I hate to say it. I hate to accuse my fellow believers of such a thing. But you know, it happens, and in many different areas of theology and practice as well.
I am saddened by the arrogance shown by so many of those who hold to an amillennial position, and those who hold a postmillennial position, and those who hold a premillennial, mid-tribulational or post-tribulational position, particularly in describing and/or relating to those of us who are pre-mill, pre-trib. They look down their noses at us. They think we’re stupid, that we can’t possibly hold to such a foolish position, and they tell us right up front.
People, it’s unbecoming of Christians.
What does it really matter? Do you believe that we are saved by the grace of God alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone? So do we.
We’re not all escapists. We’re not all “Left Behind” fans. It hurts to read those things.
I can find lots of information from some of the great Bible scholars of today that supports the pre-mil/pre-trib position, much of it very convincing. We could have a great big argument here on my blog…
…but I’m not going to.
We don’t need that.
As the Apostle John would tell us, brothers and sisters, love one another. Don’t look down upon each other and speak cruelly to one another. If you think someone is foolish, or weak, because they hold to a position different from yours, just keep it to yourself. Don’t cause dissension among the people who are in Christ. We all know that however the final days of this age happen, what is important is that Jesus Christ is the victor, and we need to be in Him and about His work, proclaiming the good news to all who will hear.
Gary, I hope you don’t have in mind my recent posts like this one and this. I admit there is an element of ridicule in some of these posts. But I hope I have also made it clear that I am only tentatively putting forward a position. I certainly don’t want to put down anyone else. But I would like to see some real answers to my questions, such as who will preach on the Sunday after the Rapture?
Peter, while I don’t see you as arrogant, when my frustration level reaches the point that I decide to write about it, those posts do tend to add to that frustration level. But I have at least glanced through them if not altogether read them, and your posts on the subject are intriguing. You are careful not to slam anybody’s beliefs, and I tend to read your writings on a more academic level. You are welcome here.
Thank you, Gary. I will try to go light on the ridicule. And I entirely agree that these matters have “the status of something that is not necessary for our salvation”.
Gary, you are right of course. I apologize for my comments made in any spirit of arrogance – it was not my intent, but perception is not up to me. So I apologize to you and will remain silent on the issue furthermore.
ElShaddai
ElShaddai, I really appreciate your tender heart for your fellow believers. Apology accepted. You’re a good friend.
Gary,
A part of me wants to disagree with you – the part of me that will settle for no less than absolute truth. But, another part of me that also loves truth, feels strangely humbled by your statement. To be honest I feel torn between the two, but at the 30,000 foot level I know your statement is correct.
I will say this; according to God there is only one correct way of interpreting scripture, whether you and I ultimately agree or disagree on the meaning, but if correctly interpreting a particular scripture does not make or break one’s eternal salvation, at what point do I digress, should we arrive at irreconcilable odds? The answer to this question flies in the face of my ego, that part of me that wants to win despite the truth I insist you accept: I cease contention the very instant my motive becomes self-serving. Anything short of this constitutes rebellion against truth.
Todd, this seems a strange assertion. Of course if we are thinking about past or future events, there is only one set of them. But even then there may be more than one valid way of fitting them in with scriptural accounts and prophecies. For example, it is widely believed that certain OT prophecies had at least two fulfilments, one in their own time and a second one in the coming of Jesus. Your assertion seems to rule that out. So can you give any evidence to back it up?
| …it is widely believed that certain OT prophecies had at least two fulfillments, one in their own time and a second one in the coming of Jesus. Your assertion seems to rule that out. So can you give any evidence to back it up? |
Peter,
Assuming this is true, for each separate fulfillment there exists only one correct interpretation. My point is to say that truth is truth; it is what it is, a fact that remains immune to our egocentric self-centered versions and variations of it. For example, if you were God and created the color black and also human beings, whether or not certain human individuals perceived black as red, their perception or lack thereof would not change the fact that black is black as you created it. For some strange reason, this reasoning escapes our sense of reality while attempting to interpret Biblical scripture. In the end, scripture retains its original meaning whether you, others, and I agree with it or not, or understand it or not. Truth is not determined by consensus agreement, but instead separately by itself. It is our responsibility to understand truth as truth truly is, according to how God reveals it to us.
I will say this however; within truth there exists no contradiction. So I wholly reject the notion that two mutually exclusive views standing in contradiction to each other can both be correct. Relativism holds no authority over the working out of one’s own salvation through fear and trembling.
Guys, absolute truth? I have to believe it’s there somewhere, whether or not I can conceive of it in that particular situation. But I keep coming back to our Lord’s assertion that the Jewish leaders were holding to the letter of the law but ignoring the spirit of the law.
As for our eschatological positions, nobody is ever going to know for absolute certain until it happens. I’d rather relegate the discussion to the status of something that is not necessary for our salvation. When it’s hurting people’s feelings and driving believers apart, then I think it has gone too far.
[...] write this at the risk of being called arrogant (again), but I place my hope in Christ, not the Bible, Calvin, Protestantism, or any other object [...]