Holding Truth in Tune: When Faith Has Major and Minor Notes

🌿 Dedication

Dedicated to my daughter, whose sincere love for Jesus Christ and courageous pursuit of faith continue to remind me that God is always at work in seeking hearts.

“The Lord does not see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
— 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

🌿 Why This Teaching Matters

Many believers today are not struggling because they lack faith—but because they are overwhelmed by arguments about faith.

Conversations meant to deepen understanding often become dividing lines. Differences in theology, practice, or expression can quietly pull our focus away from Christ and toward defensiveness, confusion, or comparison.

Yet Scripture gives us a higher calling:

“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”
— Ephesians 4:3 (NLT)

Unity does not require silence.
And discernment does not require division.

🎵 A Helpful Metaphor: Major and Minor

Scripture does not describe doctrine using musical language—but music gives us a picture our hearts instinctively understand.

In music:

• Major keys carry clarity, stability, and confidence
  

• Minor keys carry depth, reflection, and emotional nuance
  

Both belong.
Both are intentional.
Both are needed for a full song.

Faith works the same way.

🎼 “Major” Truths: The Unchanging Foundations

There are truths in Scripture that are clear, repeated, and essential. These truths define the gospel itself.

They include:

• God is holy, sovereign, and faithful
  

• Jesus Christ is the Son of God
  

• Christ died for our sins and rose again
  

• Salvation comes by grace through faith
  

• Scripture is inspired and trustworthy
  

These truths are not cultural.
They are not optional.
They are not negotiable.

They are the melody of our faith.

“I passed on to you what was most important…”
— 1 Corinthians 15:3 (NLT)

Without these truths, the gospel loses its shape.

🎶 “Minor” Matters: Important, Yet Interpreted

Scripture also contains teachings that are real and meaningful, yet understood differently among faithful Christians.

These include topics such as:

• Worship styles
  

• Church leadership structures
  

• Spiritual gifts
  

• End-times interpretations
  

• Personal convictions
  

Across Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Pentecostal, and Non-denominational expressions of faith, believers love the same Savior and read the same Scriptures—even while emphasizing or practicing certain teachings differently.

Scripture anticipates this reality and gives guidance:

“Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.”
— Romans 14:1 (NLT)

These matters are harmonies, not the melody.

🌿 Word Spotlight #1: Essential vs. Secondary Doctrine

Essential Doctrine
Truths that are clear, repeated, and foundational to the Christian faith. These define the gospel and are necessary for Christian belief.

“I passed on to you what was most important…”
— 1 Corinthians 15:3 (NLT)

Secondary Doctrine
Biblical teachings that are important but allow room for interpretation among faithful believers. These shape practice, not salvation.

“Why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer?”
— Romans 14:10 (NLT)

🕊️ Discernment Without Division

Across Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Pentecostal, and Non-denominational expressions of faith, believers love the same Savior and read the same Scriptures. While interpretations and practices may vary, Scripture calls us to discernment without division—truth held firmly, and love held generously.

“Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you, so that God will be given glory.”
— Romans 15:7 (NLT)

Paul did not erase conviction—
he elevated love.

“Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat.”
— Romans 14:20 (NLT)

🌿 An Important Clarification: Who Paul Was Addressing

It is essential to understand that when Paul wrote about acceptance, unity, and grace, he was speaking to the Christian church—not to the world at large.

His letters were written to believers who already shared faith in one Lord, Jesus Christ. Paul was addressing how members of the Body of Christ should treat one another when they differed on secondary matters of faith and practice.

He was not teaching that all belief systems are equally true.
He was not encouraging acceptance of other gods or spiritual paths.
He was not redefining truth to match culture.

Scripture is clear:

“There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.”
— 1 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)

Paul’s instruction was about family life within the household of faith—how believers live together under the Lordship of Christ.

That is family instruction, not universal philosophy.

“So we can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ only by the Holy Spirit.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:3 (NLT)

🌿 A Personal Note From My Heart

This teaching did not begin as a theological study—it began as a real conversation at home.

Recently, I found myself in a thoughtful and honest discussion with one of my daughters as she walks through OCIA. As her mother, I’ve listened closely to her questions, her convictions, and her growing desire to understand her faith more deeply.

While I am not a follower of the Catholic faith myself, I want to say this clearly: her love for Jesus Christ is unmistakable.

Her desire to follow our Lord and Savior with sincerity, reverence, and commitment has made her father and me incredibly proud. We see her seeking Christ, wrestling honestly with Scripture, and longing to live a faith that is rooted—not shallow or borrowed.

And that matters.

This experience reminded me that unity in Christ is not built by identical paths, but by a shared devotion to the same Savior. Our conversations have required humility, listening, prayer, and trust in the Holy Spirit’s work—exactly what Scripture calls us to within the family of faith.

Paul’s words come alive in moments like these. He was not asking believers to erase conviction, nor to blur truth, but to walk together with love and discernment.

That is family instruction, not universal philosophy.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

🌿 Word Spotlight #2: Unity vs. Uniformity

Unity

A shared allegiance to Christ, rooted in love, humility, and the essentials of the gospel.

“There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
— Ephesians 4:5 (NLT)

Uniformity

The expectation that all believers must think, worship, or practice faith in exactly the same way.

Scripture does not require uniformity.

“Each of us will give a personal account to God.”
— Romans 14:12 (NLT)

Uniformity focuses on sameness.
Unity focuses on Christ.

🙏 A Closing Prayer for Families Navigating Faith Differences

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with grateful hearts, trusting You as the Author and Finisher of our faith.

You see the conversations that happen behind closed doors—
the questions asked around kitchen tables,
the quiet prayers whispered late at night,
the love that holds families together even when beliefs are still forming.

Lord, give us wisdom where there is uncertainty.
Give us patience where there is tension.
Give us humility to listen and courage to speak truth with gentleness.

Help us remember that You are at work in every sincere heart.
Teach us to trust Your timing, Your leading, and Your Spirit—
especially when the path forward looks different than we expected.

Guard our families from division.
Anchor our homes in love.
Keep Jesus Christ at the center of every conversation, every conviction, and every step of faith.

May our words reflect Your heart.
May our love point others toward You.
And may our homes be places where truth and grace dwell together.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

🌐 Continue your faith journey and grow in Scripture at
HisWordsMinistry.com

Written with care by Faitheful Pen
Because His Words give life. 🤍