Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
In general, I have steered away from discussions of eschatology, primarily because it stirs great passion to little end. However, I am afraid I will have to venture into that territory with this particular post, as the fruits of bad theology when combined with similar poorly-fueled eschatology are often terrible to behold. In particular, deterministic/fatalistic theology (which is often part and parcel, though not limited to, of the Calvinist flavour) when combined with premillenial eschatology (especially of the dispensational variety) results in gnostic orthopraxy and a world view dominated by paranoia and fear. Unfortunately, this combination also makes good news (though not Good News), and allows a rather vocal subset of Christians to paint the whole in a rather poor and (unintentional, I would agree) un-Christlike image.
Background
I do not intend this to be an all-encompassing description of eschatology, but only to highlight a few points.
I tend to take a partial-preterist view of eschatology, summed up here with much more detail here. This view tends to read a number of the prophecies in the Olivet Discourse, Daniel and Revelation (save the last few chapters) as being relevant to the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. (rather than, or possibly in addition to, to the eschaton).
This is significantly different than most flavors of premillenial eschatology that is much more favorable to the Calvinist worldview (though not universally so), which sees the Bible as independent from its writers and the time in which it was written. (Ironically, this pre-mil view of eschatology forces those who hold it to fudge the issue of inerrancy of the Bible when dealing with Daniel’s 70 weeks via a number of shell games, but that’s another long, sore subject, as well.)
What it boils down to, though, is this:
The worldview of fatalistic/deterministic theology paired with premillenial eschatology is one which posits that society will continue to degrade, and that nothing can be done about it. Therefore, we should concentrate on the world to come. This view interprets Jesus’ words to Pilate, “my kingdom is not of this world” to literally mean that his kingdom does not and can not exist in this world. As such, the only thing of any importance in this world is preaching an individual gospel focused on the eternal salvation of individuals - the world, itself, is destined for destruction, so there is no need (from a Christian perspective) to concern ourselves with the temporal.
Where this worldview starts to fail is in that the world, itself, has not fallen to disrepair and steadily worsened to Apocalyptic conditions (though I would note that such conditions did occur in Asia Minor and Palestine under the reigns of both Nero and Domitian in the first century AD - a coincidence, I am sure). Rather, it has fluctuated between periods of excess and revival, with more and more societal structure added to provide order and prevent doomsday conditions. Next, couple this with a consistent belief in a number of Christian communities of each generation, even before John Darby, that they were living in the last days before the parousia. With this dichotomy, many individuals with this worldview are forced to assume that the doomsday events are still proceeding apace, but are just not very visible, therefore pointing to some vast conspiracy which will bring about a one-world government and the ascendance of the antichrist. Therefore, every current event must be viewed through this lens, with a paranoid eye toward conspiracy
August 15th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Wow. I resist having to use all my seratonin to read posts but I almost ran out at the end. I agree with your fire insurance allegory and I certainly agree with the unloving nature of much of the church. The smugness that claims to have surrounded every mystery is an affront to the mercy of God and the picture of Golgotha.
However, being one of those who depicts your eschatalogical decription there remain some who strive to be charitable and humanitarian while still pursuing the spread of the only message that saves.
You are scholarly and heartfelt in your writings and I am edified. They are post graduate in nature and present a digestive challenge!
August 15th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Rick,
“Post graduate in nature” - is that a nice way of calling Chris a nerd?
August 15th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Rick & phil,
It’s OK - my wife and kids call me that, too…
August 15th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Yes, and I seem to recall Ken calling him (I cannot remember the exact words) but it had something to do with “Hebraic” something or other. I don’t have a unabridged name calling catalogue so I remain somewhat in the dark. But scholarly nerd will suffice!
August 15th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
I, likewise, appreciate your expositions, Chris. Although I am well-educated (got me one of them “post-graduate” educations myself), I am often left in the dark about some of the Christianeze regarding certain theological positions and seldom have the time/energy to look up what all of the words mean. Thanks for giving an explanation of them before you use them.
