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Dispensationalism: Rightly Dividing the People of God?

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For about the last hundred years, the evangelical church has taken the hermeneutical system of Dispensationalism for granted. The best known feature of the Dispensational system is its pretribulational, premillennial Rapture, but the essence of Dispensationalism is a division of history into two or more (typically seven) "dispensations," or divine economies, which necessarily includes a sharp distinction between God's chosen people, the children of Israel, and the Christian Church.

Mathison's Dispensationalism: Rightly Dividing the People of God? is a good, basic introduction and critique of the Dispensational system. He begins by examining the Dispensational doctrine of the Church - that God has separate redemptive plans for Israel and the Church. By contrast, Mathison shows how believers in the Old Testament and New Testament eras are united in Christ, the only way of salvation, and how the covenants and promises made to Israel are fulfilled in the Church.

The middle section of the book, in which Mathison critiques the Dispensational doctrine of salvation, is weaker. While the Dispensational theologians he chooses to interact with do have defective views of the doctrines of grace, I do not believe this is true of Dispensationalists in general. John Macarthur, for example, is a committed Dispensationalist, though not of the Scofield/Chafer variety, and Reformed in his soteriology. It does not seem to me that the two camps are mutually exclusive. Nonetheless, the chapter on Lordship salvation does an excellent job of highlighting the antinomianism of many prominent Dispensational theologians. One thing Mathison doesn't bring out, but could have, is that the Lordship controversy is basically an internal squabble amongst Dispensationalists. Outside the Dispensational camp, those who are Christ's see no conflict between Law and Gospel.

But Mathison bounces back with his section on eschatology, showing the weak foundation on which the Rapture teaching rests. Virtually all the proof-texts used to defend the Rapture contrast the wrath of God against unbelievers (eternal punishment) with salvation in Christ (eternal life), yet the Dispensationalists would have us believe they contrast Tribulation with Rapture. As a historic Premillennialist, I find Mathison's implicit postmillennialism less convincing, but he does make some good points about the interpretation of key eschatological passages as Revelation 20 and Matthew 24.

On the whole, there are probably better and more technical critiques of the Dispensational system available, but I haven't yet read them. Mathison's book is a good overview, aimed at laymen. Dispensationalism is at least partly responsible for the refusal of Christians to apply their time and minds to an active participation in, and interaction with, all aspects of our society. After all, why attempt to turn the world upside-down if we're going to get Raptured moments before the Antichrist trashes everything? But those who are genuinely seeking God's truth owe it to themselves to buy or borrow this book, read it, and search the Scriptures to see if what Mathison says is so.

Most of my childhood pastors (and my present one) graduated from Dallas, and I graduated from dispensationalist Moody Bible Institute. But somehow I had never heard a clear presentation of what dispensationalism believed. When I started becoming informed of Reformed theology, I was interested, but I had some questions lingering from my dispensational background. I decided it was most fair to read what dispensationalists themselves said before I read what "the other side" said about them, so I started by skimming through Charles Ryrie's Dispensationalism. Reading Dispensationalism, I was really quite surprised at the false arguments (such as that only dispensationalists care about an accurate interpretation of Scripture because they take it "literally" and other people don't), the clear misinterpretations of Scripture, and the assertion that dispensationalists care more about God's glory than others do (God's glory was what attracted me most to Reformed doctrine--I had been a Christian 25 years and had never seen how "big" God is).

Finally I was at a conference at which this book was sold. Although I'd not managed to get through Dispensationalism, I decided to buy this book and read it, and to get back to dispensationalism later. But by the time I finished this book, all my questions about both positions had been answered, with the exception of not going into much detail on end-times issues. Part of what resonated with me, however, is that the focus here is on the Cross, not on end times, which seems to fit better with Scripture. I'm beginning to see that Jews at the time of Christ were surprised because Jesus didn't fit their expectations for a Messiah and to realize we might also be surprised because the end times don't happen exactly as we expect. (Ironically, it seems to me that dispensationalism continues the first-century Jews' mistaken idea of what Jesus was supposed to do when He came!) I don't think prophecy is necessarily supposed to fill in all the details ahead of time--it's supposed to make sense when it has been fulfilled.

The thought that somehow Jews who believed in Jesus and Gentile Christians remained separate religious bodies even after the Cross, apparently forever, had continued to bug me, so it was good to see Scripture after Scripture that validated that Christ really has torn down the wall.

