Quote:
Originally posted by turmeric
Personal example; I know a Dispensationalist who is sure God is showing her wonderful things about Himself in Biblical prophecy - that He's showing her His faithfulness in that He will keep His promises to national Israel in a future millenium - and I'm convinced that Covenant theology is showing me how wonderful God is and what Christ has done for us.
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Does she believe that God is speaking things directly to her
apart from the text in order to show her its meaning (revelation), or just that the Spirit is using only the text itself to show her its meaning (illumination)?
If the former, and she believes in continuing extra-biblical revelation today, then that belief itself is one she must also defend from Scripture. That is because if she claimed to know that special revelation apart from Scripture continues today, it would beg the question to claim that God told her that. To be sure, cessationists are also begging the question by presupposing that God will
not reveal such a thing apart from Scripture - but both camps agree that regardless of whether God's revelation on the matter is
limited to Scripture or not, His revelation on the matter would at least be
consistent with Scripture. Thus, if you could show her some ways in which charismatism is inconsistent with Scripture, she could not appeal to extra-biblical revelation as a response, but would have to build her case for charismatism from Scripture, which of course we believe would not be able to be done. I would recommend Robertson's
The Final Word for some great exegetical treatment of the subject.
If it is only the latter, and she believes the Spirit's use of the text to interpret itself is allowing her to see things about Bible prophecy, the matter would be significantly more simple to deal with, as you would then have set boundaries for the task of comparing her exegesis of the text with yours, and you would not have the additional burden of answering her appeals to experience. In that case, the entire understood framework of biblical redemption as outlined by Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology would have to be discussed several times before any meaningful discussion about eschatology and prophecies could take place.
Quote:
Originally posted by turmeric
One of my Dispie friend's favorite statements is that "we should just read the Word, not the teachings of men" by which she means R.C.Sproul. Then she listens to David Hocking. Now the thing is that we are both reduced to "listening to the teachings of men" and we would have to because neither of us are experts on exegesis.
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I would ask her where she thinks she would be right now if the Reformation had never happened, and men like Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and Knox's teachings were never read - the answer is that she would be a Roman Catholic. Furthermore, the very
nature and biblical
duties of a pastor, of elders and of the Church inherently require that their works (thus, the works of men) be read for the believer's profit and understanding.
Quote:
Originally posted by turmeric
I just get scared sometimes that I'm just believing things I want to be true, instead of what is true. How do we know?
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I can relate to your struggle here at certain times with certain areas, as I have yet to study on so many topics, and in one sense always will, of course. But a focus on the biblical basics and how they are done justice and applied by Reformed theology will always be reasuring...from the doctrine of Scripture and its absolute authority and sufficiency, to the doctrine of biblical redemption that ascribes all power and authority to God, to the eschatological focus that points everything to Christ as the focal point, rather than merely one of many focal points. In reflecting upon how the core of those foundational basics of the biblical faith (Scripture, God, Christ, etc.) are so plainly and simply given supreme focus and credit in Reformed theology, it will always be easier to keep faith that we will continue to see their truth, rather than their falsehood, as we progress in our walk with Christ as well as get into deeper study in time.
Meg, were you ever able to get a copy of Horton's
In the Face of God? It still continues to help me keep so many issues such as these in perspective as I deepen my study of Scripture, the confessional standards and other works, and I think it would still be an invaluable resource for you.