Spinning a New Suit for Dispensationalism
Posted on Wednesday, November 22 @ 05:10:04 PST by Chris Charles |
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By Thomas K. Burk
Spinning the Emperor’s New Clothes
A tongue-in-cheek adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic: THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES.
Once upon a time there was a group of prophecy teachers. They worked hard at showing how their sensational ideas were actually found in the Bible. They changed their predictions quite frequently, and loved to sell their new ideas to their people. Word of their doctrinal inconsistency spread over their kingdom and beyond.
Two spin doctors who heard of the teachers’ shifting predictions decided to take advantage of them. They introduced themselves to these brethren with a scheme in mind.
“We are two very good spin doctors, and after many years of research, we have invented an extraordinary method to weave doctrines so tight and refined that they pass as believable without scriptural evidence. As a matter of fact, these doctrines are believable to everyone except to those too narrow and unlearned in the scriptures to appreciate their scholarly research.”
The Chief of the Guardian of Traditionalism heard the spin doctors’ strange story and sent for the Creator of Books and Tapes, who then notified the resellers and bookstore owners, who, in turn, ran to the teachers and disclosed this incredible and profitable news. The teachers’ curiosity thus got the better of them, and they decided to see what the two spin doctors could devise.
“Besides being very convincing, wise teachers,” said the spin doctors, “this doctrine will be spun in sensationally worded verbiage especially designed to support your prophetic view.”
The teachers gave the two spin doctors a bag of gold coins in exchange for their promise to begin working on this doctrine immediately. “Just tell us what you need to get started, and we’ll give it to you.” The two spin doctors asked for no Bible and began to work on their doctrine.
The teachers thought they had spent their money quite well: in addition to getting a new sensationalized doctrine to help prove their views, they would also find out who in their ranks was narrow and unlearned, simply by their choosing not to agree with their organization’s new official prophetic stance.
A few days later, an old and wise preacher, who was considered a man with common sense, was asked to review these new sensationalized predictions. “Go and review how good they sound,” the teachers told him, “and come back to let us know if they align with our prophetic traditions.”
The preacher was welcomed by the two spin doctors. “We’re almost finished with this new doctrine, but we need to add a few more newspaper and magazine articles. Here, Reverend! Admire the verbiage created especially to support your choice of doctrinal view!”
The old man bent over to read the teaching that the spin doctors had created. He felt cold sweat on his forehead. “I can’t see anything here that I remember reading in my Bible,” he thought. “But if I do not go along with this view, then everyone will think I am too narrow and unlearned in the scriptures, or worse, I might lose my position in the organization and my fellowship with the brethren.” This preacher then said, “What a marvelous doctrine! I’ll certainly tell the teachers. By the way, what is it you call this?” To this the spin doctors smirked and said, “Dispensationalism.”
The two spin doctors rubbed their hands gleefully. They had almost made it. More magazines and newspapers were requested to finish this doctrine.
Finally, the teachers received the announcement that the two spin doctors had all the traditions and secular information that they needed to finish this new twist of prophetic belief. “Come in,” the teachers ordered. Even as they bowed, the two spin doctors pretended to be holding a large book of biblically founded truths.
“Here it is, wise teachers. The result of our labor—Dispensationalism!” the spin doctors said. “We have worked night and day but, at last, the most beautiful understanding of prophecy since the crucifixion of Christ is ready for you. Look at the all the secular information and the scholarly work; see how well it fits your teachings.”
Of course, the teachers did not see any scriptural proofs before them that showed these newspaper and magazine articles were correct. When they realized this they first panicked and felt like fainting. Luckily their Scofield Bible and Charles Larkin charts were right behind them to steady their stance. But when they realized that no one else in their group felt compelled to ask why there were no scriptures, they felt better. This common silence allowed those present to remain in fellowship as long as they followed along with what this new “traditional doctrine of Dispensationalism” was saying.
The farce continued as the two scoundrels had foreseen it. Once they had explained this twist on prophetic view, the two began explaining how it could be used to convince people of their particular doctrine, and how it could be used to write best-selling books that those who are afraid of being left behind would buy.
The spin doctors said to the teachers, “To remain in this doctrine, you’ll have to quit reading the scriptures for what they actually say, and instead refer to our study notes.” The teachers were at first reluctant, but since none of the other preachers assembled objected, they agreed.
“Yes, this is a beautiful doctrine, and it looks like we can use it as proof of our teachings,” the teachers said, trying to look comfortable. “You spin doctors have done a fine job.”
The brethren then said, “We have a request of you teachers. The church congregation has found out about this sensational teaching and is anxious to hear it for themselves.”
These teachers wondered whether some saints would question those teachings that did not have any scriptural evidence, but soon abandoned their fear when they remembered that only those who were too narrow or unlearned in the scriptures would dare question whether or not this doctrine was a biblical truth.
“All right,” they said. “We will grant the people this privilege of our teachings.” They announced that a conference should be held. A group of preachers sat on the platform of this conference to give their silent approval of these doctrines. As they sat there, they anxiously scrutinized the faces of the saints in the pews. Applause welcomed the regal procession of dispensational teachers. All the people had gathered in the auditorium, pushing and shoving to get a better seat because they were so hungry and open to receive biblical understanding of these important truths; they also wanted to know how narrow or unlearned in the scriptures was his or her neighbor.
As the teachers of Dispensationalism passed, a strange murmur rose from the crowd. Everyone said, loud enough for the others to hear: “Look at the teachers’ new doctrine. It is beautiful! Look at the sensational newspaper and magazine articles they offer as its proof! All these secular sources of information seem to fit this ‘traditional teaching’ of Dispensationalism so well!” The crowd tried to conceal their disappointment at not being able to find scriptures to backup these teachings, but since nobody was willing to admit he was narrow or unlearned in the scriptures, they all behaved as the two spin doctors had predicted.
A child of God, however, who did not consider his reputation being more important than standing up for God’s truth, and would only believe things he could find in the Bible, went up to the conference pulpit and said, “These teachings of Dispensationalism are the traditions of man and are not found in the Bible.”
“You fool! You heretic!” those near him shouted. “Don't talk nonsense! Don’t you know what our organization teaches?” They grabbed this child of God and took him away to expel him from the fellowship.
But the child of God’s remark, which had been heard by the congregation, was repeated over and over again until everyone cried, “He is right! The teachers of Dispensationalism are teaching a doctrine that are the traditions of man and are not found in the Bible!”
These teachers of Dispensationalism realized that the people were right, but could not admit to their error because they felt they had too much to lose since their kingdoms were built atop these traditions. Because of this they thought it best to continue teaching these traditions under the guise that anyone who couldn’t see them was narrow and unlearned in the scriptures. And so they carried on their teachings, while ignoring the fact that their tradition of Dispensationalism was absent of biblical proof.
Note: Thomas K. Burk is an elder at Soul’s Harbor Apostolic Church, Manitowoc, WI, and Editor in Chief of OnTime Journal Ministries (www.ontimejournal.com). You can contact him for reprint or quote permission by mail at: 1137 N. 16th St., Manitowoc, WI 54220-2606; by phone at: 920.682.2524; or by email at: tkburk@ontimejournal.com
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