Stepping onto the campus of Dallas Theological Seminary was filled with emotions, high expectations, and absolute naïveté. About everything. Kim and I had certain goals and plans, but we were also wise enough to hold onto some of those loosely. My background was pretty much Bible and nothing else. Sure, I loved sports and could dabble in other hobbies, but studying the Bible was my focus. And there was no other place better suited for me than DTS.
Four years and some $50,000 later, some expectations remained. Goals had shifted slightly, but eyes were still on that PhD prize. That journey is briefly covered in my memoir, but my intention here is to discuss one of the most valuable things I learned on that campus.
I had the privilege of hearing incredible speakers in chapel. I had multiple classes with Drs Dan Wallace, Darrell Bock, Buist Fanning, Bob Chisholm, Gordon Johnston, and many other world class scholars. Topics like Greek and Hebrew grammar, the use of the OT in the NT, textual criticism, OT and NT backgrounds, as well as diving deep into individual book were everyday occurrences. I was flooded with information, and I soaked up every drop.
My background was independent fundamental Baptist. And I’m just going to leave that there. No reason to applaud or reject outright. Anyone who reads these things can react as they see fit. But one doctrine that we stressed highly was the Bible. (Probably why I sought to study it for the rest of my life). “If it’s in there, it’s true. No questions asked.”
I don’t remember the professor, or the class, or the day (I think, Dr Wallace, but that’s a 85% guess). Seminary (and even college) had already introduced me to solid, Christian people who believed some different things than me. Shoot, I had professors who disagreed with each other on certain passages and topics.
And one day—whoever this professor was—made it clear that that’s ok. Everything in the Bible may be true (which deserves another post, because the nuancing in that statement needs clarified), but my understanding of these things may not be perfect. I am definitely not inerrant. Nobody is.
So as we develop “systems of belief” or doctrines or conclusions about various passages, we need to be careful about how tightly we hold to these conclusions. Historically, my background is “everything is essential because the Bible discusses it.” But what if we disagree?
The day I learned about holding a hierarchy of doctrines was monumental. It was worth the price of tuition and on-campus housing. What are the essential doctrines—the ones most necessary for fellowship among believers? I would say there are, hmm, two or three.
- Jesus is God / He rose from the dead
- Salvation by faith
- Triune God (though many believers need clarity on how to define this, including me sometimes)
After this, there are second tier doctrines, third tier doctrines, and maybe fourth and fifth. This doesn’t mean “less true.” But how tightly we hold to our conviction regarding how we discuss them loosens as we travel down the line.
I don’t debate issues about spiritual gifts as much as I depend on God’s grace for salvation more than my own self-sufficiency. But I have.
I really do not care about the precise timeline of how God will end all things as much as I hold to Jesus’ Lordship. But I used to.
Debates can be fun. Diving into passages is necessary and can be fruitful. We need exegesis and interpretation. I still long for consistent and deep scholarship as a habit in my own skill set and schedule. But when other students reach different conclusions, we must engage in civil discourse. We must hold the core truths most tightly and seek fellowship with all followers of Jesus.
Elevating the lower tiers to a higher level is a quick path to division. Seek unity in the essentials. The church is desperate for this.
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