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I say this with all respect so that it don't upset you too bad, but I say it anyway. When I read in the Bible where he [Jesus] says, 'I Am,' I just smile and say, 'Yes, I Am, too!'
-- Kenneth Copeland, "Believer's Voice of Victory" on TBN
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by Jared Coleman
The way that we define ourselves, or allow others to define us, matters. Names convey information about the objects to which they are attached. This is why names are so important in the bible. Abraham, Israel, Jabez, Jezreel, Immanual, and Yeshua are all examples of biblical names that are absolutely pregnant with meaning. Each name encapsulates information and allows it to be efficiently and effectively transmitted whenever the person it refers to is in view. A name says something about a person, even when nothing else is said. The same is true of the names that we go by today, and this is why I am not a preterist.
A preterist can be strictly defined as someone who believes that biblical prophecy related to the eschaton was fulfilled sometime in the past, just as a futurist believes that such prophecies will be fulfilled in the future. However, I think that the meaning encapsulated by the name “preterist” is often broader than this strict definition, at least as this term strikes people in its common use. Rather than simply meaning that one’s outlook on prophecy lies in the past, I think to many people the term “preterist” means that one’s outlook lies in the past. There is a big difference in meaning here. When judged by the former I am a preterist, but when judged by the latter I most certainly am not.
Still, even if the meaning of the term “preterist” be restricted only to one’s outlook on prophecy there is reason to avoid the name. Names are expected to convey, at least generally, the most important information about the things that they name. When God changed Jacob’s name to Israel he was suddenly defined in terms of his relationship with God. Those are good terms to be defined in, even if the name itself indicates that the relationship will be a bumpy ride! The name Israel tells us not only that “God fights,” but that God is important in the life of this person, and that He is important in the plan of God. The name Yeshua, especially as it applies to Jesus, absolutely drips with meaning. It tells us so much about who He is and about the very purpose of everything that He did and does. That’s some really important information! I don’t think that information about how we read prophecy is of the same caliber.
What information do we want to convey to others about ourselves? Do we want them to think that we spend all of our time thinking about the past and are unconcerned about the future? Do we want to tell them that we define ourselves in terms of the way that we read prophecy? Is that the most important thing about us? I hope not. I want people to know that I am thoroughly concerned not just about the past, but about the world of today, and even tomorrow. I want them to know that although the way that I read prophecy is very important to me and even shapes all that I believe and am, it is not an end in and of itself. That last statement is rather ironic. To me eschatology is not completely eschatological; teleology is not thoroughly teleological. The end is the end only so that it can be a new beginning. It is this new beginning and what it means for our lives and relationships that is of ultimate concern to me in my ministry to the people of our day. That’s what I want people to think of when they think of me.
Ok, so you pragmatists are probably screaming on the inside right now. Many of you are probably thinking that I’m just spouting quixotic idealism and that the name “preterist” is here to stay. You may be right. To be honest, I have a solid streak of pragmatism myself and I may actually agree with you to some extent. I am not writing this article to get you all to quit using the word preterist, nor do I think that this website should be moved to PlanetAllThingsAreNew.com. Indeed, I have no alternative name to propose, and I’m quite sure that I’ll use this name in the future (the title of this article was, as I’m sure you guessed, largely designed to grab your attention). My goal is to get us thinking about the words that we use to describe and define ourselves so that we can communicate with others in the best way (realistically) possible. Perhaps it is enough for us to expand our "repertoire" so that others will see from the way that we talk about ourselves and the story of the bible that we are a deep and relevant community that cannot be marginalized. Perhaps by thinking about these things we will be better prepared to use the term “preterist” as a springboard to the high-level themes that are built upon the interpretation of prophecy (and not eclipsed by it), and thus highlight the real differences between the worldview that we hold and that of others. Idealist or pragmatist, it is essential that we as a community improve our methods of reaching out to others, and I hope that this short article gets us thinking along these lines, and therefore is a small step in that direction.
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Jared Coleman is a columnist for PlanetPreterist.com.
View Jared Coleman archives
Note: Opinions presented on PlanetPreterist.com or by PlanetPreterist.com columnists may not necessarily reflect the position of PlanetPreterist.com, or reflect the beliefs, doctrine or theological position of all other preterists. We encourage all readers to first and foremost carefully analyze all articles in the light of God's Word.
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Average Score: 3
Votes: 2
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Re: Why I Am Not a Preterist (Score: 1)
 by Flakinde on Wednesday, November 09 @ 11:27:01 PST
(User Info | Send a Message) | Excellent Jared, I've thought of these things for a good while, and have even been accused of my faith being "in the past" rather than the present. Of course, this charge is ridiculous, because all Christians have faith in the cross, which is a past event.
