Are your “essential” items so important to you that you could not associate or worship with a person or group who do not practice all of them?
Although my “essential” items are very important to me as they are part of my covenants in honoring God, they will not hamper me from worshipping with others who do not practice all of them. As each person grows in the knowledge of God's word, certain practices or beliefs will either become more practical or not. Some practices will lose their value as you begin to evaluate your walk with God. When I enter into worship with God, it is not a matter if the person besides me is worshipping God. It is me and God alone although I am hoping the person besides me is on the same accord with me. So being with a person or a group who is not on the same level with me in my Christian walk is fine. What is expected is to show empathy.
Are some of your “essential” items a little more essential than others?
My first though is that all of my “essential” items are of equal weight. None are more important than the other when dealing with God. They are ways I hold dear in honoring God. From a vertical perspective, it does not matter to God as long as I choose to honor Him with these practices. On the other hand, from a horizontal perspective, it would matter. Some of them would be more important than others. For instance, if I encounter a non-believer or come in contact with a person who has never heard of Christ Jesus in their life, I may have to throw out some or all of my “essentials” just to allow that person to receive grace. The bottom line is to love that individual and give him/her an opportunity to receive Christ Jesus.
Are there any items on the list that don't have anything to do with scripture?
There are items listed on the Negotiable/Essential Chart that do not have anything to do with scripture. When I look at, “ONLY MARRIED WOMEN ARE TO TEACH MEN”, there is nothing to support it scripturally. Although marriage is a holy institution, and has been adopted to be one of church sacraments, it is one of the few topics discussed in the Holy Bible. We see little talks on the subject except in the Pauline epistles giving instructions for harmony in a relationship. It does not matter if a woman is married or single to teach men. Both are exposed to the same temptation(s) but the one who is more grounded in the word of God will have more faith to ward off the enemy (Devil). Churches that practice using only married women to teach because it appears to be morally and politically correct and that becomes their goal will miss out on God's calling. In fact the Devil will rise up men to coo at a married woman just the same as to a single woman. Either one can be led astray if each is not fully grounded in the word of God. According to the word, God prefers a single woman whose ways are on the Lord because she will be less likely to be tempted. Even a twelve years old boy can teach adult men. Christ Jesus was only twelve when He was found among the High Priests in the City of Jerusalem. Because He was full of the Holy Spirit, He was able to teach due to His divined knowledge and understanding. He was ordained with wisdom being an essence of God in person. What is possible is that any one can teach if that person is called to do so and that does not relate to a specific group of people.
