Peace deals? The Gospel? Fruits?
Yeah before getting this out the way I am a covenant theologian. Heck, if you called me a replacement theologian I wouldn't object.
There are great dispensationalist brothers like John Macarthur, now in glory. But this can be bumped to supporting everything Israel does, like a bad parent whose spoilt child can do nothing wrong in their eyes but even more dangerous is I've seen people who say Israelis are saved by default- that is boldly denying the Gospel- no ethnicity or Country is saved by default- John Macarthur believed in none of these points, he just believed God had special plans for Israel, that's it.
A couple of bizarre points I have seen that need to be addressed.
Point 1- Only a Christ follower could broker a peace deal.
Wrong. This has no status on someone's salvation. This is mingling success of the world with being a Christian- uncorrelated and irrelevant. You being a Christian does not mean worldly success it means believing on the Gospel Christ. This is no doubt inspired by the creeping case of prosperity theology I see appearing on posts.
Point 2- A family being happy to see a freed hostage is fruits of the Spirit.
Wrong. Fruits of the spirit is the fruits of growth the Holy Spirit will produce in believers, confirming they belong to Christ and are in him. You do not need to be saved to rejoice and be happy that your kidnapped family have been freed. I have no idea if the family celebrating the release of the freed hostage are saved.
Concluding points
During the time of this hopefully former conflict I'm sure you prayed for the release and the wellbeing of the hostages and this is great.
But did you stop to think of the suffering brothers and sisters in Christ in Gaza? And more generally the innocent civilians- such as starving children and children being operated on without anesthetic? I honestly felt like many dispensationalists swept these points under the rug and many Christians did not do their duty to these things.
Point 2 seems to be particular danger in holding extreme dispensationalist views.
May we as Christians keep a level head on world events.
There are great dispensationalist brothers like John Macarthur, now in glory. But this can be bumped to supporting everything Israel does, like a bad parent whose spoilt child can do nothing wrong in their eyes but even more dangerous is I've seen people who say Israelis are saved by default- that is boldly denying the Gospel- no ethnicity or Country is saved by default- John Macarthur believed in none of these points, he just believed God had special plans for Israel, that's it.
A couple of bizarre points I have seen that need to be addressed.
Point 1- Only a Christ follower could broker a peace deal.
Wrong. This has no status on someone's salvation. This is mingling success of the world with being a Christian- uncorrelated and irrelevant. You being a Christian does not mean worldly success it means believing on the Gospel Christ. This is no doubt inspired by the creeping case of prosperity theology I see appearing on posts.
Point 2- A family being happy to see a freed hostage is fruits of the Spirit.
Wrong. Fruits of the spirit is the fruits of growth the Holy Spirit will produce in believers, confirming they belong to Christ and are in him. You do not need to be saved to rejoice and be happy that your kidnapped family have been freed. I have no idea if the family celebrating the release of the freed hostage are saved.
Concluding points
During the time of this hopefully former conflict I'm sure you prayed for the release and the wellbeing of the hostages and this is great.
But did you stop to think of the suffering brothers and sisters in Christ in Gaza? And more generally the innocent civilians- such as starving children and children being operated on without anesthetic? I honestly felt like many dispensationalists swept these points under the rug and many Christians did not do their duty to these things.
Point 2 seems to be particular danger in holding extreme dispensationalist views.
May we as Christians keep a level head on world events.
