tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27168360.post116370008063106715..comments2023-05-23T06:25:12.948-05:00Comments on Pursuing Faith: Doctrinal TiersKelly Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17653555116755206508noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27168360.post-1164740159853518152006-11-28T12:55:00.000-06:002006-11-28T12:55:00.000-06:00Rick, Your example is a hard one to determine exac...Rick,<BR/> Your example is a hard one to determine exactly where it fits. Baptism and the nature of salvation are truly vital. <BR/><BR/>I struggle knowing that there are denominations and churches that believe baptism is necessary for salvation--baptismal regeneration, and that you can lose that salvation. However, we still would agree on the deity of Christ, the Virgin Birth, salvation in Christ alone, the resurrection and other important doctrines.<BR/><BR/>Do I believe those positions are correct? Not at all, however does it automatcially put them outside the body of Christ? I'd say no, though it makes truly entering it harder. They are wrong and deceived and missing out on the assurance and freedom of faith in Christ alone, by Christ alone.<BR/><BR/>Those issues would however, divide me from them as a practicing Christian--I would not attend a church that taught those doctrines, nor would they qualify as a Baptist church.<BR/><BR/>Believer's Baptism by immersion as a response to what Christ has already done and a pledge of faith to discipleship is a distinctive of baptist theology--though not of the whole body of Christ. <BR/><BR/>In my mind this would be high on the<BR/>list of Tier 2 doctrines and borderline Tier 1.<BR/><BR/>We do divide too easily. I know some congregations divide of the color of the carpet in the building program.<BR/><BR/>The great thing about the Cooperative Program in SBC life is that we hold most things in common belief, even though we differ on lesser, Tier 3 issues, we can still unite and cooperate and pool our resources and efforts in fulfilling the Great Commission. <BR/><BR/>Any other thoughts?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for participating!<BR/><BR/>KellyKelly Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653555116755206508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27168360.post-1163830977777506102006-11-18T00:22:00.000-06:002006-11-18T00:22:00.000-06:00I think it is essential for us to discuss church d...I think it is essential for us to discuss church doctrines. As Christians we need to know what we believe, why we believe it, and be able to express our belief. Last year I made the decision to leave a church I was serving as an adult Sunday school teacher and elder because of a difference I had over doctrine. This church believes that water baptism is a necessary element of salvation, and Christians can lose salvation by bad works. I never accepted these beliefs and finally decided it was necessary to attend another church--UBC. <BR/><BR/>It is no surprise to me that a church that teaches a doctrine of salvation by grace and works (water baptism) would also not believe in eternal security of the believer. Salvation by grace alone, through faith, is directly linked to belief in eternal security. Having been saved by God's grace, must I thereafter work to keep myself saved? Sadly, many Christians believe and teach this. <BR/><BR/>I would place the issue of water baptism necessary to salvation as a tier 1 matter. Since I see the issue of eternal security so closely linked to the doctrine of salvation, I would likely place it in tier 1 also. As my experience shows, I believe we must divide over tier 1 issues, and I can now better understand why there are so many denominations. What bothers me is seeing Christians divide over non-doctrinal matters that don't rise to the level of any tier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com