Essential Secondary Tertiary beliefs*
List of secondary, tertiary and adiaphoria views. It doesnt include all of them.
Example: Baptism is a salvific issue if one claims it's necessary for salvation, as that would be adding a work/requirement. But the secondary non salvific issue related would be is it by immersion or not?, how soon after salvation do you baptize? These secondary areas can be cleared up with deeper study of Scripture beyond one verse and beyond just what's in English. Old denominations don't keep learning, they just hold one view. In a sense, they stopped reforming and stagnated.
(2)
Secondary matters
Secondary issues are routinely defined as non-salvific but still some are extremely biblically important, if not quite as biblically clear-cut as primary issues.They often pertain to specific theological or doctrinal issues. These beliefs can vary widely among individuals but may also may be held within a particular Christian denomination. (1)
Secondary issues do matter, but a believer can grow in maturity and in understanding Scripture and change their view to align with Scripture. There are many new and growing believers, many of whom came out of false churches or false religions and are unraveling false teaching, so we need to be loving and patient with them.
These are issues over which Christians can disagree and still maintain close doctrinal fellowship, even in the same church.
This discusses Essentials and touches on some secondary issues to help you. And the below list will link to resources to give you biblical guidance on certian topics, so you can examine it and see what you will hold to as beliefs.
Secondary issues:
Baptism
End Times
The Lord's Supper
What to consider beyond whether it is open or closed to visitors.
Pastors Title
Discussed on the previous pg
Views on Creation
Different interpretations of the creation account in Genesis, such as young-earth creationism, old-earth creationism, or theistic evolution. The teaching is clear in Scripture, but many have been duped by the education system, or havent looked into it and studied it in Scripture yet. So, as they study and mature their view will align to Scripture.
Holidays
Understanding holidays and using them to praise God and share the gospel.
The Role of Women
There are false beliefs about the roles of women in the church and at home. Mostly because the ones holding to modern views are not understanding Scripture. This large faq section tackles a lot of those issues. Some areas really don't fit in secondary. Because it really is a matter of obedience to Scripture and can be seen as rebellion or sin.
Understanding Spiritual Gifts
Typically this a modern issue and understanding the cessation of sign gifts, (such as speaking in tongues or new prophecy), and the healing gift. Again it has to do with sitting under false teaching, being raised in a family under false teaching, or embracing something you havent fully examined yet.
Music
What is acceptable in Church worship and in a Christian's life, and why.
The below chart shows debate among some secondary issues. Note not everyone holds the exact same views, believers hold to varying views across the positions noted, showing how varied and vast beliefs can be. *Most of what you believe has to do with how much you have studied Scripture. Everyone is at a different place in understanding based on maturity level in the faith as well as if they're in a weaker church or in a denomination more in line with the more accurate teaching of Scripture. There are over a quintillion possibilities. As one grows out of error and more in line with Scriptures accurate teaching, they mature in the faith.
*Theological are secondary issues
*Ethical are mostly Tertiary & Adiaphora issues are freedom related, unless its sin.
Tertiary issues:
Tertiary beliefs are even less central to the essentials and more about Christian living and Ethics, and often pertain to specific view. These beliefs can vary widely among individuals and may not be universally held within any particular Christian denomination. *It can change with maturity and deeper study of Scripture.
Tertiary issues are non-salvific, less immediately urgent, biblical issues in which the Bible may seem less clear-cut on the surface and become open to wider (yet still biblical) interpretation. These are issues over which people disagree and it divides so those professing Christ and holding certian views are some you would not fellowship with, nor attend nor join a church where they hold to certian beliefs of these views.
Tertiary issues aren’t as important as Essentials or for some, are areas where the Bible doesn’t flat out address them, but we do and can get general principles about them from looking deeper at Scripture, as a whole, or when we reach a higher grasp on theology, within the bounds of biblical orthodoxy It is then a matter of submission to truth revealed in Scripture. They’re in a different category from the other two; They aren’t doctrines upon which salvation and the most important theology hinges. But they affect matters of Christian godly living and fellowship, so we wouldnt associate with those who hold to certian differing views.
