Graded Scale of Truth: The Doctrines Ranked
Doctrines Categorized by Order of Importance
Several scholars in Christianity have articulated the doctrines of Christianity on a graded scale. In many cases conflict arises when people place too much value or too little value on some particular doctrine. For example, I have met good brothers in the Lord whom will write you off immediately if you do not believe exactly as they do in the timing of the rapture. I have met others whom on the other hand could care less about the end times and things concerning the end times. Both positions are wrong and out of balance. Another example would be when we refuse to work with brothers in the Lord when they are of another denomination or when they differ on matters that are of secondary importance. In many cases we are obligated to work with those whom we may disagree with so as to accomplish a larger goal. For example, even though I am a a Dispensationalist I would and should work with non-dispensationalists in many areas where we can and do agree. Evangelism conferences would be a larger goal whereby such differences could be set aside. Furthermore, I would be willing to work along side a Roman Catholic or a Lutheran or other more ecumenical denomination in a combined effort to help promote some general civic good for the entire community. In those cases my differences would need to be set aside for some common goal whereby we could agree. However, some people are shortsighted and fail to see the bigger picture in ranking the doctrines on a graded scale.
Years ago Dr. Charles C. Ryrie wrote a book called: "Balancing the Christian Life." The art of learning balance and the weightier matters of the law of God has been neglected in many places of the church. It is no wonder that Dr. John Killinger wrote these words against conservative Christianity: "The point is, there was--and is-- a tacit moral code among conservative and fundamentalist churches that passes for spirituality, while there is almost never any real emphasis on spirituality itself. What it all amounts to is slapping at gnats and swallowing a lot of camel dung. Fundamentalists constantly berate dunkards and drug addicts and homosexuals and liberals, but they almost never display the least understanding of what a truly spiritual life might look like" (Ten Things I learned Wrong from a Conservative Church, 111).
Though I disagree with much of what Dr. Killinger has said in this book, I can still identify with him on many of the abuses within conservative Christianity. Conservatives are often deceived when it comes to knowing when, where, and how to apply what doctrines to particular situations. In many cases conservatives take one truth and turn that truth into a universal truth for all people at all times when it is designed to be a personal conscientous truth that has application to only certain people at certain times (see Romans 14). For example, alcohol has been used by conservatives for years as a whip. Supposedly, as some so-called conservative churches would teach, "you are spiritual if you do not drink, smoke, or chew or go with the girls that do." Distinguishing between more important matters of doctrine from lower levels of doctrine is a necessity for a Christian to learn if he or she desires to relate to people with any degree of efficiency. In many cases we damage one another through failing to learn to distinguish between what doctrines are essential for the situation that God has orchestrated.
Many errors and relational conflicts arise when Christians lose sight of how to rank truth on a graded scale. Certain truths are higher in importance than other truths. Furthermore, certain truths need application only at certain times. One of the greatest books in Christianity is: "Christian Ethics: Options and Issues" by Dr. Norman L. Geisler. In this book he makes a great case for the Graded Scale of Absolutes (p. 113-132). In other words, some laws of God take precedence over other laws of God. There is a graded scale in the mind of God. If this truth is not realized or embraced then legalism will often the result. Jesus Christ chided the Pharisees for not seeing larger truths and weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23-24), and thus we ought to heed his guidance in life by learning to emphasize the most important matters of the law.
"A" Level Truths (A Universal Christian Church/Faith)
Within the twelve doctrines are points that rank higher in the scale of importance. The "A" level truths are vital for the Christian faith. Without these truths the faith is destroyed. These truths separate Christianity from pagan and false religions. These doctrines would be more for a universal faith for the whole church across denominational lines.
1. God is perfect and he exists as an omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient Triune God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. God by his own discretion created the universe from nothing; no matter existed before God created.
3. God has given a revelation of himself to mankind in a fully inspired Bible that is authoritative for mankind.
4. Mankind has sinned against God and the whole person has fallen into spiritual and moral depravity.
5. Jesus Christ is God and Man who died for sinful mankind and physically arose again.
6. Salvation is the deliverance of man from sin by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
7. Jesus Christ will physically return again to complete history and establish the new heavens and new earth.
"B" Level Truths (A More Pure Local Christian Church/Faith)
Within the twelve doctrines of Christianity the next set of truths are an expansion of the most essential truths of the faith. These are foundational doctrines that provide stability to the faith. These are truths that nourish the infant onto towards spiritual adulthood. These doctrines would be more for a local church context. These short doctrinal headings comprise the main points of study for the church and community of faith. Every Christian in the church should study and develop his or her theology under the guidance of these various headings. Any idea that weakens or undermines the main point of the main 12 doctrines runs contrary to Scripture.
