What are Closed-Handed vs. Open-Handed Issues?
Based on "How to Find a Courageous Church" - Pages 7-8
Key Distinction
Closed-handed issues are doctrines that all Christians must agree on to be Christian. Open-handed issues are matters where Christians can agreeably disagree and still be Christians.
Why This Distinction Matters
The book asks: "Where can you draw the line on being discerning versus being critical?" The answer lies in understanding which issues are essential to Christianity itself (closed-handed) and which are matters of preference or secondary importance (open-handed).
This helps us avoid two errors: (1) dividing over minor issues that don't affect salvation, and (2) tolerating false teaching on essential doctrines in the name of "unity."
Closed-Handed Issues (Essential Doctrines)
These are NON-NEGOTIABLE. All Christians must agree on these:
God exists as three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
The perfection and authority of Scripture
Jesus is fully God and fully man
Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary
Jesus lived without sin
Jesus died on the cross in our place for our sins
Jesus rose from the dead in a physical body
Jesus Christ is the only Savior; repentance and faith in Him are required
There will be a resurrection of the dead to Heaven and Hell. You go to Hell unless you turn from sin and trust in Jesus Christ.
"Furthermore, real Christians do not have interfaith worship or prayer with members of other religions any more than a faithful wife has date nights with men other than her husband."
- "How to Find a Courageous Church", Page 7-8
Open-Handed Issues (Secondary Matters)
Christians can disagree on these and still be Christians:
- Mode of Baptism: Immersion, sprinkling, or pouring
- Age of Baptism: Infant or believer baptism
- Age of the Earth: Young earth vs. old earth creationism
- Worship Style: Traditional hymns vs. contemporary music
- End Times Views: Premillennial, amillennial, postmillennial
- Church Government: Elder-led, congregational, episcopal
- Spiritual Gifts: Continuationist vs. cessationist
- Calvinism vs. Arminianism: Views on predestination and free will
- Women in Ministry: Complementarian vs. egalitarian (when core doctrines are affirmed)
The Healthy Church Balance
The book teaches that healthy churches have:
Unity on Closed-Handed Issues
Everyone agrees on the essentials. These are non-negotiable for membership and leadership.
Diversity on Open-Handed Issues
This "keeps people learning and growing as they challenge one another in a healthy, loving way."
Important Clarification: Gender and Sexuality
Note on Biblical Sexuality
While some secondary issues allow for disagreement, the book is clear that biblical sexuality is not an open-handed issue. Churches must have a clear position affirming:
- Binary gender (male and female only)
- Marriage between one man and one woman only
- No LGBTQ+ leadership or same-sex marriage officiation
A church that is unclear on these issues is "either woke or soft-woke, which are basically the same thing."
Practical Application
When evaluating a church:
- First: Check their statement of faith for all closed-handed issues. If they deny any, move on.
- Second: Check their position on biblical sexuality. If unclear, be cautious.
- Third: Evaluate open-handed issues based on your convictions and preferences.
- Fourth: You can attend a church that differs on open-handed issues if you agree on closed-handed ones.
How We Use This
On Righteous Fellowship, we distinguish between closed-handed and open-handed issues in our church ratings:
- Closed-handed: Denial of any essential doctrine results in warning indicators and low courage ratings
- Biblical sexuality: Churches unclear on gender/sexuality are flagged as "soft-woke"
- Open-handed: We display these positions for information but don't penalize disagreement
