Most people let others think for them. That includes Bible students.
Do you think for yourself? If that’s an insulting question, then great. That was the intent.
Everyone likes to claim that they think for themselves but in reality, most people just follow their herd of choice. And many of those “followers” choose to follow because the peer pressure to conform is too strong to resist. Individuals that truly think for themselves, making their own decisions, are rare. Are you a rare thinker who does his or her own thinking? I’m sorry to continue the insults but the chances are you’re not. Please feel free to let me know if you are that rare breed.
This truth is a fact of human nature. It’s not exclusive to any country, culture, or clan.
Now, how is this related to Bible prophecy? That’s simple. The same principle of enforced thinking or conformity to the norm applies to Bible prophecy beliefs. Over the years, I’ve spent a fair amount of time listening to or reading the thoughts of opposing views. I purposely pursue the thoughts and ideas of those with different views than what I hold. And surprisingly, one of the things I’ve discovered is that none of the various “camps” of differing views are interested in hearing the viewpoints of others.
Missile silos don’t think
Missile silos are narrow. They have room for only one missile. It’s the same with Bible prophecy opinions. Many Bible students have enough room for one idea. All others are excluded as heretical.
Everyone likes to sit inside their missile silos and take shots at those “heretics” who dare to think differently. In the opening subtitle, I’ve called out Bible students. When I use the phrase “Bible students” I’m referring to anyone who cracks open their Bible and seeks wisdom from God. That includes those who hold doctorates in theology or those who are new to Christ and for the first time in their lives open to the Gospel of John. A young believer is often directed to start reading the Bible in the Gospel of John. That’s a good place to start. That new believer is right to listen to the advice of the more mature believer who offers that nugget of wisdom. But eventually, individuals should learn to decide on their own area of study.
The mature believer who has spent years in Bible study needs to make a bold step in his or her spiritual life. Learn to read, study, and think for yourself. There are many pastors, teachers, and theologians who have let others do their thinking for them. If their teachers said, “A plus B equals 12” then that’s what they accepted as fact. Only heretics will believe otherwise.
Which Bible scholar do you follow?
What about Bible prophecy?
A Bible student who is taught the preterist model of Bible prophecy is usually convinced it’s the only viable option. He or she usually refuses to consider the numerous biblical passages that counter their point of view. And when presented with sound biblical arguments, they often point to their chosen and respected scholars who say it’s biblical fact. Or they repeat the well-worn arguments those teachers have laid out.
But the same principle of group-think applies to the rapture or non-rapture points of view. We also have the pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, pre-wrath, and post-tribulation models of Bible prophecy. All of those ideas have their own scholars and popular teachers to which everyone turns when a challenge is presented.
It’s rare that a person will say, “That’s an interesting point, I’ll take a look at that and get back to you.” There are too many parrots who just repeat what they’ve been taught. And not enough students are willing to take the bold step of researching the scriptures apart from the missile silo thinking.
Acts 17:11
“Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.”
Holy Spirit Thinking
The Holy Spirit is my teacher. Jesus said the Spirit is the teacher that all of us should learn from. Often, like the rest of us, I’m as dumb as a rock and don’t listen well. Don’t repeat that. 🙂 But I try to remain teachable.
So, with the Holy Spirit as my teacher, I’m free to explore the scriptures and receive instruction and guidance as to the meaning of any passage. But I’ll also consider the ideas of other teachers. But I will always consider the possibility that they could be wrong. What a novel concept. Many of us have a crazy idea, that anything that comes from the pulpit must be inspired by God. Every New Testament writer warned us to beware of false teachers. So we should be on high alert for that.
Bible scholars who think for themselves.
The following teachers represent some of the teachers I will turn to when looking for wise counsel. Each of these “thinkers” presents their own ideas about the scriptures.
Of the four, I disagree with all of them on some of their views. But I respect their scholarly approach and their willingness to think for themselves. They present ideas that are out of the mainstream. But they are all extremely solid in their Bible study principles. I’ve learned a lot from each of them. Each of them has different views on the same subject. I recommend them to you for your own enrichment in Bible study.
Ken teaches the Pre-tribulation rapture and has spent years of study researching ancient scrolls from the early Church Fathers.
Michael Heiser at Naked Bible podcast.
Michael refuses to take a firm position on any Bible prophecy model. He argues, correctly I believe, that each doctrinal position has problems.
Joel Richardson at Joel’s Trumpet.
As a futurist, I believe Joel takes a post-tribulation point of view. I’m not positive about this, but he’s similar to me in this. After many years as a pre-trib teacher, I’m more flexible in my position. I lean toward a pre-wrath view but consider post-trib as a possibility.
Alan Kurschner at Eschatos Ministries.
Alan is all in for the pre-wrath doctrine. But this point of view should not be confused with the less popular mid-trib view. You can learn why this is important if you research this on Alan’s site.
How about you? Are you stuck in a silo? Or do you allow yourself to read and study opposing points of view?
Let me know what you think.