The Kingdom Come

Since it seems there is a buzz in some circles about Frank Viola's book, Pagan Christianity I thought it fitting to dig up the review I did in November 2007. At the time, I was still part of the hyperpreteristⁱ movement so I have stripped the review of all hyperpreterist content. I hope the reader finds this review more comprehensive than some of the latest offerings.

First, let me say a thank you to Kurt F. for sending me the book and for graciously desiring my thoughts on it. I appreciate it and am honored that he has sought my input.

I immediately had difficulties with the book because in the Introduction of the book, Viola presented a hypothetical family who he was clearly trying to depict as being stunted in Christian growth & merely going through the motions of “church” – and implying the fault for this lay at the feet of the “institutional church” & all of its trappings.

Among the many topics the Reformer, Martin Luther addressed was the topic of marriage. Luther, as you know came out of a culture where Papalism said that priests should remain celibate. Eventually, Luther himself did get married. I want to take some time to review a treatise by Luther titled, The Estate of Marriage.

Luther discusses who should marry and whom to marry, per the Bible and further Luther discusses whom should be celibate and why. I will review his three-part treatment in even smaller segments. Please refer to this link to see Luther's actual treatise as translated into English by Walther I. Brandt.

It is interesting that every new generation of evangelical elites, whether it be conservative Calvinists or liberal Postmodernists seem to always go through a time of rediscovery. Christianity is supposed to be an historical religion, with continuity of foundation and purpose but so much time is expended simply rehashing the same issues that had been argued and settled often centuries before. I know some people enjoy this "journey" but to me it seems a waste of time to always be resetting to zero. Why can't we, especially as Christians simply stand firm in the foundations of our Faith? Why do people think it necessary to go through years and years of doubt, as if that is some great achievement? It is like the once obese person celebrating after achieving some milestone weight reduction while it would be better that we celebrate the person who always maintained their diet and never became obese. But such is our culture, always celebrating the overcomers of failure instead of the faithful maintainers of success.

This is a chapter-by-chapter review of the book "The Shape of Sola Scriptura" by Keith Mathison. This review began on March 30, 2009 & is expected to end before September 2009.

The purpose for the review is to enhance Bible study by first studying how to approach the Bible. In modern Evangelical denominations, it is common to take a "private interpretation" approach where every individual gives their own private interpretation & then perhaps shares it with a larger group. Sometimes, all such interpretations are considered equally valid. This method is NOT what the Reformers had in mind when they articulated Sola Scriptura (Bible Alone). The Reformers did not intend to divorce Bible interpretation from historic Christian interpretation but merely question Papal/Church infallibility.

In 2004, Keith Mathison published a book by himself & five contributors. The book is called "When Shall These Things Be? - A Reformed Response to Hyper-Preterism". Since 2004, hyperpreterists have sought to respond to the response but as of yet the hyperpreterists have been unsuccessful in not only publishing a response but even in getting together in enough unity to write a response. At this present time, there are at least 3 separate teams by hyperpreterists that seek to publish a response. As a side note, hyperpreterist "scholar" Sam Frost has actually been a member of ALL 3 PROJECTS -- either being kicked off of one & moving to another or going to another when it seems likely they may actually publish first. Well folks, you need not wait any longer. I beat them all to it AND you don't have to buy it. IT'S FREE! Please click either the MSWord or PDF link to read my 35 page review/response of WSTTB. I hope to have brought some unique perspective to the review as:

1. I WAS a hyperpreterist for 15 years
2. I WAS on one of the projects mounting a response
3. I AM no longer a hyperpreterist


EDITED & REPUBLISHED ON April 14, 2009 -- Thanks to the unnamed editor

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