I always appreciate your articles in this vein, and they often lead me to seek further information on the topic.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I think Ken has used a lot of different words for most of the people who write and comment on this site.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Seriously, though it is a good article. It never ceases to amaze how much Christians want to believe conspiracy theories. I’ve heard so many in my life, it’s hard to be surprised in one sense.
I still get emails from people every now and then warning me that Madalyn Murray O’Hair is trying to shut down Christian radio blah, blah, blah. I used to write back and tell people she’s atually been dead for many years, only to have people tell me that there’s still a chance it could be true. It’s like people want to be ignorant sometimes.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I believe William Greer, the limo driver, shot Kennedy. …. I do!
August 15th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
I believe it was an accidental discharge by one of the Secret Service agents.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Considering the William Greer AIMED his gun, I wouldn’t consider it “accidental.”
This site, http://www.jfkmurdersolved.com/film/Zapruderstable.mov showed Greer pointing something at Kennedy. The timing of Greer’s head, hand and the slowing of the car seems to indicate he did the fatal head shot. There was much discussion about why Greer slowed (film showed the car didn’t stop) but it would make sense that Greer was concentrating on the shot and not concentrating on driving. Connally and his wife were too distracted from the first shot to notice Greer as the Zap film show. Look at the driver, Greer, at chest level right before Kennedy gets shot. NOT the shadow/light play on Kellerman’s head (Greer’s partner).
August 15th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I think Pee Wee Herman was involved also.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
I would ascribe to the ‘magic bullet’ theory, but I don’t want to revive the Harry Potter discussion yet again…
August 15th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I’m curious as to how Rob Bell and homosexuality tie into all of this.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Ok. I’m sorry.
I knew, as soon as I clicked the “submit” button, that I shouldn’t have said that.
It was supposed to be a joke.
It’s not funny.
Mainly, I have nothing to say about Chris’ post because…it’s over my head on my first immediate read.
So I thought I’d try to hijack the thread and discuss…well, you know.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
See, again, that was the wrong thing to say.
I think I should leave this site for a few hours.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Julie,
I thought it was pretty funny, actually.
The real question is what does Rob Bell know and when did he know it?
August 16th, 2007 at 6:40 am
Well Julie, I can only speak for the church but I do know we have a JFK investigative group that meets right after centering prayer on the 6th Saturday of every month.
August 16th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
[...] Joe Martino on Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! [...]
August 16th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Another conspiracy theory: Elvis is alive and well. He’s a sacker at a Kroger in Michigan. That’s all I’m allowed to say.
===
And all this time, I thought the Left Behind series was inspired!
August 24th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Apparently, C?N has taken a firm pre-mil stance, linking to a “refutation” of partial-preterism which ignores pretty much every hermeneutical guideline in textual interpretation.
Just one (of many) examples:
The reviewer’s interpretation of the word ‘generation’ ignores all previous use of the word in scripture, and documented first-century practice which links “generation” to the number 40 (or a multiple thereof). When Hebrew children were taught mathematical skills, they were taught from scripture, with each number tied to certain words or concepts. From the Qumran scrolls and other sources, we know that generation is associated with 40 years, as it is in the primary use of ‘generation’ in Hebrew history - the generation lost in the wilderness during the Exodus.
So, to accept the reviewer’s usage of “this generation” (spoken between 29 and 33 A.D.) to mean anything other than that generation (roughly 40 years), you’ve got to ignore Scriptural Interpretation 101.
That is just one example.
However, the reviewer proves my point in trying to sum up why the pre-mil position has to be true:
How does partial-preterism minimize future hope, unless we consider hope to mean continuing and ever-increasing strife, discord and evil prior to the parousia? Basically, “hope” takes on an Orwellian undertone, and our “prime source of motivation” is nothing more than fire insurance. In reality, our “prime source of motivation” is to be the love of God, not the fear of apocalypse and hell.
Its no wonder the ODM’s can consider no alternative than a bleak reading of prophecy, and an arrogant assumption of primacy over the original hearers and readers of Jesus and Paul…