What Is a Primary Doctrine?
Every doctrine found in Scripture is important because every word of Scripture is inspired by God. Christians are not free to ignore the parts of the Bible they find difficult or less interesting. God has spoken, and everything He has revealed is profitable for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness. At the same time, Scripture itself recognizes that not every doctrine serves the same purpose within the Christian faith. Some truths stand at the very heart of the gospel, while others shape our understanding of the Christian life, the Church, or the interpretation of prophecy.
The apostle Paul illustrates this distinction in his first letter to the Corinthians. As he reminds the church of the gospel he had preached to them, he writes, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Paul was not suggesting that everything else he taught was unimportant. Rather, he was identifying those truths that lie at the very center of the Christian faith.
A primary doctrine is a truth that defines Christianity itself because it defines the God we worship, the Savior we trust, or the gospel by which we are saved. These are not merely important theological ideas; they are foundational realities without which Christianity ceases to be Christianity. The authority of Scripture, the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, His death and bodily resurrection, and salvation by God’s grace through faith are not doctrines that can be abandoned without changing the very message of the gospel.
For this reason, Christians throughout history have confessed these truths together despite disagreeing on many other doctrines. Believers have differed over church government, spiritual gifts, the timing of Christ’s return, and countless other theological questions, yet they have remained united because they worship the same God, trust the same Savior, and proclaim the same gospel. Primary doctrines form that shared confession. They are the foundation upon which the Christian faith stands and the reason they occupy a unique place within this Statement of Belief.
What Is a Secondary Doctrine?
If primary doctrines define the Christian faith, secondary doctrines help shape how Christians understand, apply, and live out that faith. They are not optional, nor are they matters of indifference. Because all Scripture is inspired by God, every doctrine deserves careful study and humble submission. Yet throughout the history of the Church, faithful believers who confessed the same Triune God, trusted the same Lord Jesus Christ, and believed the same gospel have reached different conclusions on many of these teachings while remaining united as brothers and sisters in Christ.
These differences often concern subjects such as the relationship between Israel and the Church, the timing of prophetic events, the continuation of miraculous gifts, the structure of church government, or the proper understanding of baptism. Such doctrines influence how churches worship, teach, and organize their ministry, and for that reason they should never be treated carelessly. They matter because God has revealed them in His Word, and every Christian should desire to understand them as faithfully as possible.
At the same time, disagreement over a secondary doctrine does not necessarily mean someone has abandoned the Christian faith. A believer may reach different conclusions about the millennium, spiritual gifts, or covenant theology while still worshipping the same God, proclaiming the same Christ, and trusting in the same gospel. These differences may affect where Christians worship or how they understand certain passages of Scripture, but they do not, by themselves, determine whether a person belongs to Christ.
The secondary doctrines presented in this Statement of Belief are therefore my own theological convictions. I hold them because I believe they best reflect the teaching of Scripture, yet I recognize that many faithful Christians have carefully studied these same passages and reached different conclusions. My desire is not merely to state what I believe but to explain, from Scripture, why I have come to those convictions. Each doctrine therefore links to a fuller article where I explain my reasoning in greater detail.
Why Make This Distinction?
Distinguishing between primary and secondary doctrines is not an attempt to create different levels of biblical truth. Every doctrine found in Scripture is true because God has revealed it, and every passage deserves our careful attention. This distinction simply recognizes that not every doctrine functions in the same way within the Christian faith. Some truths define the gospel itself, while others shape how believers understand and practice that gospel.
Making this distinction helps us avoid two opposite errors. The first is treating every disagreement as though it determines whether someone is truly a Christian. History demonstrates that faithful believers have differed on many important doctrines while remaining united in their confession of the Triune God and the saving work of Jesus Christ. The second error is treating every disagreement as though it is insignificant. Because all Scripture is inspired by God, we should never dismiss a doctrine simply because sincere Christians disagree about it. Unity should never come at the expense of truth, and conviction should never come at the expense of Christian love.
Recognizing the difference between primary and secondary doctrines allows us to pursue both conviction and humility. We can hold our beliefs with confidence because we are persuaded by Scripture, while also acknowledging that faithful Christians may reach different conclusions on matters that do not define the gospel itself. In doing so, we seek to preserve both the unity Christ prayed for and the truth He revealed.
How This Statement of Belief Is Organized
The purpose of this Statement of Belief is to communicate my convictions clearly while recognizing the distinction between doctrines that define the Christian faith and those upon which faithful believers have historically disagreed. For that reason, this page is divided into two sections.
The Primary Doctrines summarize the historic Christian beliefs I affirm. These doctrines concern the authority of Scripture, the identity of God, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the gospel, and the essential truths upon which the Christian faith stands. Every Christian should know these doctrines, cherish them, and be prepared to confess them.
The Secondary Doctrines summarize the theological convictions I have reached through my study of Scripture. While I believe these convictions are biblical and important, I also recognize that many faithful Christians have carefully examined these same passages and reached different conclusions while continuing to confess the same God, the same Christ, and the same gospel.
Each doctrine includes a brief summary followed by a link to a full article explaining why I hold that particular belief. My goal is not merely to state what I believe, but to show how I have arrived at those convictions through the study of God’s Word. Whether you ultimately agree with my conclusions or not, my prayer is that these pages encourage you to search the Scriptures diligently, love the truth faithfully, and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.