Can't We All Just Get Along?

With all the terms out there, Two-kingdom is new to me. So is Escondido Theology.  John Frame in his fresh-off-the press book, The Escondido Theology: A Reformed Response to Two Kingdom Theology makes some striking distinctions about the reformed camps. I did not want to read much theology anymore, but was able to buy the book at a discount from Whitefield Publishing.

So I read it, not understanding all of it, but causing much reflection. Basically it is a collection of Frame's critique of writing from former colleagues at Westminster Seminanry in Escondido, California.

Frame points out that "postmillennialist encourage Christians to seek change in political and social institutions. Such encouragement is counter to the tenets of the Escondido theology." (p. 6) Since I decided on postmil finally after much deliberation on this blog and after my pastor's preaching over the last year, it occurred to me that I need also to take a fresh look at change in our society, rather than have that two-kingdom approach. Some call this "theonomy", a position, that I thought I had rejected. But it won't be my preoccupation--Scripture is my preoccupation.  All this theology should draw me back to Scripture, meditation and prayer--not time on theology attacking other believers.

Frame says that some of the Escondido theologians belittle private worship and relevance of Power Point in churches. He says they also have a hesitancy for unity with other believers not in their Reformed camp. In critiquing one author Frame writes:

No shades of gray can be discussed, balanced, and weighed. Only light and dark exist, and Clark, because he knows the objective truth, is always on the side of light. p. 7

Those given to prayer and evangelism are treated with some suspicion, as if they are at least on the brink of losing their allegiance to the Reformed movement. p. 116

I do not have the background to critique this book and those who have two-kingdom theology. I do not see anything wrong with Power Point, but that is not a significant point, Mr. Frame. I would not choose a church on the basis of Power Point. Yes, we all need private worship and are called to that, but I seriously doubt the men in Escondido don't engage in private worship.

Prayer and evangelism have always been important to me. So is what happens in our country and in the world important to me. I want to vote carefully and be there for others and tell them about Jesus.

I also read in Scripture about unity of Christians. At times do we need critiques, or can we just all get along? I am hurting about the journey I have with my husband's Alzheimer's, and really go to church for worship and comfort. Theological debate in the Reformed church makes me sad.

I am a friend to anyone who fears you—

anyone who obeys your commandments.

Psalm 119:63  NLT

I want to be a friend of people who fear the LORD

and obey His commandments whatever their theology.

Changing My Thinking

Every month I try to post at least once, thinking that I would not again post much about eschatology since I tentatively decided on Amillennialism in March of last year, the easiest viewpoint that I could come to at that time.

Then came my pastor's preaching. I had thought this issue would just go away, almost like those who say they believe in "panmillennialism"--it will all PAN out. But with my pastor's preaching on this issue didn't go away.

When this blog started in January of 2009, I looked for answers from Revelation; from two other bloggers here that January; and later from selected authors. I didn't consider passages such as Matthew 24, Luke 21, and Mark 13. I easily rejected Dispensationalism, but did not look at the rest of Scripture for a view on the end times. I did not consider the KINGDOM of CHRIST as equal to a viewpoint of the end times.

Different views on the end times use different Scripture either literally or figuratively. Dispensationalists use a literal 1000 to be in the future and then they use Matthew 24 figuratively. Postmillennialists use Matthew 24 literally. Yet Christ said events he predicted would come in the lifetime of His hearers. Revelation is not a message to the church about the end of history, but is a figurative message to seven churches to not give up the faith.

My Postmillennialist pastor, Dr. Kenneth Talbor, President of Whitefield Seminary where I am working on a counseling degree,  has been preaching on Christ's kingdom as explained throughout Scripture. He points out that the verb, parousia, which is used 24 times in the New Testament,  must be used in context. Parousia, meaning, the kingdom of Christ, is a time period that has already begun. The second coming, he says, is an ongoing event. The kingdom is underway now. 

Consider Luke 17:21--the kingdom is within you. In Mark 13 Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God is near and that the generation at the time of Christ would see "these things take place". My pastor says that 70 AD, Christ's generation,  when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, is the inaugual event of His parousia, the first judgment, of which there are many judgments. Christ told His followers to flee to the mountains when they saw these signs and they did flee when they saw these signs. That was the first judgment--the end of Israel.

Dr. Talbot says we have more to do. Don't study the newspapers as the dispensationalists do, but study our duties in His kingdom. We are in the event! The hyperpreterists say that Christ came in 70 AD and we are in the state of perfection. Not so! Just look around. Instead we have kingdom duties of spreading the gospel.

Christ is going to come again for the final judgment. When history as we know it is over Christ will return to establish His kingdom on earth. Matthew 24:31 is not about the rapture, but about Christ's reign over all things.

Christianity Today, June 2011

Coming on the heels of my pastor's preaching over the past year, I read this article by Matthew Dickerson who writes:

As much or more than any theological concern, biblical teaching on end times should be approached with humility. When Jesus taught about end times, he spoke in parables and metaphors. p. 39

In Matthew 24 Jesus uses the metaphor of the days of Noah. Unbelievers in Noah's day perish with the flood, but Noah and family are left behind on earth.

Dickerson continues, 

This world is our home. It is the home God made for us, blessed us with, and instructed us to take care of. Viewing it as our home is critical to our mission as caretakers. I, for one, look forward to being left behind, like Noah and his family--only with my new and resurrected body. (p.41)  

So I am a

          Postmillenialist ! !                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Criteria for Picking a Viewpoint

Could I possibly pick a viewpoint? At the beginning of 2009 I was leaning towards Parital Preterism/Postmillennialism after attending a conference in the fall of 2008. Now I am not so sure I want to be dogmatic about any viewpoint. I just want the blessings of studying Revelation.

The Reformers cried, "Sola Scriptura!" Strangely they did not get into this debate. Calvin and Luther were mild, not wild about their Amillennialism. On the Pilgrim Board I read where someone had asked R. C. Sproul about his viewpoints and he said that he was not a Dispensational Premillennialist, but saw positives and negatives about the three other views.

While listening to the Daily Audio Bible on my iPod yesterday, Brian Hardin read from Deuteronomy 4:2:, You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it; that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

I thought about Proverbs 30:5,6 which reads Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Then of course there is the warning that ends Revelation about not taking away from Revelation nor adding to it. While it is so important to find prophecy in all of Scripture, I want to think about which eschatology viewpoint adds to Scripture.