As Charles Taylor points out, Western Culture is steeped in expressive individualism marked by a disembedded existence and excarnation. These realities are further complicated by the relational conflict that often marks both culture in general and the church in particular. The church has responded to this reality in many ways. Theologians such as Al Mohler and Gavin Ortlund have helpfully proposed “Theological Triage” as a doctrinal taxonomy to help the church navigate doctrinal disagreement exacerbated by individualism in ways that lead to unity within and between churches.
The ordinances are perhaps an underutilized and underappreciated means for aiding Christians in performing theological triage. This paper argues that the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are unique God-given means to teach and experience theological triage in the local church. This will be argued in three steps.
First, the paper argues that the ordinances serve as a medium for theological triage, as they are designed to proclaim the core truths of the Christian faith. Despite the ongoing debates surrounding issues like infant baptism or the presence of Christ in the Supper, the fundamental truth remains that both ordinances proclaim first order doctrines such as the person and work of Christ. The primary passages referring to baptism and the Lord’s Supper demonstrate that the ordinances proclaim the doctrines most foundational to the faith and, more fundamentally, a person (Christ) in whom the believer is called to abide. These doctrines include first-order doctrines such as union with Christ, regeneration, the reality of the new covenant, the unity of believers, and faith.
Second, in the life of the Christian, triage cannot only be an intellectual taxonomy but must be an experiential taxonomy. The Christian must not only be intellectually convinced of the order of doctrines, but their whole selves, including the ways they implicitly perceive the world, must experience first-order doctrines as central. The ordinances focus on these central truths, and the method of the ordinances unites the physical and spiritual in such a way that uniquely shapes the way people imagine the world. The regular use of water, bread, and wine in the life of the church connects the material and immaterial in a unique way that is meant to result in the worship of Christ. The ordinances impress the reality of these first order doctrines on the Christian in ways other aspects of worship, such as preaching or singing, do not.
Therefore, the paper asserts that churches should actively utilize the ordinances as practical tools to make triage a tangible reality in the lives of their members. The effectiveness of the ordinances, to a large extent, relies on the clarity and purpose of those leading their practice. Church leaders can foster unity and understanding by using the ordinances to emphasize what is most essential and discourage division over less significant matters. The paper suggests that through the ordinances, triage can be internalized in a way that promotes unity within one’s own church and encourages a gracious and peaceful approach towards other gospel-preaching churches rather than suspicion.