One point dispensationalists make is that there has to be a future literal Millennium because God has never completely kept His promise to give designated land to Israel. Mathison points out Joshua 21:43-45, which seems to try to use "all" as many times as possible so that this accusation can never be made. (So much for a "literal interpretation of Scripture.") That's just one example of an argument that was absolutely demolished by Scripture as I read this book.

Immediately after reading this book I had to do a study project that included detailed reading of a dispensational theology text that is heavily critiqued in this book. I looked up each Scripture the author of that book quotes and saw many places where gaps came in his theological reasoning, but I also saw that Mathison had been fair and accurate in his representation of the book. So really I did my reading on dispensationalism after all. But by that time I was no longer a dispensationalist because it was clear that Scripture had to be twisted too strangely to make it fit the position. Later I got a chance to ask a leading dispensationalist some of the questions Mathison raised, and instead of answering he said only that the system is sound and that apparently we disagree.

I was lent this book expecting from the title to find a caustic and shallow treatment of a "straw man" position. Instead I found the exact opposite. Coming from a strong dispensational orientation, I can affirm this is no straw man, and Mathison doesn't leave out Arminian verses he doesn't like. This is a fair, thorough analysis of the dispensationalist doctrines of the church, salvation, and end times, and belongs open and off to the side of the desk of every truth-seeking thinker - with the Bible in the center of course. It also happens to be very readable, so the average parishoner need not fear the language. The highlight of the book for me was the huge collection of verses on both sides of the much-disputed "Five Points." I'd have bought it for one of those chapters alone.

Mr. Mathison discusses the foundational issues that differ between Reformed Theology and Dispensational Theology. His premise is that one's view of the Church and Israel determines whether one will be lead to a Dispensational stance in theological matters. Although this is written in layman's terms, both sides of the discussion will find this work a useful tool in the on-going debate. His work is clear and organized. The layout of the book nicely unfolds to reveal his premise from beginning to end. While disagreeing with some of his conclusions, I cannot recommend a better introduction to this issue.

Just like that book R.C. Sproul did on The Last Days According to Jesus, one of his associates, Mr. Keith Maithson, wrote another awesome and educational resource, to help the church better understand this unbiblical doctrine and its beliefs.

This book breaks down the Dispensationalist doctrine and exposes each part of it as unbiblical heresy. This book was another eye opener for me, as I read from its pages.

The church needs to get back to the Bible and stop trying to let some Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsey and Jack Van Impe type trick them into thinking that we will not be here during the tribulation.

After all, this writer, myself. Mr. Sproul and from countless research, the historal church didn't and still doesn't support that unbiblical view.

Anyone that would promte the unbiblical doctrine of Dispensationalism, needs to read from their Bible again and get this wonderful and educational resource.

I would highly recommend it, for those wanting to learn more about this doctrine and how so many are being tricked and deceived by its false teachings.

For those who have never heard that there are Christians who donot believe in a Kingdom offer 7-year pre-tribulational secret rapturenon-Lordship 3.5-calvinism position, this book is for you.

Mathison is clear and does not use terminology that only PhD's understand. Yes, there are Christians out there who reject dispensational theology as a modern theological invention that divides God's universal plan into two stages for two different people groups.

A very fine point that Mathison makes is not on eschatology...what you believe about God's plan for mankind and what you believe about the Church will determine where you land (dispensational or other). This has nothing to do with "dispensations," it has everything to do with the primary intent of Christ's first advent, the nature of the Church, the doctrines of salvation and God's plan for history.

I was hardcore dispy before reading this book...reading the Bible has never been so clear since I left that "theological system." This book will shake the foundations of a dispy theological system. If it doesn't, it will give you some serious matter for consideration.

The Scriptures do have a simple message...leave it up to folks to create a system of beliefs that not only divide Christians from fellowship with each other, but emphasizes wall charts of end-times fantasies that cannot be found at all in the Bible. The air is so clear without the confusion of Dispensationalism.

This is a great book. Challenge yourself to read Mathison's book and dispute it or join the ranks of those who have left Dispensationalism for the clarity of Scripture.

It was said of Immanuel Kant that his writings were like a bomb going off in the playground of the philosophers. I think Mathison's book is like a firecracker in the latrine of the Dispensationalism. He is concise. He is easy to read. His conclusions are well established from his premises. He uses a unique approach in evaluating dispensationalism: "What is the Church/Israel distinction?" He addresses the Dispensational doctrines of the Church, salvation and the last things (ecclesiology, soteriology and eschatology). He has a great annotated bibliography representing the various views on these issues. All around this work is exceptional!