Worship Practices
Worship styles & liturgical practices.
This can fall under secondary or tertiary, but some of it was previously discussed above about music. Worship services can be set up differently in how the service is conducted. Scripture tells a little bit about how Jews worshipped in the Temple and how early Christians worshipped, so churches follow how they see Scripture showing and can do whatever is God glorifying. The aim in the Worship service is to glorify God and also educate believers through the sermon and songs, give opportunity to give offerings to God for use in the church and ministry. And to share the gospel in case anyone there is unsaved. And to as a congregation, pray to God. It is also a place where announcements are made to notify believers of needs, helps, opportunities to minister and serve one another. And there is no set time for sermon length, but leadership know people need to eat and many need medications too, so they reconvene at evening service or offer multiple services during the week to gather. But the order and how the worship service is carried out depends on the church and at least in some areas probably based on the denomination. In Apostles time the believers spent long hours together and one guy even fell out a window and was brought back... and the service carried on.
Adiaphora issues:
Some theologians add a fourth category issues of adiaphora, conscience, or Christian liberty. Usually these are issues of much less importance that the Bible either doesn’t specifically address, or doesn’t give commands about one way or the other. Individual Christians may use biblical principles to inform their consciences and decide for themselves. But they do have reguards to an association of sin. Scripture says if it is sin it is sin, and in other areas it explains that we live in freedom and liberty so in some matters if you think it is sin then it is sin. And not to do things that can cause others to sin or damage Christian witness. Of course you can grow and mature in some of these areas so you see some things are no longer think it sin to you so you are free from it. This would be in areas for new and weak believers who mature. But in many other areas sin is still sin and never stops being sin because God has been clear about what is absolutely a "sin".
Here are some areas of conscience, or Christian liberty:
What you wear to church or as a believer
While modesty is important, this would generally be about whether to dress formally or casually for church and church activities and ministry events connected to the church. And what appears policy or expectation by being how others dress there.
Covid, Colds & Wearing Masks.
Some would say this is about "loving one another" just as "not eating meat sacrificed to idols" is (participating in something a new believer was saved out of that harms his conscience), because some brethren think it is a sin. It is also about protecting the people in the community, the vulnerable, and not causing someone to catch it and kill them, their parents or grand parents. But also have to remember there are a lot of immunicompromised people and those with serious diseases and cancer. Most people only think of themselves, but believers must love all, and think of others first. So if your church has decided to move from (a modern option we have) digital to in person [after covid]... we should not have negative or hateful attitudes towards those masking, masking beyond covid era [hopefully it will die by summer 2025], or those not attending in person until after/ they feel safe to do so. Or even during flu and cold season. It is good to not attend if you are sick, or mask if you & your family recently we're, to protect thr vulnerable aming us, and to not think negatively of those who mask into the future.
Politics, Voting & Elections
It is important to ensure we only support a party & candidate that holds to as close as possible in important biblical principles like gender, marriage, abortion, racism, free speech, free religion, parental rights, gov't overreach, good laws, and liberty & freedom.
What party you join does have connection to your values and how you follow or ignore God's teaching in Scripture and has ramifications that affect the entire country (if you join one that is anti biblical and vote for them). So we need to know what moral, character and values a candidate and a party hold to, to figure out where we should be aligning ourselves with. If we vote for someone who holds a view on something sinful then we are aligning with that person in their sin and potentially pushing that on the nation, with devistating consequences, and infringing on Christians rights (such as abortion, racism or lgbt issues; the latter ones affects believers jobs, can get believers fired, or prevented from hired, or even prevent believers from adopting children, and others influence children in public schools or homeschooling). How you vote, affects every Christian in your State and Nation. Be very careful.
