1 Nonessential Doctrines at New Life At New Life Community Church, we - PDF document

1 Nonessential Doctrines at New Life At New Life Community Church, we are mindful that modern day Christianity is fractured by many theological and structural divisions. We want to be a place where believers from many backgrounds can unite around whom and what we hold in common. In 1627, at the height of the Thirty Years' War in Europe, Peter Meiderlin published a tract calling for peaceful toleration between the warring Christian factions. It was in this tract that first appeared this now famous sentence, "In essentials - unity, in non-essentials - liberty, in all things - love."We do believe there are certain things that Christians must hold as true. However, we also recognize that Christians differ and sometimes even divide themselves along lines that may not be central to the faith. We affirm those essential beliefs central to our faith as Christians, yet also affirm that Christ has called us to freedom and to hospitality. We desire to allow for differences, seeking to maintain the unity for which Christ prayed. The members who make up New Life Community Church have various theological perspectives and diverse backgrounds. We do not exclude anyone on the basis of a different view on baptism, gifts of the spirit, predestination vs. freewill, or any other matter of honest theological disagreement among members of the Church. The people of New Life are not connected because we all dot our i's and cross our t’s the same theologically, but because we align ourselves with a common vision and mission as Jesus’ disciples. We consider the beliefs listed below as nonessential doctrines. We view these beliefs, whether affirmed or denied, as having no bearing on the status of a person before God. They are beliefs with various positions held. Unfortunately, it is in these nonessentials that many denominational differences result. Predestination, election, limited atonement, free will Communion every week, monthly, quarterly, etc This list of nonessentials is a slightly modified version of the list of Secondary Non-Essential Doctrines found at the website for the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (www.carm.org). 2 Wine or grape juice for communion Saturday or Sunday Worship Pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post-tribulation rapture Premillennialism, amillennialism, postmillennialism, preterism Continuation or cessation of the charismatic gifts Baptism for adults or infants It is our desire that differences in these nonessentials do not divide us. The Elders encourage all teachers at New Life to rightly divide the truth of God’s Word in all areas and to teach as the Holy Spirit guides and directs. All Elders, including the Pastor, are able to hold to their individually-held beliefs, regardless of where they fall on the line of these nonessentials, and can teach to these individually-held beliefs, if done in a manner that is loving and considerate of others who are in the body of Christ who hold different belief.