1. God is the Triune Lord of the Universe (Theology Proper)
2. The Bible is Perfectly Inspired and the Ultimate Authority (Bibliology)
3. Angels and Demons are at Work within our World (Angelology)
4. Mankind and the Universe was Supernaturally Created (Anthropology)
5. Mankind Fell into Sin and is Born Thoroughly Depraved (Harmartiology)
6. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior over the Universe (Christology)
7. God as the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ and Carries Out the Lord's Plan (Pneumatology)
8. Salvation of man from sin is by Grace Alone through Faith Alone (Soteriology)
9. The Saint Will Grow by Grace in the Fruit of the Spirit (Zoeology)
10. The NT Church Exists to Purify us From Sin and is Governed by Elders (Ecclesiology)
11. Israel is a Pattern for Us and is God's Chosen Ethnic Nation (Israelology)
12. Jesus Christ will Return Soon to Judge, Rule, and Establish a New Universe (Eschatology)
"C" Level Truths (Several Christian Conflicts/Concerns)
These are truths that vary in many ways. The list of "C" level truths are enormous. I cannot give every area whereby a third level doctrine or truth is possible. However, I will touch the surface by trying to point to some subjects that fall into this level within each of the Christian doctrines. These are often times debates within the evangelical church by very mature Christians on both sides of the fence. These are important, but they are not essential for Christianity or for solid maturity. A Christian may be a faithful Christian and yet fall into various differences among these views.
1. Does God do things because it is right to do it, or is it right simply because he does it (the debate between essentialism and voluntarism). What is the most essential trait of God (holiness, love, sovereignty or is there even a way to define such).
2. Should we interpret all of Scripture literally or should we interpret prophecy with a different set of rules. What is the best translation of Scripture to use and study.
3. The debate over the timing of Satan's fall into sin. What Satan do before his fall? How did he fall into sin if he was perfect? These are common questions in this realm of truth.
4. The debate over was creation in six literal days, in six days with time periods between each day, or was it over a much longer period of time. Questions such as how old is the earth.
5. There remains a valid debate on whether or not God creates each soul of every human directly or whether the soul was created in Adam and then is transmitted down through the genetic lines.
6. The debate over whether or not Jesus Christ could have sinned. All Christians agree that he did not sin but the debate is over could he have sinned and how that relates to his humanity and temptation experiences. Questions such as did Jesus Christ descend into hell after his death and in between the time of his death and when he arose from the grave.
7. There is debate over whether or not God still grants some of the gifts to Christians in this era. Some gifts like prophecy, tongues, and healings are often the main issues in this debate. Some say those gifts totally ceased after the death of the apostles, others say that the gifts come and go by the sovereign discretion of God (miracles), and then others claim that these gifts continue and should continue in the regular day to day life of the believer. As long as no one says Scripture is insufficient, or that we can add to Scripture then this difference will not undermine the faith.
8. There is a debate over how much change will occur in the life of someone at the moment of conversion. Also there is debate over does regeneration precede faith or faith precede regeneration, or does both happen at the same time. So long as all affirm that God is the cause of it all (monergism) then this is a healthy debate. Also within the doctrine of salvation there is a good debate concerning whether Christ died for all or whether his death is particular for a set of people (the elect).
9. There is debate in whether or not a Christian is under the OT law of Moses or the NT law of Christ. Also there is debate on issues like whether or not divorced people can ever remarry. Other issues arise such as the proper mode of baptism (sprinkling, immersion, or other representations).
10. There is debate among how to view and explain the universal church and the local church and how these ought to relate to one another. Questions come up concerning whether or not women can be deacons (deaconesses), can they serve as elders, and if not why not.
11. There is debate on the subject of Israel. Who is the Israel of God? Can we, the church, be the New Israel along with a place still in God's program for ethnic Israel? Will every single Jew at some point in the future come to believe in the Messiah or does the text that says all of Israel will be saved mean only a majority. The question of is God's kingdom here yet not fully here (now and not yet) also is common in this area of doctrine.
12. Issues such as the timing of the rapture arise in this subject. Is Christ's return before the tribulation, during the tribulation, or after the tribulation. Other issues such as the doctrine of eternal punishment are debated. Will at some point God annihilate those whom go to hell?
These doctrinal differences are often debated among the more mature Christians of the faith. It would be unwise for Christians to mark these doctrines off as fundamental essentials in the sense that we write those whom differ with us off as wayward souls.
"D" Level Truths (Christian Conscientious Concerns)
These are doctrines that are personal conscience issues. Sadly in too many cases churches have split and souls have been gravely damaged because some saint, minister, or group elevated these minor points to some status of great importance. These would be issues such as clothing styles, the use of alcohol, how to best express our love to God through worship styles, preference of music, dancing, secular entertainment, and other peripheral issues to the faith. In many cases it is these issues that become legalistic grounds that supposedly serve as "litmus tests" as to whether one is following the Lord or not.
In these areas a person may develop a personal conscience concerning a matter. That is perfectly fine and normal for Christians to have their own personal convictions about minor matters of the faith. But what happens is that immature Christians, those whom cannot discern between good and evil ( Hebrews 5:12-14), often elevate personal conscience issues to the level of where the issues are to be the norm for all people in all places at all times. In other words personal truth becomes universal truth. These are points of dispute that a person cannot go to a plain text of Scripture and support his or her idea.
