Get This Report on Our Documents: The Four Freedoms - Franklin DRoosevelt

If the Guv proceeds on his Journey,1 and takes a Quorum of his Council with him, we hope, considering that he keeps our Expense, that it will be seriously and appropriately thought about by them; and that the exact same Regard for the Publick Well-being which caused them unanimously to advise his intended Journey, will cause them as unanimously to encourage his Assent.

"In basics unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity" (In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas). That statement has often been associated to St. Augustine who likely did not state it. It seems to have its origins in the 17th century either from Roman Catholic or moderate Lutherans in Germany.

It has actually found its way into the common vernacular of many churches and denominations. I as soon as served in a non-denominational church where it was repeated copiously. But I might never get anybody to actually define the terms. Because this year's historical General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America I have seen the popular declaration repeated by a few of my fellow PCA pastors as a way to recommend that the passage of are unnecessarily dissentious.

"In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity." It's a good stating as far as it goes. The issue is that it does not go really far. Certainly, The Most Complete Run-Down wish to show charity in all things. Let's be on board with that one. How about the fundamentals? Is unity required? Definitely.

In that case possibly the essentials are those doctrines affirmed in the Apostles Creed. If that is the standard, then I can support that. But it's not the calls to unity in essentials and charity in all things that present the problem. It is the middle clause that provides an issue: "In non-essentials, liberty." I take liberty here to suggest what it generally suggests: flexibility.

The concept is that in those doctrines and practices deemed non-essential for the salvation of one's soul we need to grant liberty to believe and practice whatever we believe finest represents the teaching of Scripture. And there is a sense in which I concur with this. I don't inconvenience the regional Methodist or Mennonite churches in my community.