5 comments on “Supersessionism Rising: Dispensationalism…? Part 2”
Rick Owen on said:
While the following article emphasizes Christ as the central focus in Christian ethics and ecclesiology, I believe it offers some food for thought related to the decline of Dispensationalism. It seems to me that this shift among many believers is not due to less faithfulness in Bible study and teaching, but a clearer apprehension of Christ as the center and circumference of God’s purpose and preoccupation for the believer, both now and in the future.
I believe a proper understanding of God’s program as reflected in Dispensational theology does the very most to exalt Christ as the “center and circumference” of God’s program. It is all about Him.
I think one factor is the proliferation of anti-dispensational books on the market (Rossing, Sizer, Burge, Chapman, Donaldson etc). The polemicists are winning the war because they are the squeaky wheels and not because their theology is more biblical.
They inevitably begin by taking issue with the rapture doctrine and its origin and then mine-quote John Hagee as if he represents dispensationalism. But I think the real issue, and where they all end up going to, is Israel and the church.
I agree completely. This is one of the reasons we established The Alliance for Biblical Integrity. The dispensational voices are either silent or largely non-existent. At least there seem to be few who are of any noted stature who don’t take positions and say things that cause them to not be taken as serious theologians.
However, there are some things happening in some quarters that should begin to have some impact.
Here is a note which I posted on Facebook a while back entitled “Keeping Eschatology in its Proper Place.”
It seems to me that every time a sinner is snatched from the fires of hell, the power of Satan and the woes of death, Christ has achieved another great victory over His enemies and scoots them even further under His footstool. Is not such almighty grace powerful and triumphant enough to satisfy every saint that God’s kingdom is growing and Christ is reigning victoriously from God’s right hand?
God vanquished multitudes of enemies in the past through miraculous events which overruled the natural realm. But to save even one sinner, He had to send His Son from glory to Golgotha to die a shameful death which, paradoxically, was also the most powerful display of His justice, wrath, mercy, love and grace the world has ever seen or will ever know. The natural eye looks at the cross as only a pathetic and miserable execution. The eye of faith sees the arm of the Lord being revealed in the salvation of the world (Isaiah 53:1; John 3:17).
Every evangelical eschatological view advocates a glorious future when all we can see is renewed in total glory. Most see this occurring cataclysmically, and some see it growing progressively. I welcome it either way and am thankful for God’s grace however it continues to come to pass in my life and the future. (I haven’t been very good at predicting or understanding His providence in my own life thus far. I am even less certain about making forecasts regarding the age to come.)
However the future unfolds, let us walk with the patriarchs toward the heavenly city not by sight but by faith (2 Cor. 5:7; 4:18 Rom 8:24; Heb. 11). Let us not talk as if future grace will improve upon the Cross. The Cross was the apex of all time. The redemption of mankind and the renewal of creation flows from Christ’s victory upon the Cross. May the Cross of Christ be our only boast now and forever (Gal. 6:14; Rev. 5:12).
While the following article emphasizes Christ as the central focus in Christian ethics and ecclesiology, I believe it offers some food for thought related to the decline of Dispensationalism. It seems to me that this shift among many believers is not due to less faithfulness in Bible study and teaching, but a clearer apprehension of Christ as the center and circumference of God’s purpose and preoccupation for the believer, both now and in the future.
http://resources.grantedministries.org/article/this_is_my_beloved_son_hear_him_j_zens.pdf
I believe a proper understanding of God’s program as reflected in Dispensational theology does the very most to exalt Christ as the “center and circumference” of God’s program. It is all about Him.
I think one factor is the proliferation of anti-dispensational books on the market (Rossing, Sizer, Burge, Chapman, Donaldson etc). The polemicists are winning the war because they are the squeaky wheels and not because their theology is more biblical.
They inevitably begin by taking issue with the rapture doctrine and its origin and then mine-quote John Hagee as if he represents dispensationalism. But I think the real issue, and where they all end up going to, is Israel and the church.
Well said, Dave James.
I agree completely. This is one of the reasons we established The Alliance for Biblical Integrity. The dispensational voices are either silent or largely non-existent. At least there seem to be few who are of any noted stature who don’t take positions and say things that cause them to not be taken as serious theologians.
However, there are some things happening in some quarters that should begin to have some impact.
Thanks for commenting.
DAve
Here is a note which I posted on Facebook a while back entitled “Keeping Eschatology in its Proper Place.”
It seems to me that every time a sinner is snatched from the fires of hell, the power of Satan and the woes of death, Christ has achieved another great victory over His enemies and scoots them even further under His footstool. Is not such almighty grace powerful and triumphant enough to satisfy every saint that God’s kingdom is growing and Christ is reigning victoriously from God’s right hand?
God vanquished multitudes of enemies in the past through miraculous events which overruled the natural realm. But to save even one sinner, He had to send His Son from glory to Golgotha to die a shameful death which, paradoxically, was also the most powerful display of His justice, wrath, mercy, love and grace the world has ever seen or will ever know. The natural eye looks at the cross as only a pathetic and miserable execution. The eye of faith sees the arm of the Lord being revealed in the salvation of the world (Isaiah 53:1; John 3:17).
Every evangelical eschatological view advocates a glorious future when all we can see is renewed in total glory. Most see this occurring cataclysmically, and some see it growing progressively. I welcome it either way and am thankful for God’s grace however it continues to come to pass in my life and the future. (I haven’t been very good at predicting or understanding His providence in my own life thus far. I am even less certain about making forecasts regarding the age to come.)
However the future unfolds, let us walk with the patriarchs toward the heavenly city not by sight but by faith (2 Cor. 5:7; 4:18 Rom 8:24; Heb. 11). Let us not talk as if future grace will improve upon the Cross. The Cross was the apex of all time. The redemption of mankind and the renewal of creation flows from Christ’s victory upon the Cross. May the Cross of Christ be our only boast now and forever (Gal. 6:14; Rev. 5:12).