Drilling down on Christian issues

Many of the issues that exercise (and have exercised) Christians down the ages are dealt with on a prima facie basis without realising that there are underlying foundational questions which influence opinions higher up the doctrinal tree.

Preamble: Whilst the following hierarchy first refers – in this instance – to the question of Sunday/Sabbath, the overall framework is applicable to many other issues over which Christians differ; some of these being baptism, salvation, church/state relationship.

These themes will (d.v.) be explored sequentially, but in reverse order i.e. from bottom to top; from the foundational upwards.

Meanwhile, any views on the 'Sunday/Sabbath/any day' topic can be appended to the Debate on this subject.

UPDATE: May 2010 -

The first article relating to the table below is now available: it is entitled 'A Covenant-keeping God'.

UPDATE: February 2012 -

The second article in the series is now available under the title: 'The Westminster Confession; a critique'.

UPDATE: December 2014 -

The third article in the series is now available under the title: 'Theonomy; the Church ruling the World'.

TOPIC	ISSUE	(SOME) COMMENT
Sunday/Sabbath observance (as an example only)	Christians differ over whether rest days are - * Sundays * Saturdays * any/every day	No evidence of equating Sunday with Sabbath is found prior to the 3rd century (New International Dictionary of the Christian church)
Legalism	The descent into enforcing a prescriptive and all-embracing behavioural compliance on believers	Perceived as a problem in the Scottish Highlands and Islands
Are the Old Testament laws binding?	Who do the OT laws apply to? Which (if any) of these still apply in NT times for believers in Jesus/Yeshua?	There are 613 laws; either they all apply, or none do (unless re-stated under the New Testament / Covenant).
Theocracy / Theonomy Christian Reconstructionism	Does the church have a mandate under God to press its views on the state and the secular/political process?	Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world". He never tried to reform the Roman system.
Westminster Confession of Faith	Even the most staunch supporters of this document will – if they wish to retain any credibility – admit that the WCF contains some fundamental flaws and serious omissions.	" Not for many years has ..... discussion of the theology of the Confession been so vital a matter .... as it is today." (The WCF in the church today - edited by Alasdair Herron.)
Covenant Theology	The WCF is based on an interpretational framework relating to theological constructs (Covenants of Works and Grace) in contrast to the Biblical Covenants (Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New).	"[The WCF] was not produced....as a Church Confession. This may account for much of the emphasis, as well as for certain striking omissions. Calvin never taught any 'covenant of works' nor would have." (ibid.)

Christians Together, 19/07/2009