One of the ongoing battles that confronts
each generation of Bible students is that of determining items of faith,
as distinguished from items of opinion. Some claim that there is no
conceivable way of determining, decisively, which is which short of
allowing a denominational heirarchy or papal decree to establish a canon
of accepted creeds. Of course, this is the denominational way and the
catechisms, manuals of faith and creed books are formal attempts to
establish a distinct body of faith for each sect. Advocates of New
Testament Christianity reject such organizational attempts to catalogue
the Scriptures. However, relying on our individual consciences and/or
congregational consensus to determine which part of the Bible we will
allow to fall into an area of faith and which will be regarded as
opinion (judgments) results in much contradiction and confusion.
Those with a rebel mind relish this
situation and capitalize on it by saying that there is no way that
anyone can determine such a difference and seek to relegate all matters
into the realm of opinion. Inconsistency, however, contradicts their
attempt at a universal liberty of the conscience when they demand that
the deity of Jesus is the one matter of faith that is absolutely
essential. Never mind that this lone bastion carries with it no more
warranty that it is a matter of faith than another subject. Never mind
that no criteria have been established upon which we may, uniformly,
distinguish faith from opinion. We are told that the deity of Jesus is
the only matter of faith which would limit fellowship; everything else
is opinion. On the one hand, the faith is demoted to the plane of human
opinion, resulting in abandonment of sound doctrine; on the opposite
extreme, every opinion is elevated to the plane of the faith and
churches are fragmented, having no basis for unity.
Are we thus bound to such a chaotic
condition in determining matters of faith/opinion? Are there no
guidelines to follow, no rules to help us? Are individual consciences or
congregational consensus the only factors, short of manuals of faith,
which provide assistance in this vital subject? Some propose that we
should "preach the man and not the plan," but we are right back to the
extreme "deity of Jesus only" proposal and still have not learned
anything about why we let this single item be a matter of faith and
everything else be matter of opinion. Is the matter hopeless and must we
be condemned to a spiritual life of chaos because God has not provided
an answer to this dilemma? Or is it possible that the Bible itself
provides the answer if we will allow it to address the question? Can we
tell the distinction between faith and opinion? Let the Bible speak.
Definition of "Faith"
Vine says that "faith" is "firm persuasion,
a conviction based upon hearing" and "by metonymy, (that) which is
believed, the contents of belief, the faith" (p. 71). He lists Acts 6:7;
14:22; Galatians 1:23 and Jude 3 (among other passages) to illustrate
the fact. Thayer adds that it is "objectively, the substance of
Christian faith or what is believed by Christians" (p. 513). Since we
are "to contend for the faith once for all delivered" (Jude 3), be
"obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7), and can "continue in the faith"
(Acts 14:22), it follows that the faith can be identified, understood,
separated from extraneous matters, taught, contended for and followed.
The faith is a body of truth given to us by God that identifies the
content of our belief. Such belief is not subjective, open to individual
approval of conscience, vote by committee or authoritative only by papal
bull. The faith is objective truth, to be received as and when we accept
the author of the faith, God himself. Personal faith and the faith are
so closely identified that one word encompasses both and the distinction
is maintained only by context. We can no more relegate a portion of "the
faith" to opinion than we can relegate the existence of God to opinion.
God exists whether we believe in him or not. The faith exists whether we
acknowledge it or not. The parameters of the faith are not diminished
because some of its tenets do not coincide with my notions.
In Acts 15, the question of fellowship with
Gentiles caused much "questioning" (vv. 2,7). The Holy Spirit, along
with the elders at Jerusalem and the apostles "considered" (v. 6) the
matter. God's will was declared (vv. 7-21) and the ensuing decision,
reached by "accord" (v. 25), was circulated to all the churches as
"these necessary things" (v. 28). Now, would "these necessary things" be
equated with matters of I 'the faith' I or of "opinion"? When Paul
rebuked Peter over this same issue (Gal. 2:11) and said that he I 'stood
condemned," was it over the faith or opinion? When he warned against
perverting the gospel of Christ into a "different gospel; which is not
another gospel," (vv. 6,7), was he respecting what had been declared in
Acts 15 to be God's will or was he binding his own opinion on his
brethren? Obviously, "the faith" concerns "necessary" things which have
been so designated by God and the result of accepting the will of God is
accord, rejoicing and peace (vv. 25,31,33).
