Battle Lines

[Easystreet]

Sorry about the statement in the Poll. Should read "Then" not "That" Typo



I can remember when I first believed. I did not know “didly squat” about anything. Of course, at that age I thought I knew it all, boy did I have a lot to learn.

What I found out was the more I studied the less I knew. What a revelation. I know that is a simplistic statement - but wherever you are in your physical life and spiritual life with respect to time and age there will be a measure of understanding concerning this statement.

OK now to the point:

We are dispensationalist: We can all agree on that Right. I hope so.

This is a dispensationalist forum and as dispensationalist we come here to affirm and stroke and build up eachother because we are more in “sink” or “lock step” theologically.

I like affirmation don’t you?

Here is what I what us to consider or do. Rule number one as you read this don’t get your feathers ruffled OK. Calm down, settle down and read slowly, carefully, and thoughtfully. How’s that for starters. Are we in agreement. I assume we are.

The rules for understanding what a dispensation is has been established for some time. I did not come up with the rules and I would intelligently presume and assume that neither did you.

A brother on a post somewhere on this Dispensational forum has posted the rules and I will just simply re-post it here:

1. All that God dispenses to, requires of, promises to, and commands men.

2. Man's responsibility to God.

3. Then man's failure.

4. God's judgment for man's failure and disobedience

Here is the question: Are we in agreement because we call ourselves Dispensationalist that we can agree on how to define what a dispensation is?

I hope so because if we don’t this means nothing.

Let me explain. I came along. I was introduced to concepts, ideas, and principles. I thought, pondered, considered, studied, reasoned, and decided that it was reasonable, logical, and trustworthy to understand the total body of Holy Writings the Bible in this way. It really makes good since. It eliminates tons of confusion and brings the Bible to life.

No longer are we trapped into a system that can’t find harmony from Genesis to Revelation. That is absolutely amazing.

This is the blessing of the system if that is a fair way to state it. I prefer to call it the Truth, The only Way. Normal. It is just normal understanding - not allegorizing, no spiritualizing, no hidden secrets and mysteries, just pure open truthful meaning and purpose.

Covenant theologians are confused and can’t agree on a consistent form and all they can do is find fault with others basically. Dispensational believers are not confused..

Sorry, got a little preachy there and side tracked.

What I want to know form you (in the plural sense) all of you, is if you claim to be dispensation in belief can you or will you agree that the guide lines established in the past is the accepted rule whereby we define what a dispensation is?

Here is something to consider. Covenant believers are driven in sane due to the simplicity of our understanding, so that it literally drives them bonkers. They go to such extremes and illogical arguments to the point of condemning us and accusing us of teaching false doctrine worthy of damnation. They kind of fall off the thinking and reasoning edge of rationality.

Here is a thought I am sure you have entertained as well. They are so driven by their motives that there is second meaning in various passages, that prophecy concerning the second advent is not literal in fulfillment but spiritual and allegorical. They fail to accept the plain truth about the revealed truth.

So at the end of this post are you as a dispensationalist in agreement on the fundamental definition of what a dispensation is?

Two points. Dispensationalist came about because of serious study of God’s word. It isn’t new but it was systemized for the purpose of congruity and solidity.

(1) Based upon the Normal Literal interpretation of Scripture.

(2) Resulting in a clear understanding of the unfolding drama of redemption defined accordingly and accurately as dispensations.
God Bless
Love Always Finds A Way

 

[Dispy]

Once I learned to study the Bible from the mid-Acts dispensational view, the Bible no longer was a contradictory book. Still don't understand it all, but I am still in the learning mode.

God Bless.
Live Well, and Love the Lord!

 

[Tychicum]

At 18 I knew everything. It is since I have aged that I got must have forgotten quit a bit ... as now I'm pretty sure I don't know much at all...

Gordon, your above post is "describing" a dispensation ... not truly "defining" one. It is a good description ... but is short of a good definition.

A definition that everyone will agree upon is not that easy to come up with. In Scripture it is used differently at times than we use the term in speach.

In Charles Ryrie's book "Dispensationalism" (Moody Press) on page 28 after preceding pages going over all sorts of potential definitions ... he comes up with

"A dispensation is a distinguishable economy in the outworking of God's purpose"

.

On page 28 he summarizes

Dispensationalism views the world as a household run by God. In His household-world God is dispensing or administering its affairs according to His own will in various stages of revelation in the passage of time. These various stages mark off the distinguishably different economies in the outworking of His total purpose, and these different economies constitute the dispensations. The understanding of God's differing economies is essential to a proper interpretation of His revelation within those various economies"

Any study of dispensationalism should include this book.

Dispensations are often described in terms of "time" and that is sometimes true ... and in others there is not an obvious exact start and stop time ... so it is more than a period of time ... When you use "time" you are limited to the traditional 7 (some say 8) dispensations.

But we forget that today we are still in a "Dispensation of Human Government". It was judged but only partly by the confusion of languages. It will cease completely when human government is discontinued.

Good thread brother.

 

[Easystreet]

I do have those books.

Need to re-read them. It has been a while.

Thanks

 

[timlamb]

Interesting topic of discussion here but no continuity to be found. Dispensations make great study, but when they are made into precepts they become misleading and ineffective for teaching.

 

[LamorakDesGalis]

Here is the question: Are we in agreement because we call ourselves Dispensationalist that we can agree on how to define what a dispensation is?

I hope so because if we don’t this means nothing.

I answered the poll no.

There are many terms in history that were originally a derogatory label, which became a standard accepted name among those to whom it was applied. Methodist, Mormon, and Shakers are a few. These terms were invented by those on the "outside" of the movement who perceive what is going on, rather than what is actually going on. "Modern dispensationalist" was another such derogatory label.

Dispensationalism isn't really so much about dispensations. Dispensations are distinguished based on the difference in Biblical covenants. We place a major emphasis on the progressive revelation of the Biblical
covenants and their associated promises.

Our emphasis on progressive revelation leads to the most clear identifying trait of dispensationalism:

Our distinction between Israel and the church.

We believe that OT promises have Israel in mind, that God retains a future for the Jews and that there will be a millennial kingdom in the future, with Jerusalem as its capital.


Lamorak Des Galis