I’m currently in a six month eldership process at my local church. This series is taken from questions asked during the process.
Please list 6 core convictions concerning which you (as elder) will never give in, nor even bend on, as you lead the church and reference at least 3 scriptures support each one.
- Trinity (John 1:1, Matt. 28:19, John 8:58)
- Hypostatic Union (John 1:14, Matt. 28:19, John 8:58)
- Justification by Faith (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10, Eph. 1:14)
- Total Depravity (Romans 3:23, John 2:24, Romans 5:12-21)
- Sola Scriptura (2 Tim. 3:16, John 17:17, Jesus speaking only Deuteronomy in his temptation)
- Imago Dei (Gen. 1:27, Gen. 9:6, James 3:9)
How would you respond?
24 replies to "Elder Questions: Core Convictions"
You only have 2 verses for sola scripture, and John 17:17 looks like desperation.
*Transcendence of God
*Deity of Christ
*Creationism
*Faith demonstrated in obedience (I think you consider this something like Lordship salvation but I am not Calvinist)
*Authority of Scripture/ ? Sola Scriptura (I am an inerrantist, but think appeal to Scripture is perhaps a more useful approach)
These are important. I agree with imago Dei and find it a useful (and utterly true) position, not certain why I would list it in this context.
What kind of obedience?
To faith, I hope, and not to the law.
Good list, although I am not sure why they required you to have “6”.
Resurrection? 2nd Coming?
Without love, you are nothing. This encompasses some and may set aside others.
Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection (Gen 3:15, Matt 28:6, 1 Cor 15 esp. vs 12-14)
7 would have been more divine. 🙂
Good comments…yes, I agree that love would encompass a lot.
Yes, Missy I agree that 7 would have been more divine.
I think Resurrection is the one that I would remove one of my original six and add resurrection. The sola Scriptura addition is kind of a trump card since if it is completely embraced then the resurrection would as well since it is clearly taught.
1.God the Creator, Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, The Holy Spirit are the persons of the Godhead.
2.The Bible is the infallible word of God
3.Belief in Jesus is the only way to eternal life
4. You are saved by grace through faith and not of yourself, it is the gift of God.
5.Jesus was born of a virgin.
6. Jesus was crucified and buried and rose from the dead and sits on the right hand of God the Father.
Tim-
“I think Resurrection is the one that I would remove one of my original six and add resurrection.”
I don’t quite follow what you are saying. Am I missing something?
1. God created all things
2. all people are sinners who will be judged by God
3. Jesus is the Messiah promised to Israel and the world
4. Jesus died and rose again
5. eternal life (release from condemnation) is by grace through faith in Jesus
6. Jesus will return again to establish His kingdom and restore creation
1. Physical Resurrection
2. Trinity
3. Incarnation (i.e., Hypostatic Union)
4. Substitutionary Atonement
5. Justification by Faith
Maybe just those.
What is the point of this question?
If your church has its own “unbendables”, why is it asking you to state your own?
If your church doesn’t need any declared “unbendables”, why is it asking you to state your own?
It’s an absurd question for an elder training program, and would instantly cause me to lose faith in the program’s wisdom.
Irene,
I think the purpose with these questions is to ensure an individual aspiring to become an elder is indeed personally embracing the priorities of the church they are seeking to serve.
What I like about this question is it starts to move someone toward revealing what they believe to be the most important doctrines or elements of the faith for daily ministry. I know that we have a tendency as Christians to think all doctrines are equally as important, but even Jesus asked people what was the greatest commandment.
My guess is that even the local church you are part of or the ecclesiastical structure has at one time or another some sort of question such as this.
Pope Francis is obviously much more passionate about certain aspects of the faith than his predecessor. This is seeking to find out the most central personal issues to make sure passions are aligned.
Questions are sometimes asked for the respondent’s benefit. God asked Adam and Eve question to which he already knew the answer but in coming up with the answer it forced a personal revelation.
Still don’t think it makes sense, but I’ll think about it more later. Happy Thanksgiving, all.
I’m thankful for Pen and Parchment, my favorite Protestant blog, and that they are so gracious with their commenters. (:
theoldam, I am not certain how one obeys faith. One obeys Christ thru faith. All I am saying is that I reject a claim to faith without fruit. Saved people become like Christ over time.
