I still do a daily check at Full Preterist websites, and on Facebook (where, perhaps, most are now frequently popping up). One of the things that I have noticed, however, is that there is increasing hostility for the institutionalized church. Having left Hyper Preterism, and becoming a member of a local church, I can say that the view from here is definitely positive.
From the HP perspective, we are already “in heaven” and “perfect”. The idea of progressive sanctification is tossed out. I explicitly tossed it out in a lecture at Ward Fenley’s conference in Arizona when I was a HP. And, I can see where the link can be made against the Church when one thinks like this (even though I retained an ecumenical approach as a HP – and even here ran into much trouble among them). It seems as if the HP has a hard time reconciling “unity” in the Church (emphasizing where we all agree and work together on a social platform) with their doctrine of “fulfillment”. Hence, they are chanting that we need to “reform” the church. In other words, take it over. HP is conversion oriented and its target is the average Joe in the pew (or lurking on the internet). Heresy is not happy with its own. It seeks new recruits.
One of the ways in which it does this is to tap into an already existing climate that is decidedly anti-church. ”Bible studies” and “get togethers” form the new mentality (call it Neo-Christianity). ”Feeling” and the like (so called “spirituality”) is the new leading of the Spirit. ”How dare you say to me that I am not a Christian!” ”Well, do you believe (credo) that he shall come again and raise the dead?” ”No!” ”Then you are not a Christian.” This really makes the HP mad as hell.
It’s all about definitions, folks. ”Christian”, “Christianity” and “Christendom” have been defined. However, and this is certainly nothing new, the heretics and the feely touchy spiritualism want to blur the lines of distinction, because, on one hand, they want to be a part of the greater throng of the “innumerable multitudes” (Rev 7:9), and yet, on the other don’t want to play by the rules set by that very multitude. In general, we don’t like rules. Increasingly, everyone gets a trophy (my son threw his trophy away when his hockey team received the same trophy as the first place team. ”You get a trophy for losing?” That’s my boy). Only losers say, “you are all winners!” Tell that to the New Jersey Devils. Christianity is the winning team. Church is the winning league. But, they have rules.
So, they want to call themselves “Christians”, and yet want to “reform” the Church. Blur the lines, so to speak. ”Include us”. And, then, when the Church does not include them, they get mad. They want a trophy, too! They want on the winning team. And when the team does not let them on, and even dissect the absurdity of their new eschatology, they go on the rampage of destroying the very team they desperately want on. Of course, this will not happen. If Full Preterists think that in just a few more years the Church will buy into its view (this is the “blessed hope” of FP), they need to think again, and I think some of them have. Hence, two options confront them: 1). Redefine the meaning of “Christian” so that it becomes inclusive of their heresy. 2). Reorganize FP groups and make a fresh start with a clean break from the Historic Faith (this is what the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and like groups did). This latter option is more honest. The former option is what I am more concerned with and alarmed by. With the former option, the lines of distinction are blurred by the FP who preys on the innocent pew sitter and his or her ignorance over just how important Christian Eschatology is. It is a lie to say, “Oh, we believe in resurrection. We believe in resurrection of the body. We believe in the Second Coming.” So does the Mormon. Now, ask them about the definition, and you will see a massive difference. Deception. That’s what heresy does. Charles “Tex” Watson believed in Jesus Christ. His definition was Charles Manson. I believe in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Logos, who resides, bodily, in heaven and shall come again to earth to renew all of creation. This is not the HP definition. For them, the “man, Christ Jesus” and the Logos are confused together after the Ascension. There is no 6 foot Jesus in a body in heaven today. Doctrine is everything.
With the denial of progressive sanctification, it is easy to see how the church looks to the FP as in a mess. And, with the affirmation of progressive sanctification I can say, “yes, and your point?” Then, I will read chapter four of Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus. The HP will tell me that this is fulfilled, and that what the church needs to understand is that she is really not progressing at all, but has arrived, is in heaven, is sanctified and glorified. However, for the church to come to this understanding, she must throw off the very doctrines that made her successful in the first place! How in the world did the church, which was promised to grow and increase, become the cultural force in politics, economics, medicine, philosophy, and the like over the last 1500 years, do without the message the FP wants to deliver? How did we ever make it? This is the conundrum for the HP. Now, there are still some fundamentalist like HPs out there that rail against “denominations” (as if we are blowing up and bombing each other), and they point out our “differences” and “disagreements” – and the old standby, the Salem Witch Trials (the most exaggerated myth out there – read the real history of this very brief period of time). Yes, yes, “religion has caused more wars and bloodshed.” Yes, yes, heard that from an atheist. Surprised to hear a Christian say it. Then, eventually, the Pope comes to mind, and the Crusades, the Inquisition, yada, yada, yada. ”I did not come for the righteous, but for the sick.” Here’s a line I caught an unsuspecting sinner on: He said, “I ain’t goin’ to church, cause they filled with hypocrites.” I said, “Yeah, and what’s your point?” Then I quoted my Lord and Savior’s line, “I came for the sick.” See, the church is being filled, being healed and being sealed. If I am being healed, then that must mean that I am still, somewhat, sick. The FP just does not get this. He does not see him or herself as sick. They are raised from the dead! Glorified. If the church could just get on board! Yet, I did get on board. I have been raised in church culture, and I got on board the FP train. I tried to redefine myself, my walk, and my life in terms of “already perfect”. Guess what. I ain’t perfect. I found that out the hard way. ”Intercede for me, my Lord.”
I woke up this morning with the song, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” in my head (I was dreaming that me and my family were singing this). Elisha Hoffman wrote it (1898). Hoffman was a Presbyterian. Anyhow, here are the words:
- What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.- Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
- Refrain:
- Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms. - What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
These are powerful words, and expresses the doctrine of progressive sanctification (“day by day” “how bright the path grows” “this pilgrim way“). Hopefully, it will ring in your ears today. Onward, Christian Soldier!