Progressive Covenentalism

I've never heard of Progressive Cevenantalism

 

Interesting. I HAVE heard of Progressive Dispensational, which is how I would describe myself if I have to give my theology a label though I do not even fully align there. Mainly my issues are whether or not there is a purpose for national Israel or ethnic Israel in the plan of God today. I firmly believe there is based on Paul's writings in Romans as well as John's writings in Revelation.

 

Found this graphic made by Phil Gons of Logos Bible Software.

 

Salvation was not different in the OT than the NT. It was always by grace through faith. The difference was looking forward in the OT vs backward in NT.

That being said, there are good points to Covenental Theology and Dispensational, but I believe you need parts of both to be faithful to Scripture.

 

There MUST be a rapture for the saints to celebrate the reunion supper of the Lamb prior to the physical return for the established Kingdom to rule during the millennium.

You need to remember that at this time “my kingdom is not of this world” but that does not exclude the vast number of prophecies concerning the Kingdom being brought to the world, conquering all matters so that lambs and lions abide in peace, that we “reign with him” ....

You may want to have your pastor try to convince you that the last chapters of the Revelation were written by an Apostle who was suffering dementia, or recant of his thinking and take seriously the timeline presentation John lays out in those specific passages.

Tell him it is best to be a progressive dispensation person than a progressive covenant person, because more scripture is taken with veracity than allegory.

 

Unfortunately, more often folks look at the Revelation as if reading a child’s story connected with “and then” thinking.

It is not.

John is writing as if from a single lens camera giving multiple viewpoints from the same promontory. His guide moves him about with “come” look at this type statements.

The rapture occurs, the marriage supper is eaten and the Lord and saints return.

do not look for the “and then” when reading. Be still and capture all that
John writes from each promontory he is taken, too.

 

PC is an attempt to bring dispensational and covenant theology together. The primary resource for understanding it is a book of essays edited by Stephen Wellum and Brent Parker, Progressive Covenantalism (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2016). The subtitle is, "Charting a Course between Dispensational and Covenant Theologies." In this regard it is similar to progressive dispensationalism.

In my mind, PC is doomed to failure. It is a compromise theology, trying to please both sides. Compromise in theology never ends well.

 

Do you not agree that you actually do have to have a little of both sides in order to be biblical? I sure do.

 

Well, I'm not sure what progressive covenantalism is. I know that I have moved away from dispensationalism simply because it chops up the covenants of God.
I see the progressive work of God through the covenants God established. With each covenant we see fulfillment of God's work in providing the promised one (Jesus) as the Redeemer of God's elect.
As I read more scripture, God's use of the term "the day of the Lord" has moved me toward an ammillenial view of scripture. Essentially, Christ will return without any warning when the last of the elect comes to faith. Then, God's judgment will fall upon the earth.

 

Your pastor might just be wanting to avoid offending both sides (the right side and the wrong side, lol), so he's taking the middle of the road, but leaning toward covenantalism.

A dispensationalist believes Israel and the Church are completely separate. A covenantionalist, often derided as "replacement theology", believes the Church and Israel is the same. After that, things get muddy. The only way to know what your pastor really believes is to ask him a few questions. Even, then, he might be very coy with a clear answer, not wanting to offend anyone.

 

Thanks for the graphic. It would appear the two "progressives" are similar. Progressive Dispensationalism embraces Galatians 3 so All Israel and the Bride of Christ both refer to the same group, with no difference in Christ.

On the other hand, it appears the progressive Covenantal folks do not believe in the 1000 year reign on earth but the progressive Dispy folks do..

 

The difference is clear: historical grammatical interpretation vs. allegorical interpretation (covenant theology, named after covenants that are not mentioned in the Bible).

 

This is true.

 

I think you confuse covenant theology with allegorical interpretation. They are not one in the same. I embrace covenant theology because it looks at the literal work of God without allegory.
That being said, you can find many who hold to covenant theology who interpret future prophecy using allegory. I don't do this. I work to let the text say what the text says.