Definition of
"Opinion"
While we have been using the word "opinion"
as the common term describing that which is different to "the faith," it
is readily acknowledged that "opinion" is not a New Testament term. One
of its equivalents would be found in Romans 14:1: "scruples" (ASV)
or "doubtful disputations" (KJV). Here, Vine states that the word
denotes "a seeking, then, a debate, dispute, questioning" (p. 322), and
gives Acts 15:2 as an example of an unsettled questioned (though
it was about to be settled). In Romans 14:1, it obviously refers
to a matter of no consequence to God (though it may be a matter of
consequence to men who differ regarding it). We should emphasize,
perhaps, that our zeal concerning a "scruple" does not make it a matter
of faith. In this passage, "judging" is prohibited by men and deferred
to God since we should not "set at nought thy brother" (v. 10)
over matters of indifference to God. One can quickly see that there is a
vast difference between a matter of "the faith" and a matter of
"indifference." This is further illustrated in 1 Timothy 1:4
where Paul exhorted Timothy to avoid subjects that "minister
questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith," a
clear distinction between faith and opinion. The same word is used in
2 Timothy 2:23 where the same young preacher is to refuse "foolish
and ignorant questions, knowing that they gender strifes." To Titus, he
admonished: "shunning foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes,
and fightings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain" (3:9).
The Problem Addressed
We have constant and recurring problems
distinguishing between matters of faith and opinion. Yet, as can be
readily seen, there is a vital and observable difference. Matters of
faith have to do with revelation, the will of God, the expression of
truth, necessary things. This truth is knowable, identifiable, and
complete as a body or unified whole. It is uniform in every age (since
its revelation), applicable to every society and circumstance and able
to be obeyed by every accountable creature. God will hold us responsible
for our treatment of it (Gal. 1:6-9; Jude 3; Eph. 5:17; 3:4; etc.).
But with opinion, we enter the realm of human judgment, faulty
reasoning, biased conclusions and traditions "handed down from the
fathers." As the Jews came to hold their traditions on a par with God's
revelation, men today are jealous of their opinions and insist on their
practice as though they are matters of faith. Are we thus to be torn
constantly between these poles, unable to "understand the will of the
Lord"? I know that one church cannot speak for another church or for all
churches. Nor may one person speak for another or for all others. But
can we not agree on the fact that the difference between faith and
opinion is discernible? Can we not study to learn if there are
principles in the Scriptures themselves which help us identify matters
of faith that affect and limit fellowship? If this is possible, and I
for one believe that it is, we will not be so quick to bind matters of
opinion or to loose matters of faith, confusing ourselves and those whom
we would teach.
Matter of Faith
--- Matter of Faith Matter of Opinion
Baptism:
Faith - Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21; et al.
Immersion in water for remission of sins. Violation of the faith to
promise salvation on other terms.
Opinion - Use a baptistry or not;
wear shower cap or not; only preacher baptize; use "baptismal formula"
when baptizing.
Preaching:
Faith -
Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 1:16; Gal. 1:6-9.
Violation of the faith to use anything other than the gospel to bring to
Christ.
Opinion -
Travel by boat, plane or ship; use TV, radio, or press; use gospel
meetings, VBS, etc.
Lord's Supper:
Faith -
Matt. 26:17-30; Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7 (cf.
Exod. 20:8); 1 Cor. 11:23-28. On first day of week in assembly of
saints with unleavened bread and fruit of vine.
Opinion -
Number of containers on table; time of supper in worship; time of day.
Work of the Church:
Faith -
Preaching (1 Tim. 3:15); Benevolence
(1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8, 9; Acts 11:27-30); Edification (Eph.
4:11-16); etc. Violations of the faith include instititionalism,
centralized control, and social gospelism.
Opinion -Amount of aid to be given to needy; give goods,
service, or money; how long to continue aid; number of classes; who
teaches the class; age divisions; what kind of literature.
Singing:
Faith -
Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12, etc. Vocal music is plainly a
part of the faith but instruments are another kind.
Opinion -Whether to use a tuning fork or pitch pipe; kind
of book; who is to lead; how many songs.
Conclusion
Many of the items listed above as opinions
are not of the sort that have divided churches, although some of them
are. These are listed as illustrative of the differences many fail to
make. Many of the things currently being labeled as opinion are clear
violations of the faith (cf: institutionalism). Their introduction as
opinion creates a problem to those who see them as violations of the
faith. And herein lies the problem. Without a doubt, determining the
difference between faith and opinion will continue to be a challenging
task and one that is fraught with many dangers for fellowship among
disciples. But, at least, let us approach this study with an attitude
that accepts the proposition that God has made a distinction between the
two and that it is discernible. The alternative (that faith and opinion
are essentially the same) is ludicrous and elevates the ideas of men to
the level of divine wisdom. It is axiomatic that those who hold the
faith in common will walk in the same direction while those who elevate
opinion will splinter and divide. Let us determine to "contend earnestly
for the faith once for all delivered unto the saints."
Guardian of Truth - March 1, 1990
Other Articles by
Tom M. Roberts
Extremes Concerning the Church
The Gospel-Doctrine
Distinction - Part 1
The Gospel-Doctrine
Distinction - Part 2
The Gospel-Doctrine Distinction - Part 3
- Caffin,
B.C. (1950), II Peter – Pulpit Commentary, H.D.M. Spence
and Joseph Exell, eds. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans).
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