However, I agree with you that the emphasis on past fulfillment has portrayed the wrong image to the rest of Christianity. I know we must continue exploring the past to understand these events a whole lot more, but as you say, it's equally important to show what we can do with this knowledge in the present.
As you very well put it, if Preterism will only be about what transpired 2,000 years ago, and is bankrupt about present and future impact on this world, that is not the brand of Christian I am nor ever want to be.
Blessed,
A. Rodríguez |
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- by jaredcoleman on Thursday, November 10 @ 05:23:58 PST
Re: Why I Am Not a Preterist (Score: 1)
 by MichaelB on Wednesday, November 09 @ 11:40:33 PST
(User Info | Send a Message) | Jared,
Just don't forget to trademark your new name =)
Just kidding,
Mike |
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- by MichaelB on Wednesday, November 09 @ 11:48:51 PST
- by jaredcoleman on Thursday, November 10 @ 05:26:23 PST
Re: Why I Am Not a Preterist (Score: 1)
by PreteristArchive on Wednesday, November 09 @ 13:34:16 PST
(User Info | Send a Message) | seems to me:
Futurists believe in the past, Preterists believe in the future.
mercy and truth,
todd |
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Re: Why I Am Not a Preterist (Score: 1)
by Duncan on Wednesday, November 09 @ 20:32:28 PST
(User Info | Send a Message) | Jared,
You are right; that the term preterist does not capture the full essence of who we are. Ours is a realized eschatology. The futurist's is a non-realized eschatology.
Futurists look to be married to the Lord in the future.
Preterists say we are married to Him now.
Futurists look for the full establishment of God's kingdom in the future.
Preterists say it was fully established at AD 70 (cf. Mark 8:38-9:1).
Futurists look to reign with Christ in the future.
Preterists say we reign (or should be reigning) with Him now.
Futurists look for Satan to be cast out of heaven in the future.
Preterists say he was cast out at the cross (Rev. 12, cf. John 12:31), that he is no longer in heaven accusing us before God day and night (Rev. 12:10).
Futurists look for a future Second Coming when our salvation will be completed.
Preterists say the believer's salvation was completed at AD 70.
Futurists plan to go to heaven and wait for their resurrection body.
Preterists say we won't have to wait.
Does preterism take away the believer's blessed hope? Absolutely not; it replaces that hope with a blessed reality!
Duncan |
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- by jaredcoleman on Thursday, November 10 @ 05:27:14 PST
Re: Why I Am Not a Preterist (Score: 1)
by amie on Wednesday, November 09 @ 21:48:54 PST
(User Info | Send a Message) | Jared,
I really enjoyed your article and if I could remember how to score you I would choose the number for "bravo!"
I was raised with the fulfilled view pretty much. I met my first "preterist" like hmmm, maybe in '03 - somethin' like that.
I wrongly thought that it was synonymous with my view that all prophecy had been fulfilled in the past(the label is variable).
I thought that Pantelism represented the view that prophecy, therefore redemption, was fulfilled in the past and there are folks who use the term as synonymous with Preterism (which can be minus the redemtion part).
I know folks who just believe (whether reared that way or not) prophecy was fulfilled in the past and aren't interested in names.
I really like the idea of summing up my view in a word and the only word that I know of that is stable enough to count on as per definition within the fulfilled view is "Transmillennialism". I know about the trademarking thing and I like it because of the stability and clarity. When I first started mingling with online folks it was nice to be able to count on the label's meaning in the midst of so many unclear labels. Those labels were confusing and I couldn't imagine it for someone just coming into the fulfilled view and just getting things straight Scripturally as per fulfillment on top of trying to find out the label for their view.
I'm pretty sure that I click with the T'mill view, though I am exploring it further so as not to misrepresent it. This is not because I fear a lawsuit - I don't. I don't have money for anyone to win off of me, lol. This is because I care about the friends that I've made who go by that label. I honor the integrity of that which they choose to call themselves because I honor them. I'm thinking that Max's upcoming book will set me straight as per whether I for sure fit under that plaquard.
Until then guess I'll keep "Amie" :) |
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- by jaredcoleman on Thursday, November 10 @ 05:29:42 PST
- by BarkingPumpkin on Thursday, November 10 @ 05:40:54 PST
- by Flakinde on Thursday, November 10 @ 11:35:19 PST
Re: Why I Am Not a Preterist (Score: 1)
by Harleyguy on Thursday, November 17 @ 05:57:53 PST
(User Info | Send a Message) | Good article, good luck with your attempt to not get a label. If you can pull it off I applaud you.
Blessings,
Bruce |
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