Tim, the difficulty with this question is what do you focus on? I was going to say theism which addresses atheism, but this seems somewhat obvious. What is more basic than affirming God exists. So I choose transcendence as that addresses false concepts of God which may be relevant? You did not include bodily resurrection, neither did I, but again that should be a sine qua non of Christianity. I agree that resurrection should be included but then we end up with very basic beliefs.
1. Theism
2. Transcendence
3. Immutability
4. Deity of Christ
5. Bodily resurrection
You get to 6 quickly without addressing common important errors of the age. I believe in the virgin birth but it never seems to come up so why place it in the top 6?
have to add somehow His attributes since there seems a concerted character attack: God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5a
I would think it very important to include the eternal deity of Christ as this seems to be a doctrine that is more and more under attack these days. And I have seen Trinity affirmed while the eternal deity of Christ is denied. Or at least is very highly questioned.
I think it is telling that, given that the question asked for six core “convictions,” the author and subsequent commenters have all taken “convictions” to exclusively mean “doctrines.” Is this the triumph of orthodoxy over orthopraxy? (Though I did catch one referring to what could be called the priority of love as a conviction.)
I’m not sure what my six would be, but that’s what jumped out at me as I read.
Tim,
Can you explain “total depravity” briefly and why that is an essential?
My very quick answer is that all people desperately need Jesus. We are not just sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners. We all need total rescue by Jesus. Jesus is not an option for those who might need Him one day, He is necessary for every human.
Tim,
Thank you for your response.
Your answer, combined with what I have read on this site and what most theologians define as Total Depravity, would include the following “sine qua non’s” (without which there is no Total Depravity):
1. Babies are wicked filthy sinners condemned by God for the guilt of Adam, under God’s wrath, children of the devil, separated from God, deserving of Hell and their heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.
2. Children, when they are old enough, do not choose to sin or willingly disobey God; rather, they are compelled by their nature to sin. They are in bondage to their nature and are incapable of choosing to do anything other than what their depraved, corrupted and completely broken nature will allow and that is to sin. Essentially they are FORCED to sin by their totally depraved nature.
3. The 2 celled zygote, blastocyst, fetus, baby, infant, toddler etc. will all go to Hell and suffer for eternity unless: they are baptized for the remission of the sin nature, or are the children of a saved parent, or are baptized into a covenant relationship, or are sovereignly regenerated or are among the elect and get saved.
4. There are many other ramifications and beliefs found in the reformed doctrine of total depravity such as it logically results in regeneration preceding faith. For no one is able to believe on Christ without first being resurrected spiritually due to Total Depravity.
And THAT ^^^^^^ is what you are willing to die for and “will never give in or bend on”??????
Tim,
Thank you for your response.
Your answer, combined with what I have read on this site and what most theologians define as Total Depravity, would include the following “sine qua non” (without which there is no Total Depravity):
1. Babies are wicked filthy sinners condemned by God for the guilt of Adam, under God’s wrath, children of the devil, separated from God, deserving of Hell and their heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.
2. Children, when they are old enough, do not choose to sin or willingly disobey God; rather, they are compelled by their nature to sin. They are in bondage to their nature and are incapable of choosing to do anything other than what their depraved, corrupted and completely broken nature will allow and that is to sin. Essentially they are FORCED to sin by their totally depraved nature.
3. The 2 celled zygote, blastocyst, fetus, baby, infant, toddler etc. will all go to Hell and suffer for eternity unless of or all of the following occurs: Either they are baptized for the remission of the sin nature, or are the children of a saved parent, or are baptized into a covenant relationship, or are sovereignly regenerated, or are among the elect and get saved prior to death. (Or after death, if you believe like John Piper)
4. There are other ramifications and teachings found in the reformed doctrine of Total Depravity. Such as, it logically results in regeneration preceding faith. For no one is able to believe on Christ without first being resurrected spiritually (regenerated) due to Total Depravity.
And THAT ^^^^^^ doctrine (Total Depravity) is what you are willing to die for and “will never give in or bend on”??????