See Postmillennialists are NOT anti-semitic:

“In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron object to Moses’ Cushite wife. Miriam becomes leprous, is excluded from the camp, and restored on the eighth day.

“That is to say: The Messiah’s Jewish sister objects to the Gentile bride, and is cast out of the camp, but then she is cleansed and restored.

“And so all Israel will be saved.”

(Peter Leithart, “Tale of Two Women“)

Two Types of Postmillennialists by David L. Bahnsen

There are two types of postmillennialists.  Gradualists, who believe that there is subtle progress in all of history, and a long, progressive ride to kingdom conquest, and then there are the doomsdayers like some of the theonomists, who actually believe that things have to civilizationally collapse before the postmil predictions can be realized.  Therefore, it is natural that the gradualists will be more Kuyperian, and a bit more assimilationist, while the doomsdayers will be more separatist, and tribalistic (i.e. ghetto).  

A great manifestation of this fundamental difference is the knee-jerk reaction many have to various institutions.  I was once one who immediately wanted to see “our own” version of everything (i.e. a third-party political alternative, new “Christian” universities, a “Christian music industry,” a “Christian” news network, etc.).  As my gradualistic and Kuyperian commitments have evolved, I now aspire to see the Republican party restored, the Harvards and Princetons re-captured, and Hollywood/New York subverted.  

In other words, I think the postmil belief system I hold to does not allow for a ghetto mentality …

I, too, have seen myself thinking along both lines–sometimes wanting our “own” version of everything and at others wanting to restore what was ours.

Which type are you?

Orthodox Deviation has a post developing some thoughts on maturity versus merit, where he pointed some things about Christ’s maturing, as well as the connection between corporate maturity and the progressive revelation of truth.  His thoughts have spurred some of my own:

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Hebrews 5:8-9 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

The idea that Adam was to mature in his relationship with God, rather than merit or earn his eternal relationship with God is hotly contested in the covenant of works debate.  But even the second Adam matured into His role as the captain of our salvation, the author of our eternal relationship with God.

This maturity helps us to see the reason for God’s progressively revealing truth to us, both corporately throughout history, as well as personally throughout our individual lives.  Hence, the reason for personal sanctification (our maturing throughout our lives) and corporate sanctification (the Bride’s maturing throughout history).

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

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mattb

We know that our dispensational friends and brothers are out there, supporting Israel unconditionally, and this is an unscriptural, ungrounded belief (see my post on this here).  Not just the support of Israel for eschatological reasons, but especially the support of Israel unconditionally! 

However, some of us may not really understand how seriously it affects their political views.  Dispensationalism has turned otherwise peace-loving, God-fearing Christians into WARHAWKS!  These men and women are supporting a pre-emptive attack on Iran (and any other who opposes Israel) in the name of this unconditional, eschatological support for Israel–and they refuse to hear opposition in the process. 

The non-Christian, Max Blumenthal, interviewed some participants (to include Tom DeLay and John Hagee) at the recent Christians United for Israel conference in Washington, D.C.  Amazing what he shows.

Rapture Ready: The Unauthorized Christians United for Israel Tour

(HT:  ChalcedonBlog)

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mattb

Exercising dominion over God’s creation is something that Christians are called to do.  And in doing so, as in anything else, there can be an abuse of it–this abuse I will call hyper-dominion.

One example of hyper-dominion would be the abuse of beasts of burden.  Using horses, cows (or kine as the King James would call them), or oxen to labour in the field is excellent and profitable dominion.

Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Abusing them is hyper-dominion.

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Labouring six days in seven and resting on the seventh would be dominion, after all we are required to provide for ourselves and our family.  But working so much that your children forget your name and your wife cannot have her own needs satisfied would be hyper-dominion, although we call it by a different name today:  that man is a workaholic.

So what is man’s attempt to control the weather?  Is this the right and proper exercise of dominion?  As the use of oil to heat our homes?  The fertilizing of the land to produce more bread?  The use of cellular and mobile technology to increase productivity?

Or, is it hyper-dominion?  Is it man’s attempt to outsmart God and His curses?

Deuteronomy 28:23-24 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. 24 The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

I’m not sure which it is really, but the Chinese are attempting to do it!  I do think, however, that these are hard questions that will need to be answered as we continue to exercise dominion over God’s creation.  Man has attempted to overthrow God’s curses before (the Tower of Babel) via hyper-dominion, and I’m certain will try again (and again, and again).

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mattb

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mattb

We are all familiar with the story of Joseph found in the book of Genesis.  First, he’s sold into slavery by his brothers (who meant it for evil, while God meant it for good).  Then, he’s bought by Potiphar and put in charge of his household (because everything he touches turns to gold).  While there, Potiphar’s wife sees the “good” in Joseph and attempts to “know” him Adam and Eve style.  Joseph remains true to his God and his faith, politely declining (okay, running for the hills).  Potiphar’s wife accuses him before Potiphar, who has him put into prison.  In prison, things start turning to gold again, and Joseph ends up running that place.  He interprets a couple of dreams, one of the dreamers reports this to Pharaoh, and whabbam, Joseph’s the number two guy in all of Egypt, extending salvation to all the world.

So, how did Joseph take dominion, and how do we do it his way?  To put it plainly, Joseph did all the work while the lazy pagans, seeking riches and glory, just handed dominion over to him.  Or, to let James Jordan say it (has he did so well in Primeval Saints),

“It is all too easy [for oppressed Christians] to yield to sinful temptation and seek to obstruct the designs of heathen masters by demonstrating half-hearted obedience or active meddling.  The story of Joseph tells us that the road to victory, dominion, and mastery is through service, the humble service of a slave.  Through service and suffering God purges and destroys indwelling sin in the believer, builds character in him, and fits him for the mastery of some portion of the world.  As the lazy wicked see that they can trust the hard-working righteous to keep the machinery running, they will be inclined to turn it over to them.”

So the next time your considering which imprecatory psalm* to sing about your supervisor try performing the humble service of a slave until the Lord has prepared them to turn dominion over to you.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

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mattb

*If you need a recommendation, go with Psalm 54–it is tame compared to some others and can really get you in an imprecatory mood**!

**For more on imprecatory Psalms (watch as I pass the buck), see Doug Wilson.

…you can get to heaven without it–but why would you want to?

(HT:  ReformedCovenanter) 

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mattb

You have seen the house built, you have seen it adorned
By one who came in the night, it is now dedicated to GOD.
It is now a visible church, one more light set on a hill
In a world confused and dark and disturbed by portents of fear.
And what shall we say of the future?  Is one church all we can build?
Or shall the Visible Church go on to conquer the World?

(T.S. Eliot, “Two Choruses from ‘The Rock’”)

…and questions not allowed.

This is secular eschatology with a secular Messiah — meet the prophets:  Sheryl Crow (singer) and Laurie David (producer of An Inconvenient Truth).