WHY I LEFT SCOFIELDISM
[SIZE=+1]by
[/SIZE][SIZE=+2]William E.Cox[/SIZE][SIZE=+1] [/SIZE][SIZE=+1]
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Breaking away from the fascinating teachings of The Scofield Reference Bible was one of the most difficult decisions of my entire life.
Even after doubts arose in my mind, it took some seven or eight years to relinquish the ready-made theological clothing I had worn since the day of my conversion.
For I was saved, at the age of sixteen, in a Baptist church where almost everyone carried a Scofield Bible.
My spiritual tutors knew the footnotes and headings placed in the Bible by C. I. Scofield as well as they knew the Bible itself. Indeed, the two had become almost synonymous in their minds even as they were destined to become in my own mind.
Even today it is difficult at times to clear my mind of some of Scofield's presuppositions when I study God's Word.
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But, try as I would, certain beliefs kept embarrassing me. For I could not find the verse and chapter to support my beliefs concerning national Israel.
I had been taught that the Jews would go back to Palestine, rebuild the Temple, reinstitute the blood sacrifices, serve as Christ's missionaries during an earthly millennium, and be involved in many other related events.
I was so determined to find scriptural support for these teachings that oftentimes I became angry with myself for being so lacking in Bible knowledge.
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I broke with Scofieldism grudgingly. He had been such a help in preparing a Sunday School lesson and, later, in "getting up a sermon." All one needed to do was to turn to the passage in mind. In most cases the headings and footnotes presented a ready outline, requiring very little study. Also, just about every Christian in my peer group seemed to agree that here was profound teaching.
Perhaps one of my greatest surprises came with the realization that followers of Scofield actually represented a comparatively small minority among Christians.
It was only their dogmatism, plus the fact that they were so vocal, which made them appear to be in the majority.
It was a comfort to learn that Scofield's "rediscovered truths," which he had learned at the feet of John Nelson Darby, a Plymouth Brethren, differed not only from most known commentaries, but from the great majority of the church fathers, and the reformers as well. I learned, too, that most of the critics of Scofieldism had, as I had, been devoted followers at one time.
Having come out of Scofieldism, I passed through at least three stages to arrive at my present position:
My first feeling was that, although many things my former hero taught were not so, the good points (and he has many of these) in his system outweighed the bad. From this stage continued study led me to believe that I must leave The Scofield Reference Bible alone completely, but that I should not make an issue of it with equally sincere Christians. Further study led me to the position which I now hold.
That position is that Scofieldism is heresy, and that, since God has given me this light, I must seek in love to warn others of the household of faith against this subtle, intriguing heresy.
It has been some 14 years since my final break with Scofieldism.
Let me share with you some of the objections to this teaching as they are now formulated in my mind....
Why I left Scofieldism
Although I'm in no way trying to defend Scofield, I would like to know if these were before or after his conversion. What is the whole story? I quess you don't read Paul's letters because he was a murderer.
