[UNDERSTANDING KEY DOCTRINES]
What every Christian should believe
Not all beliefs are equally important. Some doctrines are essential to Christianity itself - if a church denies these, they're not truly Christian. Other beliefs are secondary, where genuine Christians can disagree.
[CLOSED-HANDED ISSUES - ESSENTIAL]
"Closed-handed" means these are non-negotiable. A church that denies any of these has left the Christian faith. Run, don't walk, away from such churches.
THESE ARE ESSENTIAL - NO COMPROMISE
1. The Trinity
One God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All fully God.
Churches denying this: Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians
2. The Deity of Christ
Jesus is fully God, not just a good teacher or prophet.
Churches denying this: Jehovah's Witnesses, liberal mainline churches
3. The Humanity of Christ
Jesus was fully human - born of a virgin, lived a real human life.
Some cults teach Jesus only "appeared" human
4. The Bodily Resurrection
Jesus physically rose from the dead. Not a metaphor or spiritual symbol.
Liberal churches often deny literal resurrection
5. Salvation by Grace Through Faith
We are saved by trusting in Christ alone, not by works or rituals.
Works-based religions: some Catholic teachings, Mormons, JWs
6. Biblical Authority
The Bible is God's inspired Word, our final authority for faith and practice.
Liberal churches treat Bible as merely human wisdom
7. Second Coming of Christ
Jesus will physically return to judge the living and the dead.
[OPEN-HANDED ISSUES - SECONDARY]
"Open-handed" means Christians can hold different views on these and still be in fellowship. These are important, but not essential to salvation.
ROOM FOR DISAGREEMENT
Baptism
End Times
Church Government
Spiritual Gifts
Worship Style
Calvinism vs. Arminianism
[GRAY AREAS - CONSCIENCE ISSUES]
These are matters where the Bible doesn't give explicit commands. Christians should follow their conscience while respecting others.
[WHAT RIGHTEOUS FELLOWSHIP CHECKS]
When we evaluate churches, we focus primarily on the closed-handed issues. A church might differ from your preferences on secondary matters and still be a great church.
WE CHECK FOR
WE DON'T JUDGE ON
[SPECIAL NOTE: GENDER & SEXUALITY]
While some consider these "open-handed," Righteous Fellowship treats a church's stance on biblical sexuality and gender as a closed-handed issue. Churches that affirm same-sex relationships or gender ideology have departed from 2,000 years of Christian teaching and biblical interpretation. This is a defining issue in our current cultural moment.
