In favour of revelational maximalism.

The purpose of this article is to show why we as Christians can not take certain parts of Divine revelation as being more important than others, as Divine revelation is altogether maximally important in every way. Since every part of revelation is maximally important, a position I will call "revelational maximalism", we ought to do all the research that we are able to do in order to come to a most complete understanding of the faith that has been given to us by Jesus Christ, our Lord. I was inspired to write this article after a fruitful and brotherly conversation with a Protestant friend of mine, who repeatedly expressed that he found certain doctrine, such as the Trinity, Ressurrection and the Commandments, to be more important than other doctrine, such as the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This conversation came up while discussing why I had chosen to become a part of the Holy Catholic Church, rather than any Protestant denomination. However, I am not convinced that the mainstream Protestant position is one contrary to revelational maximalism, although I have heard many Protestants express the idea of what I will call "revelational selectivism": some parts of revelation are of the utmost importance, while other parts are not.

I will make the assumption that the reader of this article is a follower of Christ and therefore regards Holy Scripture as being Divinely inspired, infallible and complete. Therefore, if Scripture asserts revelational maximalism, every Christian should do what is within their powers to achieve this idea.

Matthew 5:17-20

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

In this passage from Holy Scripture, Jesus Christ explains that "not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law" showing that every single little piece will be kept and preserved. Also he warns that "Whoever relaxes the least of these commandments shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven" showing that the least "important" parts of our faith must not even be relaxed, nevermind removed altogether. The last verse is also illuminating, where we are told that "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" which shows that the zealousness of the Pharisees was not the issue, rather it was their idolatry which is the issue. We must be incredibly zealous in a righteous way, always focussing on our Lord rather than perceived piety. I believe that these facts alone show that revelational maximalism, as I understand the term, is prescribed and affirmed by Holy Scripture, therefore leaving us no choice but to study every iota, every dot of our faith if we wish to follow Christ, our Lord.