What is Dispensationalism?

[Mr. M]

1 hour ago, farouk said:

1 Corinthians 10.32 does speak of three different groups of ppl: Jews, Gentiles and the church of God.

Paul speaks of offenses.

Peter offended the church by withdrawing from the table

when Jews from Jerusalem arrived, and Paul called him out.

In Acts 15, instructions are given specifically for Gentiles

to abstain from certain practices offensive to Jews, again,

so they could sit at the same table.

What would have constituted an offense to Gentiles at

that time, I could not say. Perhaps a Jewish tradition

of men and women being separate for certain functions.

The church consisted of Jews and Gentiles, and yet

there is no Jew or Gentile, male or female in Christ.

Therefore, what matters is the unity of the Spirit

for the flesh profits nothing.

[Vine Abider]

3 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Not something to cause a church split over, but to keep the thread going, where does the most widely accepted writing place this on the time line? I am not even sure if I am using the correct terminology for this type of discussion, so please forgive my ignorance.

Unfortunately there does seem to be church splits along the lines of such things, which, as stated, are certainly nonessentials of the faith (at least in my book).

In fellowship with a brother after breakfast this morning, I realized I really don't have a clear understanding of dispensationalism vs. amillennialism vs. covenant theology.  I am endeavoring to do that through some online research now . . .

And personally I see the lines between these three approaches as being blurred, that is, I see things in scripture from each of them!

[farouk]

Acts 2.42 principles are a good start on which to unite and steadily serve...

Edited June 29, 2024 by farouk

[Marathoner]

Just now, Vine Abider said:

Unfortunately there does seem to be church splits along the lines of such things, which, as stated, are certainly nonessentials of the faith (at least in my book).

In fellowship with a brother after breakfast this morning, I realized I really don't have a clear understanding of dispensationalism vs. amillennialism vs. covenant theology.  I am endeavoring to do that through some online research now . . .

And personally I see the lines between these three approaches as being blurred, that is, I see things in scripture from each of them!

I'm thinking that dispensationalism is independent of millennialist views, my friend. 

I've come to embrace the challenge of recognizing how our upbringing in the faith influences our theological lens. My lack of exposure to such things as dispensationalism is itself a theological lens and like you all, that lens influences my opinions and thoughts. 

I'm amillennial and not a dispensationalist --- I guess one might call my understanding of Israel and the Body "Unification in Christ" for lack of a better way of putting it. That doesn't stand in the way of fellowship for me. 

[Vine Abider]

@Marathoner @Mr. M @farouk @First and the Last @Neighbor @enoob57 @Michael37 @Stewardofthemystery

I added a comparison chart of the various views to the opening post.  What do you think - does this capture things well?

[enoob57]

There are nuances and variations in all things of study... but that encapsulates my understanding of the views... The reason I attend to dispensational realities is we are told by God to do so
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

[Michael37]

2 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

@Marathoner @Mr. M @farouk @First and the Last @Neighbor @enoob57 @Michael37 @Stewardofthemystery

I added a comparison chart of the various views to the opening post.  What do you think - does this capture things well?

The system doesn't support such attachments so it cannot be opened. What I would do is use the snipping tool/screenshot to create a PNG which can be pasted in directly, preferably as a new post here rather than in the OP at this stage, @Vine Abider

[Vine Abider]

1 hour ago, Michael37 said:

The system doesn't support such attachments so it cannot be opened. What I would do is use the snipping tool/screenshot to create a PNG which can be pasted in directly, preferably as a new post here rather than in the OP at this stage, @Vine Abider

Done - thanks!

[Vine Abider]

On 6/27/2024 at 11:26 AM, Vine Abider said:

@Marathoner @Mr. M @farouk @First and the Last @Neighbor @enoob57 @Michael37 @Stewardofthemystery

I added a comparison chart of the various views to the opening post.  What do you think - does this capture things well?

@Marathoner @Mr. M @farouk @First and the Last @Neighbor @enoob57 @Michael37 @Stewardofthemystery

So for any of you who may have looked before and couldn't see it, I followed @Michael37's advice and did a drag & drop.

Coming from a more dispensational background, I must admit it is hard to understand the amillennial view that the millennial reign of Christ is taking place now, and not in the future after He returns. Is it just this dispensational framework that causes me to see the way I do when I read verses about what appears to be a future millennial kingdom on earth?

[Neighbor]

37 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

I must admit it is hard to understand the amillennial view that the millennial reign of Christ is taking place now,

Hi, May I suggest that good ol'Got Questions has an excellent  review of the amil position, done deliberately from the positive  view of it rather than the negative. See  https://www.gotquestions.org/amillennialism.html

Note: I spent two years with the Church of Christ a group that is amil and believe we are in the Kingdom now and that Satan is presently bound.. Eventually I had to leave over this very issue as they avoided Revelation altogether, simply would not read from it  though they were pleased to claim they read word by word through the Bible. I found them to be great loving sharing generous saints in Christ, but this divide became more than I could work with on a daily basis.

That and the constant fear that with every failure ( sin) they lost their salvation and had to regain it again, -and that salvation was through water baptism.