There is a popular quote attributed to Augustine that goes: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”  Augustine believed that there is no salvation outside of the Roman Catholic Church.  Nevertheless many, even many who are not Roman Catholic, employ this quote, believing that it indeed came from Augustine.  

Consider Diotrophes in the Book of 3 John.  Diottrophes opposed the Apostles and their co-workers because he evidently loved the preeminence in the church.  Diotrophes could have kept his general statements Biblically accurate and still opposed the Apostle John by simply falsely accusing him in ways that did not affect his general doctrinal statement.

Consider also 2 Timothy 3:5: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”  The context of this verse proves that it is a reference to the wicked deeds of professing Christians and their wicked character- reflecting the reality of their disobedience towards God’s authority and attachment to sin.  

During Jesus’ earthly ministry the two main groups of Jews which He dealt were the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  The Pharisees were orthodox in their beliefs- at least in a very general sense.  The Sadducees were not orthodox in their general beliefs- even denying the resurrection of the dead.  Though the Pharisees believed what many would call “the essentials” of Biblical Judaism, they nevertheless commonly made allowances for sin and exalted tradition over the Word of God in practical ways.  The Sadducees also contended with Jesus often.  Any Sadducee who truly repented towards God and came to worship Him acceptably was going to change their beliefs.  The same principle applies with those who have errant beliefs in matters which challenge the general tenets and worldview of Biblical Christianity.

Generally orthodox theological beliefs, even when those are really defined by the Bible, do not make a person righteously eligible for Christian fellowship when they have blatant  sin in their life and/or exalt extra-biblical tradition to the level of Scripture (hence even many generally theologically orthodox Pharisees had controversy with Jesus and did not receive His doctrine in terms of how it home practically).  

The authority of God’s Word deals with man practically in his everyday choices and overall conduct.  The Bible does indeed get into specifics and details.  For man then to take a list of general truths, label these as “essential truths”, say that everyone who assents to them is a true Christian who is immune to scrutiny and rebuke, and then label every other issue, even issues which the Bible is utterly clear and definitive on, as “non-essential” is making light of the Word of God and opposing its authority.  Doing that is actually being wrong on the most essential matter.

To resort to the “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity” quote to justify spiritual fellowship which is not under the authority of the Word of God is unrighteous as well as absurd.  Properly honoring the Bible’s authority and not replacing that with the commandments of men requires not treating this unbiblical quote as sacred truth.

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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