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One of the difficulties in the theological triage system (distinguishing between 1st, 2nd, 3rd tier matters) is that it’s possible for a 1st order issue to pose as a 2nd or 3rd tier issue. What issue? That God’s Word is really God’s Word and Christians trust and obey it.
It’s relatively easy for me to agree to disagree w a good-faith Presby over baptism, not because I think they’re right, but because I can see their arguments are borne of Scripture, even tho I disagree w the conclusions. They are laboring to work *with* the text, not against it.
When it comes to men and women in the church (eg, can a woman preach/teach men, be a pastor), we may say, “that’s a 2nd tier issue so let’s not make a big deal of it.” But when I go deep w folks on *why* they hold to women preaching, it has often belied a mistrust of the Word.
Which means, in those cases, the presenting issue isn’t the issue. The issue is the authority and goodness of God’s Word and his ways. One of the joys of my life has been discovering and helping other women discover that God’s words to us are truly good and true and beautiful.
It’s a joy to help women really trust God and know him to be good in all he says, commands, &prohibits. It’s a joy to help them actually try out the things they may have only looked at suspiciously from afar (ie, submission to husband, teaching younger women and children).
But I mention all of this because it’s incumbent on faithful older Christians to be aware of the issues under the issues—not so we can clobber people over the head w their errors, but so that we can help them see the goodness of all God’s words and ways.
And if they are not acting in good faith (ie manipulating the Word to suit themselves and casting it as 2nd tier, no big deal) then faithful shepherds know what to do. And I give thanks for them.
