Originally published in "The Lord's Coming Herald & Wesleyan Bible Prophecy Advocate," Fall Edition 2000
Biblical Inerrancy And The Debacle Of A Midguided Fundamentalism
Dispensationalism claims to have a very
close relationship to biblical fundamentalism, so close in fact, that the
acceptance of its tenants is deemed by millions to equal this position. Not to
believe the truth claims of nineteenth century Plymouth Brethren Darbyism
respecting end-time Bible prophecy, so the prejudice in these circles deeply
runs, means that one does not, that one cannot, possibly believe the Bible.
Fortunately this mentality is breaking down in much of the
contemporary Wesleyan Holiness movement today. To be realistic about it,
moreover, Darbyism has never been totally entrenched within our movement in the
first place. We have found the conservative Holiness people to be more "open-minded" toward
these issues than the broader "fundamentalist" movement in America, which is dominated by
Calvinistic, or neo-Calvinistic, ideology, generally is. Thankfully, many of the
thoughtful within the Wesleyan Holiness movement in more recent years--even
where Darbyism has been widely entrenched--are beginning now to look more closely at the concept of "fundamentalism"
in the context of historic Wesleyan Methodism. This, in itself, is a very good
portend of much better things to come.
Some in the younger generation are
leading the way in the revitalization of the Holiness movement, which had become
stale and encrusted under the polarizing effects of the dispensationally-tainted
ministries of to much of the "old guard"--who have "fumbled the ball," as it
were, on historic Wesleyan Methodism. We thank the Lord for all of that--not the old guard's fumbling of the ball, but for the younger generation's interest in the theological renewal of the modern Holiness movement.
Friends, we have said in this paper repeatedly that popular
dispensational premillennial end-time Bible prophecy teaching represents the
epitome of the fundamentalism of hyper-Calvinism: it has nothing to do with the
concept of fundamentalism understood by primitive Methodism, or a sound accurate
interpretation of the salvation history doctrine of the Holy Bible.
Now we can carry the issue of dispensational
misinterpretation of Scripture even further into the question of inerrancy, for
what good does an inerrant Bible do, if it is grossly misinterpreted? The
question of inerrancy, we contend, was not so big a deal to primitive Methodism
as was an honest and accurate interpretation of the Bible that the church
possessed.
Friends, is it not far more important, on every practical
count, to accurately interpret the Bible that we have, than to argue over the
theoretical question of inerrancy, for again, what does an inerrant Bible matter
among those who grossly distort and misinterpreted it, as is done in the case of
those Calvinist fundamentalists, the dispensational premillennialists?
Of course the Bible is inerrant: that is not the issue. The
issue is that Calvinistic fundamentalism is one thing, while Wesleyan Arminian
fundamentalism is altogether another matter. When the Holiness movement relearns
this distinction once again she will be well on the road to much needed renewal
and reform.
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