Random thoughts about faith & theology

[IvyWalker]

An author I read recently wrote about 7 essential doctrines all pastors must be apt to defend and teach in. They ranged from eschatology, hamartiology to bibliology. They were systematic in nature, comprehensive and no room for budging.

The irony is that the author expected each pastor to find 100% agreement on all areas that took the Christian, in some cases, 2,000 years to articulate. Instead of an organic, earthy, real-life discipling, story-formed Way, the alternative was a systematic theology.

So what are the basics that a Christian pastor must hold as true -- and which areas are we free to explore, changing opinions and sometimes having no strong opinion?

Another professor friend of mine, suggested that he cautions pastors from misappropriating faith from the following categories:

What I understand
What I believe
What I practice

Realizing the extreme nuances of such a statement, what he said made much sense.

Eg.
"Do you believe in water baptism by immersion?"

"No. I practice my faith by water baptism in immersion. But I don't put faith in water baptism."

Christ alone deserves my faith. Nothing else. My faith is the epicenter of my worship.

Faith is reserved only for Jesus Christ. That one part I give nothing else but to him. This also seems to match the "Apostle's Doctrine" which in over a dozen citations alone in Acts, reveals their teachings were "Jesus and him crucified." Including the Resurrection. Basically, their "doctrines" were teachings of and about Jesus.

What are some basics that pastors should believe. What areas should they have room for exploration? What is your opinion?