I’ve known you for about 8 years, and at times up close and personally. I’m glad for that—I believe in your heart and mind—you’re using them as an asset for the benefit of others and not your own ego.
In that same 8 years of time, I’ve lost respect for dozens of influential figures who were ostensibly on “our team.“ Also, during that time, my wife and I have grown immensely in our respect for you, and this latest post only solidifies that. I’ve completely dropped out of the social media space except for a couple peeks into Substack here and there. I have not lost anything in the process. The disappointment and disillusionment with all of these influential figures that we all know and at times have been close to or supported has been immense, and devastating. It’s all so stupid and tragic and unnecessary.
I don't know you at all, but I take my hat off to you (it's a black homburg). How you've lived your Christian life sounds honourable, courageous and most importantly, God fearing. Intellectually honest too, as rare as winged potatoes in this day and age. And yes - NO guilt by association thank you - after all, where would that put Jesus?
May God continue to bless you, your family and your church.
First of all, yes on the echo chamber of only following/being with people that agree with you. A friend from my congregation recently said if he disagreed with as many things as we do he would be looking for a different congregation, and I found that really interesting. Also, glad to hear someone quoting scripture on the “Jewish question” vs. some influential writer or recent doctrine. I am puzzled how people read Gal. 3:16-29 (and other passages) and conclude that the Israeli nation is extra-special to God.
If your curiosity is genuine, I will tell you that while Galatians is the regular proof text used against Dispensationalism, Romans 11 is the text against which Replacement-Covenental theology shatters. Really, the greatest difficulty for Dispensationalist eschatological views IMO revolve around the re-institution of Temple worship and sacrifices. Personally I am Calvinist-Dispensationalist most generally because it makes by far the most sense from my long years of wrestling with the text. That said, I would NEVER presume to say I fully understand all of it to my own satisfaction. Some of it remains opaque. We see through the glass darkly, as it were.
Agreed on the not fully understanding, but I can’t fully settle with either of those doctrines. Israel is no longer the only chosen people, but also they didn’t get replaced; the Gentiles got added. As Romans 11:7 says “MOST of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for….” (Not all and not none)
Agreed. There is only one path to salvation, and that is through the messiah Jesus. “Ethnic” Israel has promises made to it that will be uniquely fulfilled because God is true and cannot break His promises. I find almost every anti?-dispensationalist / covenentalist / replacement person I talk to or read (and I’ve read a lot) just fundamentally misunderstand basic dispensationalist thinking. They attack the easy extreme low-hanging fruit but fail to make a case against the foundation of it, while simultaneously failing to successfully make their own competing views fully plausible. My son would call me a progressive dispensationalist, which is probably close to where I’m currently at. I (just like EVERY OTHER Christian regardless of view) just think I’m reading the Bible in a comprehensive way that makes the most sense. LOL. Humility with the text is the most important factor, as with most things I think.
The older I get the more I see those anti-dispensationalist / covenentalist / replacement people misunderstand because they border their view of dispensationalism to scofield’s definitions. There is much more to dispensationalism than that.
Phil Collins may have been right but what ever was going on at the church looked significantly off. I do enjoy your content and appreciate your efforts considering how full you backpack must be. I’m not completely clear on the Jew thing as I think I have been around the pretrib dispensational group much of my life, but I think the twig is going to snap some day and I will hear a loud ‘crack!’ The ham and cheese sandwich move is priceless! People don’t always appreciate that kind of heat but for the record, it’s my favourite move when you want to activate people. It’s like me and my brother he doesn’t like certain topics and words so I often push that button. Key words are, luck, Nephilim and of course flat earth. Personal I find some things just interesting or fascinating not that I know much of any of it or am completely committed. Your second point about the echo chamber is my favourite because I’m not particularly fond of idiots or retards not come across like they are supreme beings. In fact I have a sign over my man cave that says, “ no stupid people” and sometimes I’m not allowed in either 😂. Thanks again bro appreciate you helping me along the journey even if it is from afar away land.
Thanks for this. The "ethnicity" point of Galatians as I see it, and have seen it for some twenty-five-odd years or more, is in *affirming* these gentiles in *their own* heritage, which was helleno-gaelic (the men of Gaul-atia being distant cousins to the Celts of Gaul and Ireland), and that Christ calls everyone *where He has planted him* to repent.
I would call myself "Zionist" in the same sense that I'd affirm the Irish Nationalism of the IRA (a pack of braying socialists otherwise, most of them): let all nations flourish in their own lands that God has planted them in, and let them bow to the King of Kings *as themselves,* not as makeshift Jews nor second-hand Goyim nor apologizing for being born too rich, too poor, too dark, or too pale.
You're one of the bravest and most level-headed writers I know of on the web, even if not terribly exciting (because rarely excitable).
I see this alot and I appreciate how you have responded. My exposure to this type of finger pointing based on association or on disagreement, has brought me to a similar place that you see to occupy. I consume quite a bit that is contrary to my own beliefs and it helps me to strengthen position as a follower not only of Christ in concept but of what his word truly says to us. The whole Jew gambit and the Dispensationalism you speak of, is something I’m dealing with currently. Thanks for the note on this subject. The idea that one’s identity is based on simple agreement with this or that.. dangerous and lazy. God bless and thanks again.
I’ve known you for about 8 years, and at times up close and personally. I’m glad for that—I believe in your heart and mind—you’re using them as an asset for the benefit of others and not your own ego.
