Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Doctrine of Election


Dr. Couch, I saw on your website you believe in the doctrine of election, which is typically a Reformed view. Most of the Reformed and Covenant teachers, of what I can read, are amillennialists, but you do not hold to amillennialism. How do you combine [or answer] this issue, that is, being a millennial dispensationalist and holding to divine election? I am confused! 
 
    ANSWSER:  I appreciate your question because it blows my mind how the general public can so miss what solid biblical doctrine is all about—specifically, how we arrive at certain, absolute certain, biblical truth! The way you put your question it seems as if the Reformed guys got together and said, “I tell you what, let’s all believe in divine election, but we’re sure the poor slob dispensationalists will not hold to this view!” 

    You clearly do not know how doctrine comes about. It’s what the Scriptures say that counts. And the Bible is clear about God’s absolute sovereignty, divine election, total depravity, eternal security, etc. 

    These views are not held because the Reformed guys say that are true; they are held because the Bible says they are true. They are defensible exegetically. However the Bible with equal clarity teaches the coming literal millennial reign of Christ. The Bible is millennial not amillennial. And, this doctrine of the coming millennial kingdom of Christ on earth, with Israel as the core people, is certainly defensible too! 

    The Reformed guys say, “But the millennium is a Jewish doctrine and Christ repudiated Jewish teachings!” WRONG! Christ never chided the Jews for their belief in the coming reign of the Messiah. He chided them for their legalism and their hypocrisy, and for denying that He was that promised earthly King! 

    Most people do not realize it but all early dispensationalists were “Calvinistic” but they denied the “manufactured” Reformed Covenants of Works and of Grace! The Reformer guys even admit they are not in the Bible! Our strongest Evangelical schools in this country have been “Calvinistic” and dispensational, though now so many of them are turning just plain old liberal! I know. I used to teach at these schools which were the best Bible schools in the nation! 

    When you bring up the issues of Reformed theology, the sovereignty of God, and then try to make some kind of comparison between amillennialism vs. dispensationalism, you are mixing apples and oranges, and, you have been given a dose of wrong teaching as to how doctrine, solid biblical doctrine, is developed! 

    Thanks for asking!

    Dr. Mal Couch