Evangelical Free Church of America: Premillennialism is now a non-essential

Dare I say it? “Left Behind”, John Hagee, etc.. And I’ve met my share of brothers in Christ who were missing out on the basics of Christ—repentance from sin, water baptism, etc..—who spent most of their time in speculation about the end times. Maybe instead of speculating on them, help bring about the conditions for them to arrive, like preaching the Gospel to every nation and people? (pointing at myself at times here)

[Bert Perry]

Dare I say it? “Left Behind”…

In all fairness, “Left Behind” is fiction, although I understand that for many, that’s all they know of eschatology. LaHaye wrote a commentary on Revelation, and agree or disagree with his theology, it’s not like he didn’t release a serious treatise on his views. I understand that the dispensational, pre-trib, pre-millenial view is getting less traction these days in fundamentalism, but it’s a bit disingenuous to dismiss that position as “pop eschatology” due to a fictional series based on that view. My generation had “The Late, Great Planet Earth” instead of “Left Behind,” but that’s mostly been forgotten and theology has continued.

However, even inside dispensationalism, I find it interesting (and concerning) that people seem more absolutely certain about the typical end-times chart and where, when, and what events will happen, and defend it as a non-negotiable than they are about more basic Christian doctrines. It’s definitely a misplaced emphasis.

I have no problem with serious eschatology. Walvoord, Pentecost (et al) have very good work. Look at Gleason Archers Daniel commentary from the original EBC set. Great stuff, and DT opponents must reckon with it. Look at Vlach’s works, too. Look at Showers.

By pop eschatology, I mean a fascination with questionable popular teachers. You know the names. They’re much more popular than the serious guys.

Didn’t mean to start any major discussion of who does, or does not, qualify as pop eschatology—I’d argue that both LeHaye/Jenkins and Lindsey qualify simply by notoriety (pop eschatology is not even necessarily a perjorative—one can make the argument simply based on # of copies sold and such), as would (per Tyler) any number of other authors who sell a lot of copies/get a lot of time on YouTube or wherever.

Rather, my major point is that, whether the eschatology is sound or not, it is indeed a tragedy when people spend all their time on eschatology, but little or none on making disciples. I’ve seen it quite a bit, especially among young men. I get why—demons and great wars are exciting and all that, and discipleship is hard work—but what are we here to do?

We might put it another way; if your eschatology does not inspire you to spend a lot of time making disciples, maybe that’s a good sign it’s flawed, no matter how many “correct points” you have.

I believe in Ryrie’s sine qua non of DT, but eschatology isn’t a driving force for me. I am a mild dispensationalist the way some guys are mild Baptists. Theology Proper and the related doctrines are more important, I believe. I strive to bring balance to the force, rather imperfectly.