Dispensationalism
I just did a quick study on “dispensational theology.” Obviously it is an extensive subject, worthy of a 3 credit hour college course, but I had to clarify my understanding of the word. Basically it breaks the Bible in to ages, ie the Abraham Age, the Moses Age, The Jewish Age, The Jesus Age, The Gentile Age etc. In doing this it seeks to explain “why” God - who proclaims Himself to be the same today, yesterday and forever, seems to have changed His expectations and requirements of humankind. Some people think that the 7 Churches in Revelation reflect the 7 ages of the Church - 7 dispensations.
Dispensation Theology would explain why I am wrong in saying that it is important to understand the culture and belief system of the people who were listening to the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles, to understand how they would interpret certain expressions (ie Chosen and Elect) in relation to what they believed about Scriptures. A new age was beginning, with new grace and new revelations, and the other was part of an earlier dispensation, not relevant any longer. What we read in the Old Testament can not be taken at face value / literally. We instead have to measure it against the New Testament. For example, praying for the peace of Jerusalem, which meant at the time, to pray for the physical place, now - in the light of this new dispensation - means to pray for the heavenly Jerusalem to come down out of the clouds???
Most Bible Believers I know, understand that when Paul wrote to Timothy that all Scripture was God Breathed, the Bible as we have it was not even complete. He was talking about the Old Testament, although some of his writings were already considered Scripture by Peter. The Bible, as we have it, from Genesis to Revelation wasn’t complied until nearly 400AD. It wasn’t available to laity in their own language for another 1200 years or so. Even then, only the rich could afford a copy.
I believe the Bible is the most important Book in the world, the only and infallible guide of our faith. I believe that it is the inspired word of God, God breathed from “In the beginning” to “The grace of the LORD Jesus be with all, Amen.” But it is Jesus who saves, not the Bible. It has always been and will always be Jesus. It is said, that when Helen Keller was told about Jesus, her response was, “Oh, that’s His name. He has been with me in my darkness all this time, but I didn’t know who He was.”
That may just be a legend…but it rings true to me. Jesus cried over Jerusalem, and I pray for its peace.
And I pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…” Amen
5 comments:
No one is suggesting that we no longer pray for the physical locality called Jerusalem or the actual land of Israel. We had better do so. However the Jerusalem that exists today is different than the one David wrote of in Psalm 122. Therefore all historical and cultural context is secondary to the transcendant nature of the Word. The command to pray does not change.
The Holy Spirit brings the understanding, not studying cultures. Whether or not a complete Bible did not exist until the Laodicean Council matters not. The books and letters were written prior to the end of the first century by the Apostles and Prophets. Did man surprise God by making a book out of the Scriptures? All things work together for good. As I said Dispensationalism is a plague. God is the same past-present and future. His Word is one Word beginning to end.
There are prophecies to be completed for the land of Israel, but let's not confuse the land with who(as in people) actually is Israel.
Many believe that all Israel being saved means that every resident of the current nation of Israel will come to the Lord. That is not what that means. All Israel is, all the gentiles who will believe, and the remnant of the Jews that will believe.
Chris, I really don't want to get into an agurement with you, nor do I want to critizie or bash you in anyway. But it does seem to me as if you are talking in circles sometimes, and I really don't get what you say. You say Dispensationalism is a plague, yet you say that we need to read the Old Testament with the New Testament in mind, which sounds to me like you're saying...it meant one thing when David wrote it, but now it means something else. You use the term the "Age of the Gentiles" which is a Dispensationalism term, and you adhere to one of the main tenants of dispensationalism - I have to stop this comment and look it up again so I don't quote it wrong...
here is a quote from the Moody Bible Institute - which aheres to Dispensationalism -
"Another strength of dispensationalism is its focus on the glory of God rather than the salvation of man as the objective of all things. It centers on God, not man.
Enns, P. P. 1997, c1989. The Moody handbook of theology. Moody Press: Chicago, Ill."
Although I have heard some excellent teachings coming out of Moody, and would be reluctant to stick the label "Plague" on them, I don't believe that the Dispensationalist method of looking at scripture is the best.
I am not promoting dispensationalism.
Luke 21:
23Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Romans 11:
25Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
"The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";
27"and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins."
Neither did Paul or the Lord.
The Bible is one contiguous Word.
This is why I put cultural and historical context low on the priorities.
The above Scriptures are prophecy. Dispensationalists divide everything into ages. The "imes of the Gentiles"is the only term of its kind found in Scripture. The "age of Grace" the "Jewish age" etc are terms invented by nmen like Darby and Schofield.
Chris, of course you are not promoting Dispensationalism, you wouldn't be would you, considering you think it is a plague.
Dispensationalism is a doctrine of men, probably sincere men, trying to explain the mysteries of the Bible...I am merely pointing out to Chris P. that some of what he believes fits rather nicely within the frame work of Dispensationalism. As some of what I believe fits rather nicely within the frame work of open theism. I think more of the teachings of Wesley, where as Chris may think more of the teachings of Luther. But even those teachings are doctrines of men, as are the teachings of most denominations or religions. We have the Bible and we have Jesus.
We have those God calls to be preachers and teachers, and we have the mandate to search the scriptures to be sure we aren't being taught wrong.
maryellen
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