Paul writes in II Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” Peter writes in II Peter 1:20, 21, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
No doctrine is any less important than any other. We often hear teachers say that it is okay to “agree to disagree” because some issues are secondary issues. Well, who made that rule? Scripture is clear, “all scripture is inspired of God.” True, there may be differences in interpretation, but they must all line up with the entirety of the context. Importantly, doctrine should not be defined by feelings, emotions, or denominational influence. Not even by what grandma said.
Many may say that the doctrine of salvation is the most important. And, yes, it certainly should be as it relates to our eternity. But at the same time, the doctrine of baptism is important to properly understand, which does not make that doctrine of any less biblical importance. God has outlined both in scripture. Denominationalism needs to stay out of the way. Is music a secondary issue in the church? Properly used, no. But if it is a form of praise, then it cannot be an exaltation of man’s performance, any more than giving applause to someone who just got baptized.
Why do churches/denominations reduce Israel to, maybe even, of less importance? Why is Israelology missing from books of Systematic Theology? Is Israel a secondary issue? As Paul would say, “God forbid!” God loves Israel. His love is perpetual. Israel is mentioned over 2,500 times in the Bible, not to mention the number of times Jerusalem and Zion are mentioned. That is hardly a doctrine that should be ignored, yet so many preachers and denominations ignore Israel in favor of, let’s say, the false teaching of infant baptism. In a less hostile manner, you could say that those who teach the heresy of Replacement theology are no different than what we read in the Bible (Psalm 83:4) about wiping Israel off the map. They have wiped Israel out of the Bible and replaced it with the Church. Are those scholars and writers lessening the importance of Israel by omitting Israel from such books? Do they think that Israel is a secondary or tertiary issue in theological circles? What about the Rapture? What about the Tribulation? What about the Millennium? Are they secondary or tertiary issues? Certainly not.
Peter mentions “prophecy.” And that is what it means, something predicted (4394). Yes, there are different beliefs in the timing of a lot of end-time events, i.e., wars, but they are there and will happen per God’s faithfulness to scripture. But does that make the timing of the wars a secondary issue? No. We are to “study” (II Timothy 2:15). Are we to think that our sovereign God smiles at us when we say that there are secondary and, perhaps, tertiary issues in the Bible when “all” of it is inspired by Him?
