Are dispensationalists more often calvinistic or arminian?

[Complete in Thee]

Is there a clear leaning when it comes to those who hold to dispensationalism?

 

[r4.h]

Is there a clear leaning when it comes to those who hold to dispensationalism?

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hi complete in thee, i don`t know, but didnt want to see you with no answer ha ha.

I often spoke against Calvinism until a brother at church recited the whole book of Ephesians from memory, then went on to show one half supported Calvinism and the other half Arminianism. I thought to myself that "knowledge puffeth up" but "love edifies"

 

[notreligus]

Is there a clear leaning when it comes to those who hold to dispensationalism?

The question needs to be narrowed down quite a lot. For example, are you asking about how they compare as far as salvational beliefs (soteriology) or end-times (eschatology) or beliefs concerning covenants?

 

[FenderTL5]

"Are dispensationalists more often calvinistic or arminian?"

yes.

 

[DeaconDean]

I can't speak for anybody else, but I'm Calvinist.

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[Biblewriter]

The men who popularized Dispensationalism* said that neither the Calvanists nor the Arminians were correct. They said that the Calvanists stressed the soverignty of God to the point that it did away with the responsibility of mankind, and that the Armenians stressed the responsibility of mankind to the point that it did away with the soverignty of God.

* I said popularized, rather than originated, for these men, J. N. Darby, William Kelly, and their associates, (the nineteenth century Plymouth brethren) indeed made the doctrine widespread and popular. But it was already being taught before they arrived on the scene.

 

[Complete in Thee]

The men who popularized Dispensationalism* said that neither the Calvanists nor the Arminians were correct. They said that the Calvanists stressed the soverignty of God to the point that it did away with the responsibility of mankind, and that the Armenians stressed the responsibility of mankind to the point that it did away with the soverignty of God.

* I said popularized, rather than originated, for these men, J. N. Darby, William Kelly, and their associates, (the nineteenth century Plymouth brethren) indeed made the doctrine widespread and popular. But it was already being taught before they arrived on the scene.

Good point

 

[ac28]

Whatever the Bible says is what Ac28 dispensationalists believe.

 

[Copperhead]

I'll take it a step further.... some of us who hold to general dispensational doctrine do not hold to either Calvinism or Arminianism. No, that is not some sort of straddling the fence thing. It is an acknowledgement that both have problems. I generally hold that both are right in what they affirm, but both wrong in what they deny. Not a definition I came up with, but it fits. I think it might have been something I read where someone quoted Philip Schaff regarding this. It seemed to hit the nail on the head.

I just now dug up a quote from Schaff that also seems to hit the nail on the head.....

"The Bible gives us a theology which is more human than Calvinism and more divine that Arminianism, and more Christian than either of them."

So I guess I might be in the camp of what Biblewriter was describing.

 

[Micah888]

Is there a clear leaning when it comes to those who hold to dispensationalism?

"Arminian" would not be accurate. "Non-Calvinistic" would be more suitable. Reformed Theology is also Covenant Theology, with many of their adherents holding to Amillenialism. So Dispensationalists are generally not Calvinists, and neither are they Arminian.

 

[ac28]

Dispensationalists are defined as people that make an effort to obey 2Tim 2:15: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." They are the only people I know of that even attempt to rightly divide, so, according to 2Tim 2:15, they are the only people in Christendom today, who even have a chance to be approved unto God. For anyone who does not rightly divide, it's impossible for them to understand even half of what the NT is all about. Those that are successful in truly rightly dividing or correctly cutting God''s word know far more about what the NT is about than any other people in the world. So, why would any true dispensationalist waste their time to even consider those far less important isms? The entire denominational system is an utter failure because no one in that system rightly divides. It has evolved into a system of synagogues, misnamed as churches, teaching totally non-applicable Jewish doctrine to unsuspecting Gentiles. Why, simply because they fail to correctly cut God's word.

 

[Copperhead]

ac, I know I don't waste a lot of time on these sort of "ism's".

You are hitting the nail on the head in one respect... rightly dividing the word. One thing that most conservative dispensational types adhere to is time tested proven rules of scripture interpretation. For instance, adhering to baseline principles such as "if the plain sense of scripture makes sense, then seek no other sense."

Now, to be fair, the Holy Spirit use rhetorical devices in the text... puns, allegories, idioms, etc. But unless the text calls for that in the context of the passage, it is hermeneutical chaos to impose hidden meanings, alternative meanings, gnostic meanings, whatever on a passage. When one does that, they take off the rudder from the boat and cast scripture interpretation adrift with no base line. It becomes a free for all smorgasbord of scripture exegesis.

I am confused a little though, ac. What Jewish doctrine are you referring to. Certainly not the doctrine espoused by the Jewish Messiah and the Jewish authors of the scripture. Especially that doctrine written by a Pharisee and Rabbi named Shaul, better known to many as Paul. I think I will hang onto that Jewish doctrine for a while longer.

I am just messing with you!

But I will say, not all of Jewish tradition is outside scriptural parameters. Attend a Messianic Jewish Seder during Passover sometime, the same Seder that has been observed for thousands of years in Jewish homes. You want to see a image of the Messiah, the seder will do it. Why the Matzah has stripes, bruises, and piercings in it. The afikomen is especially enlightening, and why the children are to search for it. Or even why a place is set for Elijah. How the cups of wine at various points in the Seder picture Yeshua (Jesus). All of these things in the Seder have been a part of Jewish tradition for centuries. The Gospel message has been right in front of them, yet traditional Jews have been blind to it.

I recommend a movie that is almost totally a Passover Seder from a Messianic perspective, set one year after the crucifixion of the Messiah. It is extreme moving. Albert Israeli, a believing Jewish brother in the Lord, wrote one power filled script. the movie is "The Messiah: Prophecy Fulfilled". Very hard to come by on DVD, but a great video.

Here is a low res version on YouTube.....

 

[Tayla]

They are the only people I know of that even attempt to rightly divide, so, according to 2Tim 2:15, they are the only people in Christendom today, who even have a chance to be approved unto God.

Wow, pretty harsh if you mean to say that only dispensationalists are saved.

 

[Copperhead]

Wow, pretty harsh if you mean to say that only dispensationalists are saved.

Come, come, now. I am pretty sure he wasn't implying salvation. Simply a statement regarding interpreting scripture. Relax and take a chill pill.

What causes some confusion is being justified (saved) vs being shown approved... i.e. rewards for faithful service. Those are two separate things. The first, justification, is a work of the Lord. The second being what we do rightly for the Lord.

 

[food4thought]

I lean towards Arminianism in a practical sense, because I believe we have a choice in things, unlike Calvinists; but I agree with Biblewriter and Copperhead... both sides of the debate have problems.

 

[Rukado]

Dispensationalists are usually not Calvinists. And, it's unfair to Mr. Arminius to call them Arminianists. Arminianism itself is relatively Calvinistic compared to the views of most Dispensatioanlists.

You can check the doctrinal positions of officially Dispensationalist denominations like the Assemblies of God and Shepard's Chapel to verify what I've said.