It is a religious/moral issue that does affect the whole nation. While these a temporary earthly issue, still affects us as long as we are here, but also has spiritual components and yet not to be the focus of our lives....which is to be on the spiritial and eternal matters. But who you vote for does affect all believers in the country, and the administrations agenda has lasting ramification; not just new laws but judges and SCOTUS justices who hold their views are put in lifetime positions & those many many case outcomes reak havoc across the nation. Now and far into the future for those who live here.
Others would be, are Tattoos, alcohol, and Smoking wrong? How does it affect others around you, does it push people away or harm them, or your Christian witness? These must be considered.
In conclusion,
Differing beliefs on true secondary and tertiary issues are not sin.
Secondary and tertiary doctrines can be open – to varying degrees – to biblical interpretation. On the other hand, there is no biblical support for anything God prohibits; there can only be one view of sin, (and we cant change it or walk contrary to it to push our will or suit preferences).
*There's a diff between sin and Christian liberty. God has been clear on what is sin, rebellion, & false teaching.
Beyond the bounds of Essentials, we need to recognize distinction between doctrinal belief and sinful behavior. We can learn and grow in our understanding of matters and correct our beliefs as we mature.
Differing beliefs outside of Essential issues might be born of disobedience and rebellion toward God. When someone has studied a theological issue enough to hold a particular position on it, it’s usually because their is striving to please God and to be biblical in their beliefs. But, those professing to be Christian yet are clinging to and living out sinful attitudes & beliefs is born out of disobedience and rebellion toward God. But if they know they're willfully being disobedient (such as issues reguarding women's roles or lgbt) that is different. They're living in willful sin. And may not even be Christian. In some cases we are to treat professers as unbelievers if they remain in sin/sinful lifestyles.
Because different beliefs on secondary and tertiary issues that are not born of rebellion and are not sin, it is not a holiness/holy living issue thus they do not require CHURCH DISCIPLINE. Sin does require church discipline.
💥>>>This is why it is important to understand the difference between the two.
But if you are in a church with false teaching or holds to very unbiblical secondary, tertiary or adiaphora issues, there is no authority over that church to discipline the church over, nor the believers in there holding to sinful views. In a biblical church, if someone is openly being racist towards whites, or (any poc), in sexual sin, stirring up strife, gossiping, living in sexual sin, are dishonoring their parents, etc, even if a woman is pursuing a career as a pastor, she is sinning and should be subject to biblical counseling, education... and church discipline, if she persists in it.
Anyone engaged in any area where they're sinning they should and must be subject to counseling and church discipline. We must be a holy set apart people pursuing righteousness.
On biblical theological views we can say, “We can agree to disagree,” but thats not accurate, we cant do that on mattets of sin [views of lying or adultery or homosexuality or abortion, just as we cannot say that about women preaching or teaching over men, to hold unbiblical authority]. We disciple and teach a sister in Christ who is unaware of what the Bible says on these matters, and if she is heading towards, or committing any of these sins, we begin the process of counsel & move to church discipline if needed. It would not be loving toward her, or honoring God, to allow her to continue in biblical ignorance or in willful rebellious sin.
Furthermore, the violation of 1 Timothy 2:12 brings with it dangers to the whole church, that true secondary and tertiary issues, and even many sins, do not.
So there are areas of growth as we mature in understanding Scriptural teachings, and other areas where someone needs to be corrected asap. It depends on what it is. So God gives us grace and leads us to maturity along the way. If we are true Christians, & open to correction and learning, then there won't be any issues and we can form proper beliefs and theology based on what we learn from Scripture. Remembering the Bible is like an iceberg... most only see the tip and not the full broader picture, which shapes our beliefs and leads us to the end of a matter after deep study.
Hope this helped.
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Footnotes:
Some information gives credit to
(1) michellelesley com/tag/tertiary-doctrines/)
(2) nelson ink/primary-and-secondary-issues-in-christianity/)
Note to self: SEE CHRISTMAS ARTICLE EXPLAINING ALL 3 IN SUMMARY
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