Youth ministers have been (too) often evaluated by whether or not they got a high percentage of the youth saved. Or, in some cases, if they got the right kids right with the Lord. One of the tricks of the trade for youth pastors was graphic storytelling of the use of movies about the imminent rapture and the horror for those who would enter into the Great Seven-Year Tribulation. Part of the narrative youth pastors told was the rebirth of Israel and Russia’s desire for world dominance and, by and large, that America was on God’s side because America was on Israel’s side, so support Netanyahu.
I grew up Roman Catholic. Then, my wife and I became United Methodist, in order to be together in church, and in raising our kids. I’ve been a fully ordained elder in The United Methodist Church since 1999. Anytime I read, thought, and/or discussed Dispensationalism, I relied on simple faith and logic to guide me. Look forward to this. Thank you!
Thanks, Scot. I'll be interested to see whether he gets into the Dispensational hermeneutic deeply (à la the Scofield Ref Bible). One of the lasting damages done by that Bible was the bifurcation of Scriptiure into parts that didn't apply to us (but only to Israel—and this included the Gospels, amazingly, as I look back now) and those that did (just the epistles). Learning to read the Gospels was a huge shift for me, a long time ago.
I grew up in some of that. My pastor preached the Pauline letters and the Gospels only for the major holidays. Never heard the word "discipleship" at all. But I grew up learning the OT Israelites had to obey the whole law to get saved and it was sure good of God to go for grace with the Christian dispensation. Rum thing, the law vs. grace tension was very much part of that dispensationalism I grew up with.
One thing that the articles misses is that outside of the US evangelicals or any sort are completely committed to reading Revelation like prophecy. Any attempt to interpret John's writing differently is met with fierce resistance. So, while I agree that Dispensationalism began as a western phenomenon and that it seems to be running its course, it is alive and well in the global south.
Scott, at least in our experience in Latin America, the difference between lay and pastors is only one of degree. I have to be very careful. I often have to say, the official position of this passage is one thing. What I can't say is that I find that position to be in stark contrast to the results of my own study. My only hope is that I cling to the idea that the sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd. Multiple times I have blown student's fuses by saying that the literal does not mean physical. 200 million men riding horses from the East? seriously?
Yet another book I need to read. I grew up so saturated in dispensational thinking that we viewed anyone who didn't share our theology with suspicion; perhaps they were not even Christian. Later, I graduated from Moody Bible Institute even more caught up in it. I should have been suspicious of a system that made the Beatitudes nice thoughts but not really for us. I've struggled for a long time now with not being a dispensationalist yet being so saturated with it that it still affects my study of Scripture. I read a book a few years ago by the psychoanalyst Marie Hoffman, When the Roll is Called: Trauma and the Soul of American Evangelicalism, that suggests unacknowledged suffering and trauma played a role in Darby's theological thinking. I found it very helpful.
I just posted about this book a few minutes ago. Found the book fascinating and have not seen the founding of this eschatology covered like this anywhere. Sort of a psychology of the founders of dispensationalism. (Added bonus is the book is only about 150 pages. : ) https://wipfandstock.com/9781498283939/when-the-roll-is-called/
Thank you . I grew up as you in that era . The fear especially in the Pentecostal Church. As a young youth pastor I was pretty much told to really instill fear of being left behind.
Thank you for taking us on this journey through Daniel Hummel's writing. I became a Christ-follower with dispensationalism marking both the church and Bible college that helped form me. As I've continued my faith journey with more time in Scripture, reading books, listening, and learning from others, I have left that view/teaching behind. I'm sure there are some gifts to be grateful for (need to reflect on that), yet too many I know still embrace these views. I'm wondering what invitations there will be to open conversations and encourage people to see things differently.
Thanks for this article. I experienced this as well growing up in the shadow of Wheaton College and its evangelical fervor. I especially like the author's point on how the dispensationalism has contributed to a thin hermeneutic. There is a sense in which our hermeneutic became a literal one (as he said) and that the horizon for hermeneutic became short (see Anthony Thiselton). This article is a sad reminder of how far away we've gotten from an honest reading of Scripture.
I grew up Roman Catholic. Then, my wife and I became United Methodist, in order to be together in church, and in raising our kids. I’ve been a fully ordained elder in The United Methodist Church since 1999. Anytime I read, thought, and/or discussed Dispensationalism, I relied on simple faith and logic to guide me. Look forward to this. Thank you!
