As we continue these nights together, we’re diving into how to navigate theological differences and what it means to stay unified as the Body of Christ. Read the notes below as we explore essential and non-essential doctrines, why denominations differ, and how to approach it all with confidence, humility and love.
KEY QUESTION: How Should We Approach Theological Differences in the Body of Christ?
Have you ever wondered why different churches believe different things? Maybe you’ve got a Catholic friend, a Baptist co-worker, or a Pentecostal background yourself and you’ve thought, “Who’s right?” or even “Are they still saved?” These are real and important questions. In this Unpacked, we’re going to explore how to navigate theological differences with clarity, confidence, and a heart that reflects Christ.
Overview
When it comes to studying and understanding theology, a very common question comes to mind: “Why do different denominations believe different things?” You may have a co-worker who is Catholic or Baptist. How does what they believe differ from what you believe? Are they still saved? How come there are so many different ‘types’ of Christians? And then of course… who is right?
We’re going to unpack how we approach these differences.
A helpful quote often (though uncertainly) attributed to Augustine says:
“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”
This gives us a framework:
- In essentials, unity – there are core doctrines all Christians must agree on.
- In non-essentials, liberty – there is room for different views.
- In all things, charity – our posture must always be love.
This protects us from two extremes: treating everything as essential (which leads to division) or treating nothing as essential (which leads to confusion and error).
Essential Doctrines
Essential doctrines are the core truths of Christianity. These are non-negotiable and directly tied to the Gospel. If a church rejects these, it steps outside of historic Christian belief.
These include:
- The deity and humanity of Christ
- The Trinity
- The authority of Scripture
- The reality of sin
- Salvation by grace through faith
- The atoning death of Christ
- The bodily resurrection
- The exclusivity of Christ
These doctrines centre on who Jesus is and what He has done. Without them, the Gospel itself is lost.
The Apostle Paul warns strongly about altering these truths:
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
– Galatians 1:8
Across denominations like Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, and more, there is unity on these essentials. This is what makes them part of the global Church.
The Creeds
From the early Church, believers needed a clear way to identify true teaching. This is where the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed came in.
These creeds summarised the essential doctrines of the Christian faith and were often memorised. If a teaching contradicted the creeds, it was recognised as false.
They helped unify believers around core truth and protect the Church from false teaching—something Scripture repeatedly warns about.
Non-Essential Doctrines
Non-essential doctrines are important, but they don’t determine salvation. Christians can disagree on these and still be united in Christ.
Examples include:
- Baptism (timing and method)
- Communion theology
- Church governance
- Spiritual gifts
- End times views
- Worship styles
- Women in leadership
- Free will vs predestination
These differences explain why denominations exist. They reflect different interpretations of Scripture, not different Gospels.
Important note: non-essential does not mean unimportant. These doctrines still matter deeply, but they are not the foundation of salvation.
Attitudes Toward Diverse Theology
So how should we respond to these differences?
We approach them with:
Liberty – recognising there is freedom in non-essential areas.
Security – being confident in what we believe without feeling threatened.
Maturity – engaging in disagreement with humility, not division.
Charity – choosing love in every interaction.
Jesus said:
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
– John 13:35
Our love for other believers matters just as much as our theology.
Conclusion
As we navigate theology, we must hold tightly to the essentials while holding the non-essentials with humility.
When we elevate non-essentials to essential status, we risk division and legalism. At the same time, when we ignore essentials, we lose the truth of the Gospel.
The goal is to be grounded in truth, secure in our faith, and gracious toward others.
We don’t want to miss the heart of the Gospel by becoming overly rigid on secondary issues. Instead, we stay united in Christ, trusting that while differences may remain, our shared foundation is what truly matters.