrong if you disagree with me. Gone are humility, sincerity, and interest in hearing other views. Proving self becomes primary instead of seeking to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
So how does this affect biblical counseling? In every way. The very basis of why we are vocal with our declaration of the authority of the Scriptures in the affairs of men is that it is an essential doctrine. The inspiration of Scripture will always be attacked by secular and sinful viewpoints being encouraged and promoted by the evil one. We do not believe in our own authority but in God’s Word. We cannot turn from it for the wisdom of the world or the true insights of mankind, regardless of how good and positive they present. Can we learn from the secular side certain aspects of evaluation or diagnosis? Carefully so, but the solution and the prognosis are always from God in the spiritual, rational, and moral designations. He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
In biblical counseling, most problems in marriage are over non-essential differences that people make essential out of selfish desires and expectations. People want what they want regardless of what God presents and prioritizes for the duties and delights of each marital partner. Last week a woman said to me in a public and non-efficient time, "I can’t take this anymore." She was speaking of her marriage. I said, "Is God telling you this, or is that from you? We cannot solve this right here, but you need to ask whose voice you are listening to as this moment." She had totally lost sight of the essentials and made non-essentials essential. Does not the Bible state in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that He will not give us more than we can handle? Does not matter. My wants and expectations have become essential.
Do not be afraid of differences of opinion in matters that are non-essential because sharing our perspectives in love and humility brings joy and light into each of our hearts, our studies, and our appreciations. So, what about the disagreements between people found in the Word of God? There are several, and all of them can give us help and insight. The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:37–40) provides many insights to the harsh unwillingness to accept failure in others, the supposed protection of the Gospel over the unity of the saints, filial loyalty over God-given opportunity in ministry, and the neglect of showing love, grace, and mercy to brothers who disagree. There is sadness here in the voice of the Holy Spirit as He relates this story. Paul recalled his position later when he asked Timothy for John Mark to come as he is profitable to me in the ministry (2 Timothy 4:11). Look for others in the Bible and find how many fights and failures came because of a lack of centering on essential matters.
There are many more applications and implications of this designation of essential matters that may demand more thought and consideration. Take time to consider what you would take a bullet for and what you would not. We have not had to face this choice with our religious freedom in the United States, but in other countries, this is regular fodder for the conscience.
_____________________________________________
If you are Veterans or a friend/family member of a Veteran and would like request our counseling, please use the link below:
If you are a counselor and would like to join our network, please use the link below:
Join the FSM Biblical Counselor Network
If you like what you've read , sign up to receive quarterly newsletter articles and updates via email!
If you are a Federal Employee and would like to donate FSM
is a certified Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity.
Designate ID #59846 / Fallen Soldiers March.
_____________________________________________
