Dispensationalism Q&A

Dr. Mike Vlach, assistant professor of Theology at The Master's Seminary, recently did a Q&A article for the VOICE magazine, an I.F.C.A. publication. In this articles Dr. Vlach made some helpful comments that I thought would be good to throw on a post.

- "Most books critical of dispensationalism often emphasize the dispensationalism of the early Twentieth Century and do not adequately deal the more recent dispensational scholars. Many say something like, 'Dispensationalism is a system of theology that is based on the belief of seven dispensations as found in the Scofield Reference Bible.'.... When reading some critiques of dispensationalism, one gets the impression that dispensational thought was frozen by 1950."

- "I think dispensationalists have been less than helpful when they emphasize belief in seven dispensations or doing word studies in oikonomia, as if understanding this Greek term somehow identifies the essence of dispensationalism." "Dispensationalists need to be bolder in defending dispensational beliefs. The Israel/Church distinction, premillennialism, and the doctrine of the future salvation and restoration of Israel are very well supported in Scripture. On these issues that are at the heart of dispensationalism, the dispensationalist has much to stand upon.

- "First, it is true that as a system of theology, dispensationalism began in the nineteenth century. Yet it is also true that several key elements of dispensational belief were held by the early church. A strong consensus existed in the Patristic Era (A.D. 100-451)that in the future, the coming of Elijah and Antichrist would proceed the second coming of Jesus... many of the church fathers believed in a future salvation of Israel...The early church was also clearly premillennial. Because of the early church's view on futurism, premillenialism, and a future salvation for Israel, I believe that the early church was closer to dispensationalism that it was to covenant theology."

- Concerning internal debates... "In sum, for those who are dispensationalists, I advocate neither a blanket acceptance nor blanket rejection of progressive dispensationalism, or traditional dispensationalism for that matter. Like all theological perspectives, we should accept what is biblical and reject what is not.

Balenced Self-worth

I recently read an article by Don Matzat entitled "Christ is my Worth" which struck the balance I have been trying to articulate for some time concerning self-worth and spiritual unworthiness. You can read it at http://www.modernreformation.org/default.php?page=articledisplay&var1=ArtRead&var2=848&var3=main&var4=Home92.06.NovDec/mr9206.dm.ChristWorth.html

Psychology continues its siege on the church, slowly gaining ground and stealing away hope-giving truth. One area where this is happening is with the concept of self-worth and self-esteem. The promotion of self-esteem in the church has been championed by Robert Schuller of the "Hour of Power". Thankfully many Bible-believing Christians have been able to see that sin is not a poor self-image but rebellion against God and therefore they reject the extreme position of Schuller.

Yet, there is hesitancy in most to say that there is nothing of value in humans. Without doubt there is a difference between humans and the rest of creation, that being tied up in the image of God in man. But does this touch on self-esteem?

Matzat hit the balance by having us consider the difference between our worth before man and our worth before God, which are two very different things.

• Worth Among Men

By being created in the image of God we are special creations in the material universe. Because of this feature we have dignity with one another. Simply being human grants us great potential, creativity, and wonderful abilities. We should value people and encourage them to do their best. We should love and sacrifice for people because they are, like us, created in God's image. We should also have a sound judgement of our selves (Rom. 12:3) and strive to be the best we can be. In this sense we have worth and value that should be recognized and utilized.

• Worth Before God

However, before God, even though we are created in His image, we are sinners and rebels. Being creatures, we have nothing to boast about or hope in that is from ourselves. Everything we have is from God and, as a fallen race, we have used it to try to take Him off the throne. We are not entitled to special treatment because God chose to create us in some way. We are spiritually poor, dead, blind, and naked (Eph. 2:1-3; Rev. 3:17). In this sense we have no worth which we can boast of before God.

With this balence let us herald a hope-giving reality. You are so special and unique, created to glorify God in ways that no one else can. Yet, look to Christ. Apart from Him you can do nothing. He is our wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30-31)

A side note that I would like some comment on is the nature of angels regarding this topic. The question is if angels are created in the image of God. Right now I don't see anything that would say they aren't. They seem to have all things we possess (intellect, will, emotion, potential or actual holiness) with an exception of dominion over creation. If angels are created in the image of God, then we have to consider that a third of the angelic host were doomed to hell without any hope of a savior. This would seem to be another argument that the image of God does not grant intrinsic worth in a creature as they stand before God. Christ's decision to die for us, but not fallen angels, is due to unmerited and amazing grace and not that we possessed His image.