As we begin a new year, I have decided to return to the basics and really take a look at what core foundational beliefs need to be in place for someone who truly wants to follow Jesus’ example in every area of life. What are those things that, when all is stripped away, are the non-negotiables of following Jesus?
So far my thoughts have brought me to 4 items that are key in setting up that foundation:
1. An ever growing understanding of who God is and belief that His ways are good
2. An understanding of and belief in what God did on our behalf to redeem us as well as restore our relationship with Him
3. A consistant, on-going relationship with God built on communication (prayer), trust, and faith.
4. A belief in the truth of scripture inspired under God’s control
Now I am not looking to get into a theological or doctrinal debate over this, but I would love to read your ideas on what you think are the essential, non-negotiable, core beliefs that all of us share no matter our denominational or doctrinal stance.
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January 4, 2007 at 04:26
I think surrendering our will to His and obeying Him to the end. The courage to believe, trust, obey and follow.
January 4, 2007 at 14:01
1) To really love our neighbor as our self.
2) To die to self.
3) To understand was real love is (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) and to live that way.
January 4, 2007 at 16:14
Here’s how the author of Hebrews defined the basic non-negotiables of our relationship in Hebrews 6:1:
Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
So every believer should repent, should place faith in the living God for forgiveness oif sins, should be baptized, should receive the laying on of hands (usually for the baptism of the Holy Spirit…not ordination, this was an every-believer thing Acts 8:14), should expect the resurrection for believers, and judgement for un-believers.
Of course, Jesus said the 2 most important commandments were to Love God with all our heart, soul and mind and then to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Peter urges us as newborn babes to hunger for “pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation”
January 4, 2007 at 17:46
We live in an experience oriented culture and most people including mainline Christians are determined to find non-negotiables in each others experience. Perhaps this is because we are looking for the three easy steps to following Christ.
Along with the afore mentioned thoughts are a couple that are found in the Holy Scriptures themselves.
Luke 14:25-33
Just to touch part of what Jesus has said here look at v27; “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple.”
1) We do not like cross bearing and we may not fully understand what the meaning of this is because we don’t see people hanging, dying in agony and pain on crosses along the sides of our roads. Those who bear the cross are done this world and self, they are on thier way outside of the mainstream of society and have it ended. The point is are we willing to have it ended. My life is over and the life of Christ is now living in me.
2) “come after Me” Pursue Christ with your whole being. Allow nothing to stand between you and your Saviour. Study Him in the Word of God and be so familiar with His Person and what He did, His attitude toward people(the poor for one), and His disdain for empty religious form.
Along with the thoughts that began this conversation, these thoughts may help us to come to a point where we can make a difference in the live of the lost. His primary conscern.
January 4, 2007 at 19:10
One thing I remember in the Word, when Jesus Christ was asked what were the most important commandment is: (He gave 2, but it sums up to this.)
LOVE
... because LOVE never fails!
January 4, 2007 at 19:22
I wonder if one shouldn’t think about this issue partly more in terms of what one should not do/should not disbelieve. I think of those brothers and sisters in Christ born with intellectual handicaps, others suffering from disabling illnesses or nearing death, and of young children, many of whom have limited capacity for positive actions or subscription to statements of faith.
January 4, 2007 at 19:47
Without accepting Christ there is no salvation. You would think that shouldn’t have to be stated, but in this age of multiculturalism and political correctness, it must be stated boldly.
January 4, 2007 at 20:21
Your doing pretty well if you believe this:
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Are all the elements of the creed essential? Strictly speaking, no. Would I prefer that the creed put more of an emphasis on the Bible? Yes. But for the past 1700 years this creed has been sufficient in defining Christianity. So, in teaching people the basics of the Christian Faith, I think that this creed is a great place to start.
January 4, 2007 at 21:35
In Micah (6:8): “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
In Mark (12:30-31): ”...’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
In James (1:27): “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
In Philippians (3:8-14): “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
January 5, 2007 at 09:24
Love God with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Pretty non-negotiable.
January 5, 2007 at 15:56
True, complete dependence on Jesus. We must believe that He is who He says that He is and that what He says holds ultimate authority over our lives. We must make Him Lord. After that, we must do as He says, which can be summed up in “Love God and Love your neighbor.”
January 6, 2007 at 13:37
Jonathan said it all. Which leaves an interesting question about Chris’s statement. What Chris says is a common perspective, and has some foundation in certain passages of scripture. But those first two citations Jonathan offers are ALSO scripture, and are VERY comprehensive. The Nicene Creed is NOT scripture, and was a rather political compromise document, trying to fulfill the church’s unfortunate merger with the Roman Empire. When Micah says “what does the Lord require of you” and Jesus Christ says “all the law and the prophets” hang on two commandments, I REQUIRE nothing else. Except grace, since I am not capable of perfectly fulfilling these commandments…
January 7, 2007 at 07:16
There are two things that I think are non-negotiable and they are developing a relationship with God and being obedient to Him and His Word. If God had not changed me when He did I would be living a life that I would not be ready for. There would be situations that I would not understand how to handle. And in all that, I would not have known that inspite of what the situation, God has me in His hands. He is always right there with me and that He would never leave me.
January 9, 2007 at 19:20
To follow Jesus, one must first be a believer “in Him.” What does this require?
Belief in, and receiving with the empty hand of faith, the finished work of Christ on the cross for salvation from sin, and from the guilt of sin.
This in itself assumes belief in our inherently sinful state, and our helplessness to conquer it. It also assumes belief in Jesus’ deity, power, and position—and authority to forgive sins. It also assumes that God’s chosen and only method of reconciliation, Jesus’ substitutionary shed blood, is understood.
We could call this aspect of “following Jesus” the transactional aspect. God did something, offered it to us. Our part is to recognize, repent, accept.
After these things, all the other good thoughts that have been shared begin to come into play… as a “result” of salvation, out of an overflowing heart of gratitude, a mind that is being transformed and renewed, and an open-ness to the quiet leading of the Holy Spirit.