Featured Christian Theological Systems

"Teeth are needlessly broken over the grit of systematic theology, while souls are famishing. To turn stones into bread was a temptation of our Master; but how many of His servants yield readily to the far worse temptation to turn bread into stone! Go thy way, metaphysical divine, to the stone-yard, and break granite for McAdam, but stand not in the way of loving spirits who would feed the family of God with living bread. The inspired Word is to us spirit and life, and we cannot afford to have it hardened into a huge monolith or a spiritual Stonehenge—sublime but cold, majestic but lifeless; far rather would we have it as our own household book, our bosom companion, the poor man's counselor and friend."
—Charles Spurgeon, Feathers for Arrows

 

To be life giving bread, systematic theology must be Christ centred. Centred on Christ, his Gospel, and the present living relationship of his people with their God.

As I see it, Dispensational theology tends to centre on Israel as a nation and Jews as Abraham's seed. Still the chosen people of God though in unbelief. Still waiting for the fulfilment of OC prophecy in a future millennium.

 

I accept the label of "dispensationalist" but only for convenience sake to avoid the label plastered on me of "Covenant Theology" (CT) and confusing it with historic CT.

Like Dr. TC I prefer pre-wrath rapture, but I am not 100% convinced of that doctrine either and/or the "place" we will be AFTER said "rapture" (Latin - rapturo - taken away, removed; Grk - harpazo).

Isaiah 26
20 Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

Psalm 31:20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

HankD

 

I think that the group in the New Covenant theology NCT is trying in their mind to bridge and keep the best of both the Dispy and Covenant viewpoints.

Seems that also progressive dispy is trying to do that also

 

the Rapture/Second Coming for the church are just for saved members on local assemblies though....

 

NCT and Progressive Dispy wings seems to be getting more and more together...

 

I hold to a pre-wrath rapture, believing that the living saints are "not appointed to wrath." Salvation has always been by faith, whether before the finished work of Christ (such that details had not yet been revealed), during His incarnation, or after His crucifixion and resurrection. The various dispensations, however many, were merely God's "schoolmaster" (Gal. 3:24-25), demonstrating mankind's inability to obey Him, and thus their need of a Savior. When Paul wrote "the dead in Christ" in the 1st Thess 4 "rapture passage", I believe he was referring to all saints who would not be alive when that event took place, not just NT saints.

 

We have plenty of Theological Systems to kick around. We need a smorgasbord where we can be Christ centered progressive dispensationalists, accept the pre-wrath rapture, and so forth. Like the "build your car" selection trees on carmaker websites, we need to sift through all the various doctrines, with the software precluding us from selecting mutually exclusive doctrines, such as believing in the 1000 year reign on earth and rejecting it.

 

More reject that 1000 reign than accept it though!

 

How does Yeshua1 know that most Baptists are not dispensationalist?
Or, did he just make his claim up?

 

I should have qualified that remark., to more Christians would not see it as being a literal 1000 yeras, but most baptist would, unless there were Reformed!

 

I expect most Christians would not have an informed position on the topic. Here is a link for anyone actually interested in end times speculation. Introduction to the Four Views

And the link does not even present Progressive Dispensationalism, so the topic is even more complex and probably not a primary view of Christians in general. Our first love must be Christ centered, not end times diverted.

 

Agree.

 

I think many do a similar thing here in that they take what Reformed said
[In my opinion, eclectic systems try to take the best of both Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology while trying to avoid the parts the individual does not like. However, there is usually a tipping point between which of the two major theological systems takes dominance]

as far as they can, but holdout on a few issues...Do not worry TC,,,we will grill you in short order on these gray areas,,,