Dispensationalism?

[MissSJ]

What exactly is dispensationalism?  

Is this a mainstream Christian doctrine?  

What denominations or types of Christian churches adhere to dispensationalism?  

Are you a dispensationalist?  

What is the history behind dispensationalist?

Please excuse me if I did not use the term correctly as I am not exactly sure what it means!  I tried to read a little on this but it is all still a little muddy.  Hopefully you can help clear the waters for me! :)

SJ

[Trigger]

Dispensationalism is a seemingly fundamentalist theology - literal interpretation of Scripture, belief in a purely physical Israel (as opposed to Israel having both physical and spiritual natures), the church was "born" at Pentecost, and so on.

[lilyka]

Originally Posted by MissSJ 

What exactly is dispensationalism?  

Here is a wiki link with a good definition. The way I understand the belief is that God reveals and expects different things at different times.

Is this a mainstream Christian doctrine?  Protestant doctrine.

What denominations or types of Christian churches adhere to dispensationalism?  I know a lot of reformed churches believe it.  Probably most protestants to an extent. Orthodox do not.  And I am guessing Catholics do not.

Are you a dispensationalist?

 I am Orthodox.  So, no.

What is the history behind dispensationalist?

As you can see from the link  there is quite a history and in the end it just depends on who you ask.

[Katala]

Originally Posted by lilyka 

Originally Posted by MissSJ 

What exactly is dispensationalism?  

Here is a wiki link with a good definition. The way I understand the belief is that God reveals and expects different things at different times.

Is this a mainstream Christian doctrine?  Protestant doctrine.

What denominations or types of Christian churches adhere to dispensationalism?  I know a lot of reformed churches believe it.  Probably most protestants to an extent. Orthodox do not.  And I am guessing Catholics do not.

Are you a dispensationalist?

 I am Orthodox.  So, no.

What is the history behind dispensationalist?

As you can see from the link  there is quite a history and in the end it just depends on who you ask.

In my experience and (limited) knowledge, mainline protestants do not tend to be dispensationalists.

My husband and I attended a Lutheran church during the first year we were married, and I remember discussing this specifically with our minister (it was important to us that our church not adhere to dispensationalism). Additionally, one of the best criticisms I've read regarding this doctrine was in Barbara Rossing's "The Rapture Exposed"--Rossing is a Lutheran Minister.

I would be very surprised to hear that Episcopalians did not reject this doctrine as well (I'll have to ask my best friend--she's Episcopalian).

Not sure about the reformed/Calvinist mainline denoms; I was married in a Christian Reformed Church (which technically is not mainline though--more "mainline to conservative")  and I don't remember this ever being discussed (I had to attend the church for a year to be married there), but not sure what the "official" stance was.

It seems like it's, in general, more of a Baptist/Fundementalist/Non-Denominational belief.

[Luvmykiddos03]

Originally Posted by lilyka 

What denominations or types of Christian churches adhere to dispensationalism?  I know a lot of reformed churches believe it.  Probably most protestants to an extent. Orthodox do not.  And I am guessing Catholics do not.
 

I know this post is old, but I had to correct this statement.    You could say my beliefs largely match Reformed Baptist/Presbyterian (PCA) beliefs within the Westminster Confessional/Baptist Confessional of Faith.  I know Reformed Theology well and I want to make clear that the majority of reformed churches do NOT adhere to the pre-mill view of dispensation theology.  Most are largely post-mil/amil in their theology on eschatology.

The reason I say this with confidence is that reformed churches largely agree with the Westminster Confession/Baptist Confession of Faith.  These are documents from long before the invention of dispensation theology from the 19th century, which largely began with John Darby and became popular with Scofield and Ryrie.

There are well known pastors that I highly admire who do adhere to dispensation theology and the reformed faith, such as John MacArthur, but I strongly disagree with his interpretation of scripture on eschatology.  Several of my fellow reformed brothers and sisters in Christ also highly admire MacArthur, but disagree with him on this matter.  Yet, there are several who do agree with him.  It is not an issue of salvation and one can disagree on it and still be united.  Point being that believers who tend to be reformed in their beliefs are not dispensationalists overall.

MissSJ, if you are still reading this post, if you want to learn more, look up John Darby (Plymouth Brethren), C.I. Scofield, and Charles Ryrie who are the large proponents of its earliest birth.     That may help you get started in understanding dispensation theology roots, rather than modern day preachers on the subject, like John Hagee, Jack Van Impe, Hal Lindsay, Jerry Falwell, et cetera.  The denominations that typical believe in dispensation theology are SBC Baptists (however, not all), Independent Baptists, Pentecostals, Brethren (of course), 7th Day Adventists, and non-denominational (however, that is broad, so of course, not all) are ones that come to mind.  Each have their own varying degrees of interpretation, but they agree on main issues.

However, be sure to read the opposing views as well on the post millennial and amillenial views.  Greg Bahnsen, R.C. Sproul, Kenneth Gentry, Gary DeMar, Iain Murray, Kim Riddelbarger, et cetera.  Kenneth Gentry is my favorite of all, as my views largely match his (though, with a few exceptions).  Ironically, half these men were dispensationalists at one point, so their view is unique to the debate.