Tertiary Issues: Eschatology and Christian Freedom
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This is a fair scale on how to prioritize teachings. |
Finding common ground on an issue or even a
set of issues can be difficult. The modern churches in America, and even other
places in the world unite and divide sometimes over issues that aren't a
Biblical standard, but a human preference. I personally hold to the major
doctrines of Christianity while realizing I don't know everything, and am
always willing to learn and adjust as insight from the sacred writ and the Holy
Spirit allow. Just like all believers, I look to the written word as my highest
authority concerning the teachings of the Church and God. I hold to Creeds in
Scripture such as:
"And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?" And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:36-37
"who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:6-11
I also hold to the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and most of the 1689 Baptist Confession of
Faith. However, that being said, I differ with the Brethren on a few
issues. So when I was looking for a church, I had to find one who either
totally agreed with my views (which is impossible), or find one that was open
and at least tolerated my views. Most of the Baptist Churches where I live
believe in the "core" doctrines of the faith, but they have added a
few that go against Christian Liberty and loving toleration. A great article to
read (after this one of course!) is Justin Taylor's blog post: "Levels
of Doctrine." It is short and sweet, but reinforces the idea I am
promoting here.
Eschatology
Historically, the oldest doctrines on the
"end" are what we now call Historic Premillennialism,
and Amillennialism. Since the early church a few other views have popped
up such as Postmillennialism (which is still pretty old),
Dispensationalism (new), and Pantelism (Full-Preterism is new).
I personally hold to Amillennialism, but the most popular doctrine on
Eschatology is Dispensationalism, which was first made famous by John Nelson
Darby, and more recently Tim Lahaye, John Hagee, and a few others. Some of
these views can go too far in my opinion against the grain of orthodoxy, but I
go to a church with folks who hold to all of these views because this issue is
difficult to pin down and there many times are more questions than answers at
the end of the day. After all, Jesus did say that we don't know the day or the
hour. In the town I live in though, if you aren't a Dispensationalist,
then you either aren't a Christian, or will not be given consideration at all
for leadership or teaching. This is wrong on many levels, and I therefore
cannot abide in a fellowship so rigid in this area. This is especially true
since Dispensationalism is a recent invention considering the age of the Church
(historical fact) that is wrought with a plethora of hermeneutical errors (my
opinion). You see, I've laid out my opinion and certainly feel strong about it.
That being said, I have no problem fellowshipping with a Dispensationalist
brother as long as he can tolerate my complaint. I will tolerate his as well.
Who knows! Maybe God will prove us both wrong!
Christian Freedom
Paul did say:
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?"31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 ESV
It is true that we need to be considerate of
our brethren, but that consideration should go both ways. Paul also said:
"16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh." Colossians 2:16-23 ESV
We should temper our preferences with these
verses above. Some prefer to celebrate holidays in certain ways, some choose to
limit celebration for various reasons. There are people who try to eat
according to the Jewish prescribed dietary laws, some don't. Some abstain from
alcohol like John the Baptist, and some partake of an alcoholic beverage with
their meal or at a family get-together like Jesus and his disciples. Some folks
only love Southern Gospel music, some only like rap music, some like
contemporary worship songs, some like to listen to secular music once in a
while, and there are some like me who like it all! Now I don't listen to things
that would degrade our Lord and His ways, so I am not advocating indiscretion.
However, some think that if you don't only prescribe to their preferred style
of music, then you are worldly. I would be careful there lest you find yourself
in the position of the publican in Luke 18:9-14. There should be room to wiggle
on many issues! I also think based on the scriptures given above that if you
have a brother who is weak, and maybe something you are considering that isn't
evil in itself could be a stumbling-block for him, then you should at least
abstain when you are around that brother. I know men who struggled with
alcoholism before conversion, I would never intentionally drink a beer around
them (which isn't a sin) for the simple fact that I wouldn't want to tempt him
to sin. Some people struggle with self-control in some areas like that. I have
my own set of things I avoid due to weakness, but I would never foist my
preference onto a brother who didn't struggle in that area. I know a brother
who won't get on Facebook and has severely limited his presence on the Internet
for the simple fact that he used to struggle with Internet Pornography. I would
never encourage him to get on-line until he knew that he could control himself.
There are many other areas here that I could mention, but these are the general
principles that Paul was trying to share. Freedom with Love.
Conclusion
I'm not advocating grace without law. Some
might try to foist that opinion on me here. However, I am recommending that we
understand that we are limited in our knowledge and should only operate within
the clear confines of the Sacred Text, not our preferential leanings. Jesus
scolded the Pharisees and Sadducees mainly because they added to the laws of
God so that they could make their system of religion attainable for themselves.
When Jesus laid out the truth in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), He
wasn't giving out anything new, He was just setting the record straight because
the religious leaders minored on the majors and majored on the minors. I also
am not saying that the issues of Eschatology and Christian Freedom aren't
important. What I am saying is that nobody should put restraints upon these
issues that are unreasonable and un-biblical. The reason eschatology is in this
category is because even in the early church there were differences on this and
the Early Fathers didn't damage unity because of it. They held to the more
important things (Matthew 23:23), and didn't divide over Eschatology or Christian
Freedom. Diversity in Unity is a beautiful thing on more levels than one.
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