tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034932256870184515.post9111287784150687601..comments2023-10-02T22:27:44.618-04:00Comments on AgainstDispensationalism.com: Literalism's AbsurditiesNiceneCouncil.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520465956622728760noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034932256870184515.post-4463205446694121832009-07-04T10:02:58.486-04:002009-07-04T10:02:58.486-04:00Hi Zach,
I must say your post was refreshing. I ...Hi Zach,<br /><br />I must say your post was refreshing. I was raised dispensational and I'm a laymen, but what convinced me that the system was seriously flawed - at least Tim LaHaye's version, was the book he wrote supporting his system called "Revelation Unveiled". I took my Bible and read every verse he cited and the texts around it. I wasn't even half way through the book before I knew he was seriously off base and ripping scripture out of context.<br /><br />I've challenged my dispensational friends to do the same, but they seem to have no interest in that direction. I do believe it's because dispensationalism is so graphic with its charts that it makes them feel like they know more about scripture when they know very little. <br /><br />I know it took me a good year of solid study to dispense with all those charts rolling around in my brain. I can't tell you how many nights I woke up and went to scripture with another "what about ?". <br /><br />It's always good to hear that others have run into the similar things and seen it for what it is.Dorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06684768003808354199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034932256870184515.post-1450379557734322892009-06-02T23:21:43.966-04:002009-06-02T23:21:43.966-04:00Excellent comments, Zach! Thanks for interacting. ...Excellent comments, Zach! Thanks for interacting. Ken GentryNiceneCouncil.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03520465956622728760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4034932256870184515.post-14776791273116307352009-06-02T22:05:02.525-04:002009-06-02T22:05:02.525-04:00I go to a dispensational seminary (undergrad progr...I go to a dispensational seminary (undergrad program), and I see the professors wave the banner of literalism all the time. Claiming to teach the only correct interpretation the professors will tarnish the historical view by saying something like, “Others allegorize this because they don’t take the Bible at its word.” <br />I recently completed their survey of the Old Testament Prophetic books. One of the things I noticed is how every time an O.T. prophet mentions God’s faithfulness to His word by fulfilling His promise in some future timeframe, the professor would teach that he was describing the millennial kingdom. Yet over and over the promises don’t seem to have a limited aspect. One example, though there are many, is found in Micah 4-5. For this section the professor said that this is a, “picture of the future millennium.” Yet 4:7b reads, “and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore…” (ESV, emphasis mine). 1000 years is a good bit of time, but it’s definitely not “forevermore.” If I were a physical descendent of Abraham clinging to this promise it would seem to me that God was disproportionately unfaithful to my people since multiple thousands of years have already passed with none being able to participate in this blessing. <br />Additionally, when we were going through Ezekiel the professor mentioned that the sacrificial system will be instituted again in the “literal” temple. This took some of the students by surprise who aren’t familiar with all the implications associated with splitting up the people of God. The professor calmed them down by saying, “They will only be commemorative sacrifices.” I then asked where he read in Ezekiel that they would be commemorative. He couldn’t give me an answer, to which I followed up by pointing out Ezekiel 45:15 and 17 both say the sacrifices are “to make atonement.” I asked how we can understand these as commemorative sacrifices if the recipients would have understood these for the purpose of making atonement. He said he’d investigate that further for me. Literalism breaks down when you read the author of Hebrews declare over and over what Christ did, “Once for all.”<br />You guys are going a great job. May the Lord continue blessing your ministry. <br /><br />Zach<br /><br />By the way, I also grew up with dispensational teaching. After feeling called to ministry (primarily because the doctrines of Grace became precious to me), I started to see dispensational tentacles squeezing out God’s sovereignty in almost every area of doctrine. It’s been a journey, but I’m thankful to have been challenged by my present school and look forward to going to a non-dispensational seminary for my M.Div.Zach Carpenternoreply@blogger.com