Dispensationalism
I typically don't meddle with what Biblical doctrines people believe because there are oftentimes more than one interpretation of the doctrine's Scripture references, and legitimate arguments that individuals have for believing the way that they do. But I find dispensationalism so problematic in regards to the church and American Christianity that I feel the need to discuss it here.
Another consequence of Christians defining church as a place rather than the people of God, is that doctrines such as dispensationalism has led many American Christians to believe that God has two people, not one, and that He favors one over the other.
As we have seen above, God has only one people, but if the church is defined as a gathering place rather than God's called out assembly, one can argue that God in fact has two people, favoring the one over the other. The fact that both Israel and the church are God's called out assembly is clear, in my mind anyways. God has only one people, and considers all who believe in Jesus as equal because God favors neither Jew nor Gentile because there is no Jew or Gentile in Christ Jesus.
The doctrine that God has two people has caused a lot of controversy and division among Christians over the past 200 years, when it was introduced and became the primary, popular teaching in the American church. Prior to that time, there were a few within the church who held beliefs that were similar to dispensationalism, but most of the church believed that God had one people, not two. The actual system or doctrine of dispensationalism did not exist until the 1800's.
Of course we need to look to the authority of the Scriptures for our doctrines and not the church fathers, however I think it is significant that the early church did not have this view of Israel, and that it did not come into existence until the 1800's.
Interestingly, dispensationalism came into existence at the same time as Mormonism which was founded by Joseph Smith in the United States. Both were stated by the founders to be "new revelations". I am always leary of "new revelations" when it comes to the Scriptures. It is a red flag. Just look at Mormonism. It is a false teaching that has led many away from the Truth of Jesus Christ.
I don't know if the fact that both were founded in the 1800's by members of the western church on different continents means anything or not, but I find it interesting, especially given how divisive dispensationalism is among Christians.
Dispensationalism was established in England and is a western church doctrine. It is not the prevalent belief held by Christians outside of the United States or England, unless it was introduced to them by western Christians.
Because dispensationalism is the primary view of American Christians today, Christians who do not hold the view are viewed as being heretics and antisemitic by other Christians. If this is the case, then most of the church prior to the 1800's were heretics and antisemitic, because they did not have dispensational views.
The definition of an antisemite is someone who hates Jews. I do not know any Christians who do not hold the dispensational view, that hate Jews. I suppose there are some out there, but the typical Christian loves them and prays for their salvation just as they do any other lost person.
This shows how divisive and problematic this doctrine is. For a Christian to accuse their brother in Christ of not holding to the truth of the Scriptures and worse, hating Jews, because they do not hold to this doctrine is a terrible tragedy for the church.
Furthermore, many American Christians are not even aware that there are Christians who live in Palestine, and if they are aware of them, they may view them as their enemy rather than their brother, because dispensational American churches, government and news media has portrayed Palestinians as being America's enemies due to the nation of Israel being an ally to the United States, and the illusion that the nation of Israel is God's chosen people.
Because of dispensationalism, American Christians have aligned themselves with a people who reject Jesus, and regard those who accept Jesus as Lord as their enemies. This is extremely problematic.
I think this is rooted in superstition because they believe that God will curse them and their nation if they speak against the Jews based on the covenant that God made with Abraham. Therefore, the Jews can literally get away with murder, and not be held accountable. If the superstition were true, then Jesus Himself would have been cursed by God for the many things He said against them. But Jesus only said and did what the Father told Him to say and do.
Many Christians are unknowingly accomplices to the atrocities of the Jews against Palestinians, because they support Israel without really know what's going on there. All they know is what their dispensational pastor, their government and the new media is telling them.
Most people already understand that government and news cannot be trusted. However, when it comes to an issue that they support, they trust that what the news is saying is true.
As for a dispensational pastor, he will teach what he was taught to teach as Biblical truth, or what he has come to believe as Biblical truth, but he will still rely on news media and government for his information regarding Israel and world events.
But not many American Christians are aware that the nation of Israel is being accused of apartheid against Palestinians by human rights organizations such as, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Christians, Jews, and Muslims who have been working together for peace in the region have brought the issue to the attention of global human rights organizations. Christians who live in the region do not support the doctrine of dispensationalism, and they are first hand witnesses of the atrocities that are taking place there.
It is an issue that is intentionally not being reported in the mainstream news because Israeli and U.S. leaders do not want the American people to know about it because of the costly loss of support for Israel that could occur. It could be devastating for Israel.
When the United States gives Israel millions of dollars a day, and Israel is in cahoots with our government and feeds the American news media what it wants Americans to know, I can only speculate that not much tuth is reported.
Even if dispensationalism were true, Israel still would not have the right to do what they are doing to Palestinians, and Christians should be concerned. What is sad and disheartening is that most of the people who read this won't believe me and that this is really happening, and will still label me as being a heretic and antisemitic. Worse, they will continue to support Israel and refuse support to Palestinian Christians. So please don't take my word for it, the internet contains a lot of information on the issue.
The point is, this is all hugely problematic within American Christianity and to the church.
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