Given my history with and around Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB), this article posed an interesting question. As any IFB adherent knows, “essential” doctrine is anything your pastor says is essential. How many IFB churches have “KJV Only” written into their church's doctrinal statements? (Answer: too many.) How many IFB churches insist that “doctrinal purity” demands they separate from other Christian brothers and sisters who hold to a strict biblical theology yet do not support many of the lifestyle standards (i.e., legalism) demanded by IFB churches? (Answer: too many.)  Writer [Paul Lamey](http://expositorythoughts.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/what-is-essential-doctrine/) offers some insight into what is considered an “essential” doctrine. Lamey quotes Mark Dever’s simple test:  > A Fourfold Test for Doctrine  > > 1. How clear is it in Scripture? > > 2. How clear do others think it is in Scripture? (Especially those that you respect as teachers of God’s word). > > 3. How near is it to the Gospel? (Or how near are its implications to the gospel itself?) > > 4. What are the effects doctrinally and practically if we allow disagreement in this area? How about you? What is your test for essential doctrine? Written: August 12, 2010.