The Importance of Being Important

Christianity consists of beliefs and practices. There are certain ways one must view God, himself, and the world at large, and there are certain ways one must think, feel, and act as a result of those views. Throughout church history, Christians have debated what beliefs and practices are proper for the believer. That debate continues today.

Another debate has also occurred throughout church history—what should be done with those who disagree on the proper beliefs and practices for a believer? While it is not possible to answer either of those questions in this post, I would like to address three errors relevant to this debate that are common in conservative evangelicalism and fundamentalism today and see two ways in which they manifest themselves.

Inversionism

Over time, it became clear to the church that some beliefs and practices were so central to Christianity that denying them meant denying Christianity itself. The items on this list have expanded as controversies have necessitated Christians to clarify their doctrine, but it includes things like the deity of Christ, the Trinity, the bodily resurrection, and the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture.

However, some act as if these essential truths are less important than other truths. Though one might be wrong on a fundamental doctrine, if he agrees with someone on other issues, then the fundamental error will be overlooked. Thus, lesser truths and matters are treated as more important than essential truths and matters.

Everythingism

Those in this category do not minimize the central truths per se. Rather, they maximize every truth. It is not enough to agree on a host of issues—including all essential truths. One must agree on every matter of doctrine and practice. Disagreement on essential truths are treated the same as disagreement on lesser truths. Everything is fundamental, which ultimately means nothing is truly fundamental.

Onlyism

In response to both of the errors above, many today have fallen into a kind of “onlyism.” They recoil at the error of the inversionists and insist that certain matters are essential and must be defended. They reject the everythingists and point out that some matters are central and others are not. Where they fail, however, is in dealing with those non-essential matters. Their emphasis on the central issues and the minimal unity they provide for believers is commendable, but it often leads to treating everything else as inconsequential. Thus, baptism, church polity, eschatology, philosophy and approach to culture, creation, role of women in ministry, covenant theology/dispensationalism, continuationism/cessationism, and other matters practically have no bearing on anything.

The Missing Category of Important

What is missing in the above three errors is a proper understanding of importance. The inversionists fail because they raise matters of less importance above matters of greater importance. The everythingists fail because they deny that there are levels of importance and, thus, make nothing truly important. The onlyists fail because they act as if less important means not important.

It is crucial to keep the main thing the main thing. But other matters, though not vital, are still important. Jesus rightly condemns the Pharisees for neglecting the “weightier matters of the law” but also affirms their need to do all of the law (Matt 23:23). The non-essential matters may have varying levels of importance, but they are still important and, therefore, consequential.

Manifestations of these Errors

These three errors are evident in discussions of evangelism and social work, and in discussions of ministry evaluation and cooperation. (NOTE: those who fall into a particular category in one instance may not fall into it in the other).

Evangelism and Social Work

The relationship between evangelism and “doing good” has been controversial for the last several decades. (NOTE: I’m not going to defend the priority of evangelism over doing good here. You can see a bit of my defense here). Inversionists elevate social work above the gospel, leading them to partner with deniers of the gospel in supposedly “Christian” work. This partnership may be evidenced through “Christian” political organizations and manifestos, rescue missions, disaster relief, etc., but it inverts the importance of the gospel and social work. Everythingists make social work equal with evangelism. They  see the role of the church as equally concerned with making disciples and doing good. They fear that giving evangelism priority will mean neglecting social work. Onlyists fulfill that fear by acting as if evangelism is all that matters for the believer since it is central.

What is missing is a proper understanding of importance. Since the gospel is central, believers cannot work with unbelievers in supposedly Christian venues in order to accomplish a goal in society, even if that goal is important. However, the importance of that goal means believers should work towards it, while maintaining the priority of evangelism.

Ministry Evaluation and Cooperation

Properly evaluating a ministry to determine what kind of cooperation is valid is where these errors are displayed most prominently. Inversionists excuse central error by highlighting lesser things. One can be at best unclear on the matter of the Trinity but can still be utilized as a Christian leader if he can discuss having a large church or provide entertaining music. One can be at best confused on the issue of inspiration but can still be held up as a teacher of the Word if he agrees on cultural matters.

Everythingists find little to commend in other ministries and have almost no cooperation with them. Since they alone have the truth, almost every other believer is wrong. Further, since all truths are equal, the error of others nearly always amounts to heresy and apostasy.

Onlyists always point the conversation back to gospel issues. When someone begins evaluating a ministry based on other matters, the onlyists sound the cry of factionalism and judgmentalism. A ministry cannot be critiqued as long as they get the gospel right. Nothing else matters.

Again, the concept of importance is helpful. Inversionists are wrong in what they do because they overlook the most important issues while emphasizing lesser ones. The everythingists are wrong because they treat every error as equally important. The onlyists are wrong because they treat non-essential matters as unimportant.

It is certainly right to begin an evaluation of a ministry or Christian leader on the proper understanding of the gospel. Being right on other truths does not excuse endorsing or cooperating with those who are wrong on essential matters. Acting as if all matters are equally important wrongly impugns the ministry of others and hinders proper Christian fellowship. But stopping at gospel truth also fails to allow a proper evaluation. Though not essential, many truths are important. And whether or not a ministry or leader gets those important truths right should affect our evaluation of them and our cooperation with them. We must keep the main thing the main thing, but we must also keep important things important.