Thanks, Scot. I'll be interested to see whether he gets into the Dispensational hermeneutic deeply (à la the Scofield Ref Bible). One of the lasting damages done by that Bible was the bifurcation of Scriptiure into parts that didn't apply to us (but only to Israel—and this included the Gospels, amazingly, as I look back now) and those that did (just the epistles). Learning to read the Gospels was a huge shift for me, a long time ago.
I grew up in some of that. My pastor preached the Pauline letters and the Gospels only for the major holidays. Never heard the word "discipleship" at all. But I grew up learning the OT Israelites had to obey the whole law to get saved and it was sure good of God to go for grace with the Christian dispensation. Rum thing, the law vs. grace tension was very much part of that dispensationalism I grew up with.
One thing that the articles misses is that outside of the US evangelicals or any sort are completely committed to reading Revelation like prophecy. Any attempt to interpret John's writing differently is met with fierce resistance. So, while I agree that Dispensationalism began as a western phenomenon and that it seems to be running its course, it is alive and well in the global south.
I wonder, Paul, if this is characteristic of lay people and congregations or of the professors and pastors?
Scott, at least in our experience in Latin America, the difference between lay and pastors is only one of degree. I have to be very careful. I often have to say, the official position of this passage is one thing. What I can't say is that I find that position to be in stark contrast to the results of my own study. My only hope is that I cling to the idea that the sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd. Multiple times I have blown student's fuses by saying that the literal does not mean physical. 200 million men riding horses from the East? seriously?
"The “plain meaning” of Scripture is very much a major player in the dispensationalism approach."
Individuals and congregations are encouraged to read their Bible, but are they equipped to do so?
Ah, plain meaning and literal readings... the obvious that was not so obvious upon further inspection.
Yet another book I need to read. I grew up so saturated in dispensational thinking that we viewed anyone who didn't share our theology with suspicion; perhaps they were not even Christian. Later, I graduated from Moody Bible Institute even more caught up in it. I should have been suspicious of a system that made the Beatitudes nice thoughts but not really for us. I've struggled for a long time now with not being a dispensationalist yet being so saturated with it that it still affects my study of Scripture. I read a book a few years ago by the psychoanalyst Marie Hoffman, When the Roll is Called: Trauma and the Soul of American Evangelicalism, that suggests unacknowledged suffering and trauma played a role in Darby's theological thinking. I found it very helpful.
Thanks Chuck. Long term impacts of this theology/hermeneutic are experienced by most of us.
I just posted about this book a few minutes ago. Found the book fascinating and have not seen the founding of this eschatology covered like this anywhere. Sort of a psychology of the founders of dispensationalism. (Added bonus is the book is only about 150 pages. : ) https://wipfandstock.com/9781498283939/when-the-roll-is-called/
Also included in the book are the American founders such as Billy Sunday, CI Scofield, Dwight Moody etc.
Thank you . I grew up as you in that era . The fear especially in the Pentecostal Church. As a young youth pastor I was pretty much told to really instill fear of being left behind.
So very real for me, too.
This book addresses the topic from a different angle. Found it fascinating. (Book is only about 150 pgs) https://wipfandstock.com/9781498283939/when-the-roll-is-called/
Thank you for taking us on this journey through Daniel Hummel's writing. I became a Christ-follower with dispensationalism marking both the church and Bible college that helped form me. As I've continued my faith journey with more time in Scripture, reading books, listening, and learning from others, I have left that view/teaching behind. I'm sure there are some gifts to be grateful for (need to reflect on that), yet too many I know still embrace these views. I'm wondering what invitations there will be to open conversations and encourage people to see things differently.
We can hope Daniel Hummel gets opportunities to address the right audiences.
Thanks for this article. I experienced this as well growing up in the shadow of Wheaton College and its evangelical fervor. I especially like the author's point on how the dispensationalism has contributed to a thin hermeneutic. There is a sense in which our hermeneutic became a literal one (as he said) and that the horizon for hermeneutic became short (see Anthony Thiselton). This article is a sad reminder of how far away we've gotten from an honest reading of Scripture.
Bob Saucy's essay on dispensationalism emphasizes all over again the theme of literal interpretation.