Category: Theonomy/Eschatology

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Transformationalism…

Chellis writes:

Darryl has been able to give a pejorative name to advocates of Christian civil government: Transformationalist. What a dirty sounding word to anyone who stands upon anti-liberal ground. Surely Christian civil government must be rejected, it is an ideology that seeks to change (transform… yuck) society through politics… to tinker (transform) with human nature to conform to our NAPARC dreams.

But then I ask myself the question. What if the gospel takes root in China? Will China remain unchanged? Will its culture not be… transformed? Not on the basis of politics, but through the impact of souls who have been ordered according to the standards of a Christ and His law.

This is how it was in the West and I am grateful for it. Grateful for our heritage of ordered liberty, economic freedom, and respect for humanity as made in the image of the living God. It has checked the power of the beast; it has made daily life more humane, and given honor to the church as the eschatological Kingdom dwelling in our midst.

Chellis appears to be responding to some level of criticism to his understanding of cultural transformation. My contention over this matter has always been the same for years. Instead of placing Abraham Kuyper versus those who would oppose cultural transformation, (D.G. Hart, etc.) the proper Biblical approach is a both/and. The church needs to preserve her duty to minister bread and wine and proclaim the gospel, while at the same time encouraging, rather, emboldening her people to transform every dimension of society into a repository of Biblical righteousness. There simply is no other option. Anyone who dares assume that the gospel has no transformative power beyond the spiritual change has not properly understood the completeness of Christ’s work to bring all His enemies under His feet.

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Merry Postmillenial/Preterist/Eschatology of Victory Christmas to you!

Links to articles: 

David Bahnsen wishes all a Postmillenial Christmas!

My friend Dee’s commentary on Matthew 24.

Justin Martyr’s Eschatology revealed.

Postmillenialism: Wishful thinking or certain hope? By Kenneth Gentry.

Myths “Against” Postmillenialism

My friend Keith Mathison’s: Postmillenialism: An Eschatology of Hope. This was the first Postmillenial book I read 4 years ago. It was instrumental in shaping my eschatology.

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The Redemption of the Land…

I will be terminating my contract with the internet cable in two weeks; this will limit my blog entries substantially. The computers here at RTS are not as blog friendly as I would like, so I may have to seek another means to communicate my fructiferous insights.

So, let me see if I can re-start my blog universe with a brief reconciliation of my old earth view with my adamant post-millenarianism. At first, the reality of an old universe makes little direct connection with a strong eschatology of hope. Nevertheless, a detailed analysis of the preparation for human life in this earth aids the reader to see the intricacies of a carefully orchestrated beginning and its connection with a meticulously prepared domain for a new and peaceful age on earth.

The climax of the creation story is not in the creation of light and darkness; neither is it in the creation of numerable species in heaven and on earth, rather, God’s creation finds its greatest triumph in the image or likeness of God: man. In the new existing life form called “man” we realize that the first five days (or ages) possesses little importance in relationship to day six. However, if we understand the first five days of creation as preparatory for the creation of man, we realize that the entire creative process is revealed in a different light. Millions of years of decay (yes, decay…animals did die before the fall), soil transformation and earth adaptation led to the perfect environment for the first man; the first form to reflect the image of God. Without all the arduous work and land metamorphasis, the land would be of no value and incapable to exist or abide. In other words, redeemed humanity needs a land to dwell in that is already adapted for the implementation of the Creator’s laws and dominion.

Though the church’s progress has to some derailed or even ended, to God the progress of the church is unquestionable. It will be through a series of events and transformations that the earth will adequately be prepared for the reign of God. Humanity will then be as in the garden in a land flowing with milk and honey and delighting in the fellowship of the Creator.

Update: I no longer hold to an old earth theory. I have returned to the young earth position of my earlier days.

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America’s Neo-Gospel by David Alan Black

As the church struggle in the United States continues unabated, the witness of Bible-believing Christians to the necessity of biblical law and constitutional government remains alive and well. Their message that Americans – “Christian” Americans included – need conversion will continue to be heralded. American Christians might not think of themselves as needing conversion, but this is precisely the situation in which the church in the United States finds itself.

It is not easy to challenge the status quo in the manner adopted by some of these individuals. They are compelled, however, to proclaim the radical implications of the kingdom of God for society. This is nothing new. Church history is replete with instances where prophetic movements have arisen to challenge both the church and society in ways similar to that being done today. 

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A Confession

Yes, I admit it! I am a Postmillenialist. I have been for over 2 years. There is a lot of story behind why I became a postmillenialist, but this is not what I am concerned about here. I am concerned about the majority of the Amillennial population, specifically in the PCA. It appears that to be associated with Postmillennialism today is to be automatically associated with the so-called “Radical Theonomists.” Well, perhaps “Theonomy” will be part of another confessional blog. So in order to not associate themselves with Postmillennialism they carry on their lectures speaking of the grand accomplishments of the gospel in the world both geographically and spiritual in this age, but yet maintain the label of Amillennialism.

Perhaps, some are not aware of strong Postmillennialists such as Ian Murray, Keith Matthison, or R.C. Sproul who are not theonomic in their outlook. The misunderstanding comes in defining Postmillennial eschatology. This misunderstanding stems from the erroneous association of modern Postmillennial thought with the eschatology of the Puritans. The Puritans were also Postmillennial in their view, but they took the 1,000 years of Revelation 20 as a literal reference. Whereas, current Postmillennial eschatology held by Gary Demar and Ken Gentry see the thousand years as symbolic of a fructiferous age in Christendom.

In Postmillennialism, sin will not be eradicated, people will continue to die and –believe it or not– Jews will still be saved by gospel. Ok, now that we know what it isn’t, can we take a step of faith?

The reason this is becoming such an issue to me is that this week alone I have talked to a prominent PCA minister and a prominent theologian in the PCA who are committed to an optimistic view of the church but continue to wave their Amillennial banners. I think they need to re-evaluate their labels and renounce their traditional flag and embrace a new one. Well, at least that’s what I think.