To illustrate, let me tell you a personal story. After I had been a Preterist a few years and studied enough so that I could effectively engage most unlearned Dispensationalists and their uninformed kin, it often came about that certain discussions went sour almost before I even began to explain what exactly a Preterist is. One such occasion happened to include my grandfather, a devout Christian for my lifetime tripled plus a few years. As you can imagine, that paradigm––after being nurtured in Baptist circles for decades––is about as dead set as one can have.

After we had a brief discussion in which a few of your basic time texts were thrown out, we parted ways. I suspected the conversation would end there and progress no further come rain, sleet or snow. No doubt some of you have engaged people whose attitudes or general mood would lead you to believe they would rather be talking to Satan that to you about Preterism or anything else. Such was the case with my grandpa.

But, lo and behold, a few weeks after we had visited them over at their cabin I received a letter in the mail. I’ll condense it for you so it reads something like:

Dear AJ,

Your grandmother and I are concerned that you have been brainwashed into a cult. Oh, and you are saved, right?

Love and kisses,

Grandpa

What’s the point? Simple. Guys (and gals), nobody knows what Preterism is, so make sure you do a darn good job of explaining it in the time that your victim allows you. I have heard story after story of the rage that Preterism initially sparks in unsuspecting listeners, and usually the rage is not helped by the confusion of a half-baked theory. Explain yourself. Don’t ever let anyone make Dr. Jack Van Impe’s mistake of calling you a Preeeterist or asking you what in the heck the year 8070 has to do with anything.

The other colossal mistake many hit-and-run Preterists make is not explaining that Preterism is no more a cult or even a separate branch of Christianity than Dairy Queen. And I’ve met probably a half dozen people who, for whatever asinine reason, happen to think it is. I don’t know what everyone would consider the “fundamental Preterist introduction,” whether it’s Ed Steven’s little book or a David Curtis article; but I do know that whoever puts out the next one, include in their that there are Reformed Preterists and Baptist Preterists and even––sadly––Catholic Preterists.

And here I divert just a tad. Ask anyone who’s been doing this Preterism bit for awhile and they’ll surely tell you that about the first thing that comes out of a Futurist’s mouth––besides anger-induced spittle and maybe a bit of foam––is “What do we do now, then, moron?”

I don’t think it’s necessary to elaborate on the answer. There is no need for me to tell you that we should advance Christ’s kingdom under His direct and unprecedented control until every last vestige of life on this planet is brought into the grace and family of God, and that now mankind is restored to his original purpose where he can be in perfect commune with God, nature and others, so I won’t. But if someone asks, I’m sure you’ll think of something.

And now for the encouragement part. Sometimes I can physically sense the frustration and anger many of us feel against our unwilling and often generally childish Futurist brothers. Their stubbornness to see truth and disgraceful treatment of Scripture is appalling and, worse yet, sinful, but what may hurt worse than all of that is when we as Preterists come under direct and malicious persecution for trying to have a simple discussion about something we perceive to be truth. We’re all human. I know what it’s like to be the only student in a Bible class that believes this impossible theory. And people aren’t always kind.

I’ve heard Preterists be called heretics, scoffers, mockers, fools, and even some have stooped so low to calling us pedophiles, always without allowing the opportunity to respond in a friendly and Christ-honoring discussion/debate.

The only thing I can tell you to do is smile about it. Futurists calling us names and acting like children does more harm to them than it does for us. In reality a Futurist with his inexcusable eschatological presupposition calling us a fool is about as powerful as a five year-old calling his dad a doodoo head when he isn’t allowed to have a cookie. Someday he’ll have to face up to the truth, in this life or the next.

If possible, challenge whoever is saying these things in public, in front of their friends and colleagues. Say that if they are so certain that our understanding is wrong, then you would be happy to hear their side of it. It’s the least we can do for upsetting them in the first place, wink wink.

Sometimes things go too far, though. I know this firsthand as well. Sometimes we just have to know when to let go of it. When ideas clash it causes a spark. Sometimes the spark goes out and things are resolved; sometimes it starts a fire. If the latter happens, it’s best to get out of that situation before things are said that shouldn’t be. And things can get out of hand real fast, trust me.

These sorts of hurtful situations happen all the time. Whether it’s two old friends who are embittered by the strain this issue causes on their theology as a whole or a pastor who is unjustly asked to leave his church for believing what he sees as truth without a chance to respond.