In that same 8 years of time, I’ve lost respect for dozens of influential figures who were ostensibly on “our team.“ Also, during that time, my wife and I have grown immensely in our respect for you, and this latest post only solidifies that. I’ve completely dropped out of the social media space except for a couple peeks into Substack here and there. I have not lost anything in the process. The disappointment and disillusionment with all of these influential figures that we all know and at times have been close to or supported has been immense, and devastating. It’s all so stupid and tragic and unnecessary.
#PhilCollinswasright
The Phill Collins link at end.. mic drop..lol
I was afraid we were about to get RickRolled 😆
I walked in to a new dentist today and they had Never Gonna Give You Up playing as their background music. Then I let him stick a needle in my mouth.
The best part about ole Tim is his kravMaga tag.
Nothing like bashing the Jews while becoming a student of their fighting techniques.
I saw that too! Pretty funny.
The satire writes itself.
I don't know you at all, but I take my hat off to you (it's a black homburg). How you've lived your Christian life sounds honourable, courageous and most importantly, God fearing. Intellectually honest too, as rare as winged potatoes in this day and age. And yes - NO guilt by association thank you - after all, where would that put Jesus?
May God continue to bless you, your family and your church.
First of all, yes on the echo chamber of only following/being with people that agree with you. A friend from my congregation recently said if he disagreed with as many things as we do he would be looking for a different congregation, and I found that really interesting. Also, glad to hear someone quoting scripture on the “Jewish question” vs. some influential writer or recent doctrine. I am puzzled how people read Gal. 3:16-29 (and other passages) and conclude that the Israeli nation is extra-special to God.
If your curiosity is genuine, I will tell you that while Galatians is the regular proof text used against Dispensationalism, Romans 11 is the text against which Replacement-Covenental theology shatters. Really, the greatest difficulty for Dispensationalist eschatological views IMO revolve around the re-institution of Temple worship and sacrifices. Personally I am Calvinist-Dispensationalist most generally because it makes by far the most sense from my long years of wrestling with the text. That said, I would NEVER presume to say I fully understand all of it to my own satisfaction. Some of it remains opaque. We see through the glass darkly, as it were.
I like your honesty, it is hard to wrap your Brian around. I’m waiting for the twig to snap in my Brian
Agreed on the not fully understanding, but I can’t fully settle with either of those doctrines. Israel is no longer the only chosen people, but also they didn’t get replaced; the Gentiles got added. As Romans 11:7 says “MOST of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for….” (Not all and not none)
Agreed. There is only one path to salvation, and that is through the messiah Jesus. “Ethnic” Israel has promises made to it that will be uniquely fulfilled because God is true and cannot break His promises. I find almost every anti?-dispensationalist / covenentalist / replacement person I talk to or read (and I’ve read a lot) just fundamentally misunderstand basic dispensationalist thinking. They attack the easy extreme low-hanging fruit but fail to make a case against the foundation of it, while simultaneously failing to successfully make their own competing views fully plausible. My son would call me a progressive dispensationalist, which is probably close to where I’m currently at. I (just like EVERY OTHER Christian regardless of view) just think I’m reading the Bible in a comprehensive way that makes the most sense. LOL. Humility with the text is the most important factor, as with most things I think.
The older I get the more I see those anti-dispensationalist / covenentalist / replacement people misunderstand because they border their view of dispensationalism to scofield’s definitions. There is much more to dispensationalism than that.
...what? Where did this guy even get that idea from?
You are right on the money and Phil Collins was perfect punctuation for your thoughts.
Phil Collins may have been right but what ever was going on at the church looked significantly off. I do enjoy your content and appreciate your efforts considering how full you backpack must be. I’m not completely clear on the Jew thing as I think I have been around the pretrib dispensational group much of my life, but I think the twig is going to snap some day and I will hear a loud ‘crack!’ The ham and cheese sandwich move is priceless! People don’t always appreciate that kind of heat but for the record, it’s my favourite move when you want to activate people. It’s like me and my brother he doesn’t like certain topics and words so I often push that button. Key words are, luck, Nephilim and of course flat earth. Personal I find some things just interesting or fascinating not that I know much of any of it or am completely committed. Your second point about the echo chamber is my favourite because I’m not particularly fond of idiots or retards not come across like they are supreme beings. In fact I have a sign over my man cave that says, “ no stupid people” and sometimes I’m not allowed in either 😂. Thanks again bro appreciate you helping me along the journey even if it is from afar away land.
Well said, appreciate the stance Michael.
Amen!
Thanks for this. The "ethnicity" point of Galatians as I see it, and have seen it for some twenty-five-odd years or more, is in *affirming* these gentiles in *their own* heritage, which was helleno-gaelic (the men of Gaul-atia being distant cousins to the Celts of Gaul and Ireland), and that Christ calls everyone *where He has planted him* to repent.
I would call myself "Zionist" in the same sense that I'd affirm the Irish Nationalism of the IRA (a pack of braying socialists otherwise, most of them): let all nations flourish in their own lands that God has planted them in, and let them bow to the King of Kings *as themselves,* not as makeshift Jews nor second-hand Goyim nor apologizing for being born too rich, too poor, too dark, or too pale.
You're one of the bravest and most level-headed writers I know of on the web, even if not terribly exciting (because rarely excitable).
I see this alot and I appreciate how you have responded. My exposure to this type of finger pointing based on association or on disagreement, has brought me to a similar place that you see to occupy. I consume quite a bit that is contrary to my own beliefs and it helps me to strengthen position as a follower not only of Christ in concept but of what his word truly says to us. The whole Jew gambit and the Dispensationalism you speak of, is something I’m dealing with currently. Thanks for the note on this subject. The idea that one’s identity is based on simple agreement with this or that.. dangerous and lazy. God bless and thanks again.
j-pilled? Jesus-pilled we all are, hopefully. Thanks dear sir