DISPENSATIONALISM AND CHRIST THE POLITICIAN

Christ, Dispensationalism September 14, 2015 Comments: 3

PMT 2015-110 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.Christ President

In my previous article I began a brief study considering some of the leading errors in classic (populist) dispensationalism. I opened with a presentation of the Christological distortions inherent in the system — which is significant in that Christ lies at the very center of Christianity. I will continue my concern with those Christological distortions in this article.

One of the difficulties dispensationalists have in understanding the Messianic kingdom promised by the prophets is with regard to its fundamental nature. Several major misconceptions lead them astray in this regard. We highlight but three: they assert of the Messianic kingdom that it will (1) be a future, earthly, Armageddon-introduced, political system, (2) require the physical presence of Christ on earth, and (3) be fundamentally Jewish in purpose and character. Continue reading →

DISPENSATIONALISM DISTORTS CHRIST’S RULE

Christ, Dispensationalism September 11, 2015 Leave a comment

PMT 2015-109 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. Crown

In this and the next few blog articles, I will be highlighting three types of distortions involved in classic dispensationalism, the most wildly popular eschatological position in the modern evangelical market. These distortions are harmful to a balanced Christian worldview. In this brief series, I have chosen to cover classic dispensational errors in the areas of christology, redemptive history, and contemporary historical progress. There are, of course, many other areas that I could consider.

Before I begin considering these, it should be understood that, as in any system, there will be some internal disagreements among its adherents. The aspects I have chosen for scrutiny are broadly popular, even if some of the details of the following features are debated by dispensational theologians. Continue reading →

PERSECUTION AND REVIVAL IN INDIA

News September 4, 2015 Leave a comment

Christians IndiaPMT 2015-107
An insightful article on the vibrance of resurgent Christianity in Hindu India. Pray for our brothers there. Pray for our faith worldwide. Here is the first portion of the article

Christian Faith Is Growing 7 Years After Hindu Radicals Killed 100 Believers, Destroyed 6,000 Churches in India
By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter

Christians in India marked the seventh anniversary of the Orissa attacks on Monday, praying for close to 100 Christians who were massacred by Hindu extremists who were pressuring them to convert. An Archbishop has said the faith of Orissa’s Christians has grown stronger in the face of persecution. Continue reading →

IS WORLD VIOLENCE DECLINING?

Objections, Optimism August 28, 2015 Comments: 4

Obama work donePMT 2015-103

Postmillennialism’s distinctive element is the conviction that Scripture teaches that the gospel and righteousness will dominate the world for a long period of time before Christ returns. And that this will occur as the Great Commission progresses in its saving work among men. This is also its most doubted and debated point. Each of the other eschatological perspectives predicts the world will get worse until Christ comes to rescue us out of it and effect the Last Judgment.

Postmillennialists have a powerful response to those who see no improvement in world conditions since the first century and the Neronic persecution of Christianity as a minority class. Continue reading →

HOLLYWOOD WORLDVIEWS AND POSTMILLENNIALISM

Culture, Worldview August 26, 2015 Leave a comment

Godawa backup 2PMT 2015-102 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Millennial views represent an important feature of a Christian worldview. How the world is developing and how it will end necessarily impact one’s worldview thinking. In our day secular humanism is the dominant worldview, crushing out all opposition. But secular humanism is built on air — literally on a chance explosion 13.7 billion years ago. Or perhaps 13.8 billion years ago, depending on who you read.

Postmillennialism is a key component of a truly biblical, and ultimately optimistic worldview. My commitment to postmillennialism is not a side venture in my thinking. It is key to what I believe to be the truth of Scripture. Unfortunately, too many evangelicals are unaware of worldviews and worldview thinking. Because of that “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6). And if Christians are not self-consciously aware of the biblical worldview, they will un-self-consciously pick up on a secular worldview by osmosis from our culture. Continue reading →

REVELATION COMMENTARY PROJECT UPDATE

Revelation August 21, 2015 Comments: 16

Gentry with booksPMT 2015-100 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

I receive a steady flow of questions regarding my Revelation commentary’s progress towards publication. I will give my blog readers a brief report on this — don’t tell anyone about this. Let’s surprise them. 🙂

The state of the matter

I spoke with the Tolle Lege editor of my commentary this week. He will finish editing volume 1 this weekend. Then he will send the digital files to me. Once I go over it, make any necessary corrections or additions, and return it to him, he will start work on the final layout. I will be focusing on careful review of the edited manuscript beginning the moment I receive it. I am anxious to get it done! Continue reading →

CULTURE, MOVIES, AND POSTMILLENNIALISM

Culture, Worldview August 17, 2015 Comments: 6

Hollywood worldviewsPMT 2015-099 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Postmillennialism believes in cultural engagement. In fact, it necessarily does so, and it does so as a transformationist approach to culture. That is, we believe that fallen culture must not only be challenged by the gospel and God’s word, but must be transformed by the power of God working through his people.

Modern American culture is greatly impacted by Hollywood movies and therefore by the Hollywood worldviews. Since movies are very much on people’s minds today, we as postmillennialists must recognize the power of story, the power of movies to affect our culture. And to do so, we must be able to discern, critique, and rebut the fallen worldviews presented in most movies today.

Perhaps the premiere analyst of Hollywood’s worldviews is Reformed, postmillennial, Christian apologist, screen writer, and author, Brian Godawa. His book Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Movies with Wisdom and Discernment is a must-have book for the alert Christian today. Continue reading →