[This post is a work in progress!]

According to Acts 21:17-26, when Paul and his associates arrived in Jerusalem they were told that some Jewish Christians were troubled by a rumour that Paul had been teaching that, upon conversion to the Christian faith, they must abandon their adherence to the law of Moses, stop circumcising their children, and give up various other Jewish customs.

Paul accepts a proposal that he demonstrate his denial of these things by publicy associating himself with a Nazirite vow that was currently being undertaken by four members of the Jerusalem church.

Although Paul was firm in his insistence that salvation was by faith in Jesus Christ alone, and not at all by keeping the law of Moses, nevertheless he was willing, in the interests of Christian unity, not only to allow other Jewish believers to observe their inherited customs, but also to do so himself.

This raises a question about the diversity of beliefs, customs and traditions in the Christian church today, and which of these might be tolerated in the interest of unity.

Beliefs

Trinity: eternal submission of the Son; procession of the Holy Spirit.

Divine sovereignty and human responsibility

Creation.  Some support six-day creationism, others, intelligent design and still others, theistic evolution.

Bible.  Christians hold different views on the inspiration and authority of Scripture (including inerrancy) and on its interpretation and applicaiton (including the relationship between the OT and NT).

Israel.  Evangelicals are sharply divided over the place of Israel in God’s present and future plans.  Is the modern state of Israel a fulfilment of Biblical Prophecy?  Do Palestinians have any legitimate Often sharply divided views among evangelicals on an appropriate response to the modern nation of Israel in its ongoing conflicts with Palestine and other Middle Eastern nations/groups. This comes out of differing views about the place of the Jews and the nation of Israel in God’s future plans, and interpretation of prophetic scriptures.

Atonement: various models, with vigorous debate around the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement

‘Progressive’ evangelicalism.  Formerly referred to as the ’emerging church’.  Some welcome their teachings and practices, while others see them as a departure from biblical orthodoxy.

Spiritual gifts.  Some believe that the ‘extraordinary’ gifts of the spirit, such as tongues and prophesy, ceased long ago.  Pentecostals, charismatics and some others believe in their continuation.

Eschatology.  Evangelicals many different views about the Last Things.  In particular, some believe in the eternal conscious torment of the wicked, while others believe that they will cease to exist.

Liturgy and Worship

Byzantine and Latin influences on art and music

Church buildings, icons, incense, vestments

Festivals: Christmas, Easter

Liturgy, the Mass, Eucharist, Holy Communion, Lord’s Supper, Breaking of Bread

Worship styles: speaking in tongues, prophesy, spontaneous prayer, music (contemporary and traditional)

Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Bible translations: status of the AV/KJV

Preaching

Lifestyle and Social Customs

Dietary customs, including vegetarianism; hygiene practices

Courtship, marriage and family.  Men, women and children.  Nuclear/extended family

Sexuality.  Sexual acts outside heterosexual marriage.  Gender.

Beginning and end of life beliefs and customs: abortion, euthanasia, disability

War.  Some of pacifists, basing their views on Jesus’ teaching about peacemaking and non-retribution.  Others advocate ‘just war’ theology.

Women in leadership.  Some read the NT as limiting women’s roles in ministry, while others would include women in all preaching and teaching roles, and to positions of church authority, including elders, ministers, pastors, bishops and so on.

Influence of Indigenous Cultures

Examples of syncretism:

Africa: incorporation of traditional spiritual beliefs, such as ancestor veneration and use of spiritual healers

Asia: Christianity may be blended with local customs

Latin America: Christianity may incorporate ancient traditions and festivals