Disagreements of Christians

What's worth fighting?

Pastor Ben Koole delves into the issue of disagreements among Christians and how to deal with them in a way that honors the Lord and promotes unity. He notes that the existence of numerous denominations is due to the many disagreements that Christians have had through the centuries. He introduces the concept of doctrinal triage, which is a system of categorizing doctrines into different tiers to help Christians solve disagreements with respect and conviction.

The four tiers of triage :

• Red tag doctrines
These are the most critical and fundamental, defining what it means to be a Christian. Disagreements regarding these doctrines must be dealt with promptly and with great courage and conviction, as they are the bedrock of the Christian faith. 

Examples of red tag doctrines include: The Trinity, the incarnation of Christ, salvation by faith alone in Christ alone, and the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture.

• Orange tag doctrines
These are the defining doctrines of a particular church or denomination. These doctrines do not define what it means to be a Christian, but they do define what type of church you belong to. 

An example of an orange tag doctrine include: Baptism - some churches baptize infants while others baptize only believers.

• Yellow tag doctrines 
These are important but not essential, and they do not define what type of church you belong to. These doctrines are often a matter of interpretation and can lead to disagreements. 

Examples of yellow tag doctrines include: The gifts of the Holy Spirit and the role of women in ministry.

• Blue tag doctrines 
These are less important and more a matter of personal preference or opinion. They are not essential to the Christian faith, and Christians can have different opinions without compromising their faith. 

Examples of blue tag doctrines include: The style of worship music, the type of Bible translation used, and the mode of baptism.

Overall, Ben Koole emphasizes the importance of dealing with disagreements respectfully and in a way that honors the Lord, acknowledging that Christians can have different opinions without compromising their faith.