If we are to find unity in the essentials of faith how do we define what the essentials are and can it even be done?
1. The Range of Ideas
Yes. Maybe. No.
Yes.
Yes, working together, being reasonable, and thoughtful, we can narrow down what the essentials of faith are, define them, and clear up confusions, dogmas, and semantics. The Bible gives clear and concise doctrines on salvation and what the essentials of faith are. And the church is capable and willing to delve into this together to come to a universal and unified agreement on these important matters of the faith.
Maybe.
We can come to agreement on and establish what the essentials of faith are to some degree and among a large portion of Christians. However, there will always be the individuals, groups, and fringe sects that have ideologies and tenants of faith that will never agree with or fall in line with the majority or mainstream. We therefore need to temper our vigor and optimism with these unchangeable and unmoving barriers, guard against their infiltration into sound doctrine, and remove them from the flock as false teachers.
No.
No, we can never firmly establish any one ideology on what specifically the essentials of faith are because the church is too splintered, petty, and lost. There are far too many fundamentally differing doctrines on salvation and what the essentials of faith are, such that we will never agree on them and will in fact continue to fight more and more vigorously against one another until Christ comes again. No one is willing to compromise on what they believe are the essentials of faith due to the utmost importance of this issue, which has eternal and everlasting consequences. The Bible is not clear enough on what the essentials of faith or salvation are to provide the church with a solid, universal, and unified path forward. Additionally, we can’t know for sure how things work after death, if there is an opportunity for salvation after this life and before heaven or hell. We just cannot know.
Ummmmmm
Some questions to help you get started.
What does Jesus say we must do to be saved?
What is salvation?
Is salvation by faith and works?
What do the various churches and sects believe and state is required for salvation?
Is there a unifying theme, patterns, or trends among churches and sects doctrines of salvation?
Are most church’s and sect’s doctrines on salvation the same, but worded different?
Does wording, semantics, and other language dynamics cause unnecessary confusion and disagreement about the doctrine of salvation?
Is there a common language and set of definitions for talking about the doctrine of salvation?
Would there be more unity on the essentials of faith if there was a common and agreed upon set of terms and definitions when speaking about the doctrine of salvation?
What is not essential to faith or salvation?
Do we have to consider there is a mechanism or opportunity to be saved after death?
Does the bible seem to rule out salvation after death, or can we even conclude anything with regard to this with any bit of certainty?
If we can’t conclude with certainty that there is no chance for salvation after death, can we conclude with certainty what the essentials of faith or salvation are?
2. Dogmas, Faslehoods, & Doesn’t Matter.
Tear into this discussion & separate out everything that’s untrue & doesn’t matter. Yes, this is probably going to hurt a little.
3. Facts & Truths.
What matters, what’s relevant, what’s real?
Challenge what you thought you knew & look at what actually is.
4. Essentials of Faith
What in this dicussion, if anything, is absolutely necessary for salvation?
Bonus!
Take a deep breath, you’re done with the discussion!
But if you like, here’s a thought just for fun.
When Jesus made wine from water and fed the thousands from just a few fish and loaves of bread, was it the best wine, fish, and bread they had ever tasted?