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We live in a society and attend churches where labels are used. I mean by that we label others and are labeled by others according to the belief system to which we have submitted ourselves in reading and interpreting the Bible. There are basically *two major positions represented among the evangelical churches today, Reformed and Dispensational. And since I am neither one, I should start saying there is a third, I'll call it Reconciliation Theology, because it seeks to reconcile the differences between the two positions. Note, I am neither Dispenformed or Reforsational. I believe not a compromise, but simply a combination of the Biblical features of each, plus. Reformed things I DO NOT agree with: 1. They believe the whole 70th week of Daniel is history. I believe the first 3 1/2 years of the 70th week is history, the last 3 1/2 is future. 2. They believe that God's promises to Israel are all realized in any and all members of the church, gentiles included. I believe that the promises for Israel are for believing Israel in the church. 3. They do not believe in a 1,000 year kingdom on earth following the arrival of Christ in His second coming. I do. 4. They believe Satan is currently bound. I do not. 5. Concerning soteriology they are, for the most part, Calvinists. I am not. See my statement of faith. I do not believe in "particular" or "limited" atonement. And I do not believe in irresistable grace. This means simply that I believe that when the Lord Jesus sent us to present the gospel to all nations, all who hear it may respond to the invitation to believe, not only some chosen ones. Some who hear and are convicted refuse to believe, resisting His grace. When Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," He did not not mean "some of you." (Matt. 11:28). The act of God in creation was an act of grace. Mankind in the garden resisted God's offer to obey Him and live. Grace is resistable. Men and women are going to eternal damnation whom God wants to save (1 Tim 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9). 6. Concerning eschatology, they are preterists (historical). I am not. Dispensational things I do not agree with: 1. They believe in a distinction between believing Israel and the church which places Israel outside the church. I believe Israel founded the church, currently holds membership in the church, and her Lord is King of the church. Believing Jews and gentiles are however still distinguishable, just as believing males and females are. We are simply equally one in Christ Jesus. 2. They believe in imminence as defined as the "any moment" appearing of the Lord Jesus to rapture the church. I believe that the events of the day of the Lord could begin at any time, but not in the any moment appearing of the Lord. 3. They believe in the hypothesis of the pretribulation rapture of the church. I believe that the Lord Jesus and the Bible clearly teach the gathering of the saints after the great tribulation at the Seventh Trumpet. 4. They believe in the story of the future rise of a figure who makes a pact with Israel to rebuild the Temple and then breaks the agreemeent and commits an abominable act in the rebuilt temple. I do not. 5. Concerning soteriology they and I are somewhere between Calvinist and Armenian, being represented by such men as Millard Erickson, William Lane Craig. 6.Concerening eschatology, they are futurists, and so am I. |
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