Doctrine vs. Personal Elements of Belief [PEB]«Return to Healing Resource Center | Printer Friendly | PDF
There are profound differences between biblical
doctrine and personal elements of belief [PEB]. This seems to be
one of the most misunderstood subjects in the church today. The
reason for this is clear and quite understandable: firstfruits hold
their personal elements of belief in the same esteem and to the same
degree they do church doctrine. Whether it is doctrine or a PEB,
it is natural for a member to want to "spread the truth" and convince
others, in and out of the church, to have and hold the same belief.
The church has taught for decades that it is not a good idea for a
member of the church to attempt to convert others regarding our common
beliefs and doctrine. We have no power or biblical mandate to
convert or convince. This principle is greatly compounded with
personal elements of belief. PEBs are not common belief.
Generally, they are the member's alone.
PEBs are absolutely fine in the eyes of God, assuming there is nothing
in the Word of God to oppose it. His Word allows for PEBs.God does not have a "Thus saith the Lord" for each and every little
situation that may come up with in a firstfruit's Christian life.
When we do not have a specific law or scripture to cover the specific
instance, we then look to specific or overriding biblical principles.
Side-by-side with this is something we read about in Romans 14.
...for whatsoever is not of faith
is sin. -Rom 14:23
Paul is writing to Romans about members weak in the faith and one or
more who could not bring themselves to eat meat which had been offered
to idols. Paul writes:
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that
condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that
doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for
whatsoever is not of faith is sin. -Rom 14:22-23
Notice the commentary
22-23.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Faith
here means a firm conviction before God that what you believe is right.
Paul remarks that it is proper to have and cherish a conviction,
but we must not force our convictions upon others.
We do not have the prerogative to do so. We must hold that conviction
before God. And he that doubteth is damned
if he eat. For the translators of the AV
the word damned
did not have the force it does today. It did not mean that if someone
violates his conscience by eating that which he feels is wrong he will
be damned to (the lake of fire). Rather the meaning is that he is
condemned in his conscience for doing that which it will not allow. If
he does not eat in faith believing that it is acceptable to God, he eats
in sin for whatsoever is not of faith is
sin. If our actions do not arise from our
convictions then they are sinful actions and unacceptable to God. -KJV
Bible Commentary ( red emphasis mine)
The point is this: Within
the various elements of belief, each member stands alone before God
in the Salvation Process as to how he or she will conduct themselves
in and with that element of belief. Neither the church nor the
ministry can micromanage your Salvation Process or issue lists of
rules about every subject or element of belief under the sun.
The firstfruit member, as Paul states, must act on conviction or his
or her conscience as driven by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
Clearly the more immersed one is in the Word of God, the more
effective and spiritually practical his or her convictions and
conscience is going to be.
The church has less than forty primary doctrines.
These are posted at our web sites and taught from our ministry.
PEBs number in the thousands and cover a myriad of subjects
including those of Health and Healing. This is why we are
admonished in the healing doctrine:
- Not to believe that one
doctor, procedure, plan of action or medicine is more
righteous, Godly or spiritual than another.
- Not to judge [condemn]
others regarding their chosen plan of treatment.
- Not to attempt to convince
others that your chosen plan of treatment is the best.
Understand that you probably have a number of
PEBs regarding health. These beliefs could be about food,
diet, water treatment or sources, equipment [water
and air filters], vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs,
folk cures, diets, fasting, exercise, exercise equipment, medical
plans, medical insurance, doctors, nurses, health care providers,
clinics, hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, in-home care, medic
alerts, ambulance services, surgeons, operations, treatments,
procedures and hundreds of related subjects.
We are directed by this doctrine and therefore, the Word of God not
to attempt to force these PEBs on others or to believe that our PEBs
are more spiritual or more correct than any others (Romans
14:22-23).
Further reading:
Faith Cannot Be Legislated
Good Systematic Theology
Personal Elements of Belief - Questions and Answers
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