The title of this book caught my attention because for the first 30 years of my life I lived in a church/school culture which believed that dispensationalism was the best framework for understanding the Bible properly.

The subtitle -- Rightly Dividing the People of God? -- is a play on words:
1) Dispensationalism distinguishes itself from other theological grids by seeing a distinction between the Old Testament "people of God" (the nation of Israel) and the New Testament "people of God" (the Church)
2) Dispensationalism (like every other teaching over which there is no Christian consensus) divides God's people

The book, published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing in 1995, consists of 160 pages and four major parts.

Part 1 defines dispensationalism and examines its roots in church history. Mathison helpfully defines dispensationalism in terms of what makes it unique among theological systems: it is "that system of theology which sees a fundamental distinction between Israel and the church." Its roots go back to the late 19th century Bible Conference Movement.

Part 2 argues strongly for the unity of believers throughout all of history. Where dispensationalism sees a critical discontinuity between believers of the Old Testament and believers in the "church age," Mathison sees an essential continuity.

Part 3 refutes "the dispensational doctrine of salvation" by defending point by point the Calvinist doctrine of salvation. It was here that I felt the book lost its focus a bit. While a semi-Pelagian view of salvation is no doubt common among dispensationalists, Mathison fails to prove that it is a necessary teaching of dispensationalism. As such, these 60+ pages dilute the impact of the book.

Part 4 argues against "the dispensational doctrine of the last things." Mathison offers reasons why the dispensationalist teaching of the rapture is not correct. Additionally, he explains why the dispensationalist understanding of the Millennium is suspect.

I appreciated Mathison's attempts throughout the book to prove his points with Scripture. Although he occasionally appeals to church history to support his arguments, he insists that Scripture trumps the church's historical understanding of any given teaching.

Though I am sympathetic to many of Mathison's viewpoints, and though this book provides helpful insight into areas that deserve concentrated consideration, I'm not convinced that Mathison's overview of the subject proves as much as he thinks it does. His rhetoric at times seems stronger than his proof.

Mathison concludes the book with this exhortation: "True Christians are thus faced with a choice. The decision is whether to submit to the compelling witness of Scripture or to continue believing in a doctrinal system void of biblical basis simply because that system is what one has always been taught. I urge my dispensationalist brothers and sisters to consider this choice prayerfully, and to eagerly embrace the Word of truth."

I suspect a sincere dispensationalist would offer similar advice at the end of a book *defending* dispensationalism.

This a good introduction to the issues surrounding the dispensationalist system of theology. The author focuses primarily upon the relationship between Israel and the church as the focal point of disagreement between dispensationalists and non-dispensationalists.

The author's eschatology does depend upon a pre-AD 70 date of writing for the book of Revelation. (Contrary to the reviewer below, it is not a "fact" that it was written in AD 96-97, and therefore the views of the book cannot be so hastily dismissed). The dating of Revelation is heavily disputed, but there is good evidence for the early dating advocated in this book. See Kenneth Gentry's "Before Jerusalem Fell" for an exhaustive scholarly defense of the early date for Revelation.

All in all, two thumbs up.

I have noticed in some of the reviews that people have been confused by Mathison's analysis of the Dispensational view of salvation, lordship, and things of that nature. The reason is because these people expected a book solely about the doctrine of the church, when Mathison brings out that their is more to dispensational theology than just its understanding of the church. Admittedlt they could have easily been fooled by the title "Rightly Dividing the People of God?". However this book is about more than just the dispensational view of the Church and Israel. Mathison brings out the Dispensational view of Calvinism which he goes to lengths to show is not necessarily orthodox Calvinism (ie biblical Calvinism), he looks at the Dispensational view of regeneration, the positions of Dispensationalists in the "Lordship" controversy, the dispensational view of the kingdom of God, and the dispensational view of the end times comparing all of these to the reformed positions of them.

In conclusion this book goes down and takes a look at alot of dispensational doctrine, so don't be suprised when he doesn't just talk about the end-times, and the church and Israel. Mathison provides quotes from Ryrie, Hodges, Pentacost, Chafer for the dispensationalists and Gerstner, Bahnsen, Sproul, Charles Hodges, Calvin, and more for the reformed side.