Doctrine, an introduction…

So I have been starting to look for a new job- for far too many reasons to list for the purposes of this site.

Ministry job hunting is very different than “secular” job hunting. If a secular company asked the kind of bizarre questions that churches ask their potential employees, it would be considered discriminatory- that is not an exageration. I totally understand why though, and appreciate the precautious lengths that churches go to to make sure that they place a minister who will best fit in with their community.

Once I was interviewed by one of the largest and most influential churches in the nation. The interview did not go good. I thought I would be asked spiritual questions about my walk with the Lord, my ministry philosophy, or my heart for the lost. Instead I was asked…”Have you ever hired or fired someone?” What?! Of all the questions they could ask, this was one of the first ones they pulled out?? One of the next questions: “What kind of fishing do you like to do?” once again, not the most spiritual of questions.

Today I had a pleasant talk with a nice pastor and his wife. This was my second “interview” with them. One of the first questions I was asked? “Do you like sports?” Where does Jesus fit into this equation? This is nothing against the people or churches that I have interviewed with- just once again I am surprised by the things that matter to a church or a pastor when they are trying to fill an open minstry position.

So what does this have to do with doctrine…I know…I have been ranting and I am sorry. It’s just easy to get frustrated over things like this. Anyways, I am in communication with a church up North and they have asked me a lot of questions- a lot of great questions.

Yesterday they contacted me again and wanted to know what my ‘Statement of Faith’ was. I could easily give them a one sentence Statement for each category of my Christian Faith, but I felt it was important to give a more detailed answer with Scriptural references to each of my points. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I already had a paraphrased personal statemet of faith jotted down, but I wanted this to be an introductory to those who don’t know me to the deep faith that I have in God and His Word.

I know it’s cliche’, but I really do take a two-fisted approach to doctrine: closed-fisted and open-fisted.

Closed-fisted doctrine is that which I am unshakable about. I rest on it for all things involving  belief, hope, faith, decision, and relationship. The Closed-fisted stuff is what the Bible clearly states. It is essential doctrine to being a Follower of Jesus- being a Christian. With me, it is not open to debate or questioned within my life or ministry. I’ll gladly discuss it and listen to other perspectives. But I know that it is those closed fisted things that make me who I am in Christ.

Open-fisted Doctrine is the stuff that we as Christians can agree to disagree on. It’s the stuff that’s not essential for salvation. It’s sometimes the stuff that the Bible is unclear or vague about. Or the stuff that people have a really hard time understanding. These are the things that we usually all have opinions on, but are willing-sometimes to openly debate and discuss. Often, Closed-fisted doctrine is not as much about doctrine as it is about methodology.

I will describe both of these types of doctrine as we go through this blog series. I will start with the Closed-fisted doctorine and then work my way into the Open-fisted stuff.