Well, I really enjoyed last week’s blog, so it was hard for me to want to write another one. I figured, if I had one thing to say to the world or even more so to the Body of Christ, it would be to exercise prophetic imagination, so why continue???
Well, I am learning over and over that life is a journey of learning, and I guess that is what makes is exciting. Once we stop learning or think we got it all together, we are doomed.
So the reading I have just finished was my pastor’s book – Reading the Bible with New Covenant Eyes (author- Alan Bondar). This was a great read, and provided much insight into my latest doctrine framework of – Full Preterism.
I wanted to share some thoughts………
A great analogy that Alan used in the book was the story of Galileo Galilee. If you are not too familiar with that name I will explain a bit. Now Galileo was a “scientist” who proposed a new finding about the way we looked at the universe. In the 1600’s it was assumed that the sun stars, etc revolved around the earth (Ptolemaic theory of geocentrism). What Galileo proposed was the heliocentric theory of Copernicus, which said that everything revolved around the sun. Well this was heresy, in science and church, IT CONTRADICTED THE BIBLE!! Or did it????
One part I found quite amusing (oh and yes, I went and looked it up after Alan mentioned it; you all should know me by now!!).I was amused by the fact that some scientists wouldn’t even consider looking through the telescope at his findings, oh Lord how stubborn we are. I truly do believe that once we think we got it all together, we have dumbed ourselves down.
Now why am I ranting about this?? Well, that situation is a lot of how we approach Biblical doctrine. We fail to look through the telescope at views that could very well be right, but we feel we got it all together. Where is the humility??
I would strongly urge all to pick up a copy of Alan’s book and read it, yes you can read it with critical eyes, I am sure Alan would approve, but in the end – the earth will revolve around the sun.
Also, as I have been delving into a full preterist understanding, I am realizing how much the prophetic imagination is needed. Since our hope has been fulfilled, and we are surrounded by a world living in desperation, how do we spread this hope? We all know what the Word of God says about hope deferred don’t we? Well how can we help a lost world understand that hope is PRESENT?? = PROPHETIC IMAGINATION!!!
“a very dangerous thing, likely not only to irritate all scholastic philosophers and theologians, but also to harm the Holy Faith by rendering Scripture false”. – Oh boy, we need not be as “stubborn as an asp”.
In love and joy- of a fulfilled hope,
Michael Miano
Showing posts with label preterism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preterism. Show all posts
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
A Preterist??
As of last week, Freaked-Out Fellowship became a ministry within Messiah Reformed Church. Messiah Reformed Church (http://www.messiahreformed.com) is a reformed preterist church led by pastor Alan Bondar. That is basically to say that the church is sola-scriptura (scripture-alone) and believes in past fulfillment of all the Biblical prophecies. Yes, including the second coming of Jesus Christ in 70 A.D.
This is likely to cause a stir, therefore I would like to explain a bit of how I have come to a preterist understanding.
I met pastor Alan Bondar about 6-7 months ago in a casual encounter at the mall. We talked and became friends, eventually he explained his understanding of Christianity, and YES, I thought he was crazy. My goal from there on out was to prove that his loony view that Jesus Christ had come back was crazy and without scriptural proof.
Our beginning conversations began with Alan asking me what do I believe happens to us when we die. I realized that I had a view but wasn’t really sure on the scripture basis, therefore this sent me for my first of many dives into the Word to figure out the scriptures that shape my understanding. After asking many pastoral church leaders, and searching for answers (like the Bereans) I came to a soul sleep view, somewhat similar to Hades. I will not go into much detail here but if you are interested in that study let me know.
AS I began to meet with Alan, and eventually visit his church, I began to “read the Bible through new covenant eyes” (also the title of Alan Bondar’s new book). I realized that there are many scriptures in the Word of God that have been unanswered for me and also glazed over in most “context” churches. Also, Biblical interpretation is an issue, and audience relevancy is a serious matter in Biblical Hermeneutics. The Biblical letters and writings were written for a certain people in a certain time (that is context!!), yet it is “for teaching, for conviction, for setting aright, for instruction that is in righteousness”.
AS of lately, just wresting through scriptures I have asked some friends for their opinions, and a re-occuring theme is “why does it matter”. Well, I know there are many churches out there that treat eschatology (end-times) as just an add on factor of our faith, but that is crazy! Does Truth matter? If the estimates of 2/3 of the Bible is prophecy concerning end-times I would say it definetly does matter. Lately, I have realized that our salvation is dependant upon escatology. How much salvation do you have? What is your understanding of the “presence of God”? These things matter! Also, who is Israel (which always seems to open the floor for debate)? What is the kingdom of God?
As far as Freaked-Out Fellowship, we will not change our focus. As far as spreading the gospel through prophetic imagination, the understanding of a preterist worldview actually makes our hope that much stronger. A proper understanding of salvation and the promises of our awesome God, makes being “freaked-out” that much more easies, and Spirit-led.
Here is the mission statement of Messiah Reformed Church- “Messiah Reformed Church exists to glorify God
by pursuing and sharing our joy through the knowledge of Him.”
Combining that with the motto of Freaked-Out Fellowship, “turning the world upside-down”, makes perfect sense. Why? It is our understanding of Jesus Christ and what He did for us, that gives us a joy worth sharing (Good News).
I can imagine that most people will have questions and concerns, and I would love to dicuss these things with you in much more detail, so please feel free to email or call me.
In His service, by His love,
Michael Miano
The time is near ; Yes I am coming soon ... Revelation 22:10-12
This is likely to cause a stir, therefore I would like to explain a bit of how I have come to a preterist understanding.
I met pastor Alan Bondar about 6-7 months ago in a casual encounter at the mall. We talked and became friends, eventually he explained his understanding of Christianity, and YES, I thought he was crazy. My goal from there on out was to prove that his loony view that Jesus Christ had come back was crazy and without scriptural proof.
Our beginning conversations began with Alan asking me what do I believe happens to us when we die. I realized that I had a view but wasn’t really sure on the scripture basis, therefore this sent me for my first of many dives into the Word to figure out the scriptures that shape my understanding. After asking many pastoral church leaders, and searching for answers (like the Bereans) I came to a soul sleep view, somewhat similar to Hades. I will not go into much detail here but if you are interested in that study let me know.
AS I began to meet with Alan, and eventually visit his church, I began to “read the Bible through new covenant eyes” (also the title of Alan Bondar’s new book). I realized that there are many scriptures in the Word of God that have been unanswered for me and also glazed over in most “context” churches. Also, Biblical interpretation is an issue, and audience relevancy is a serious matter in Biblical Hermeneutics. The Biblical letters and writings were written for a certain people in a certain time (that is context!!), yet it is “for teaching, for conviction, for setting aright, for instruction that is in righteousness”.
AS of lately, just wresting through scriptures I have asked some friends for their opinions, and a re-occuring theme is “why does it matter”. Well, I know there are many churches out there that treat eschatology (end-times) as just an add on factor of our faith, but that is crazy! Does Truth matter? If the estimates of 2/3 of the Bible is prophecy concerning end-times I would say it definetly does matter. Lately, I have realized that our salvation is dependant upon escatology. How much salvation do you have? What is your understanding of the “presence of God”? These things matter! Also, who is Israel (which always seems to open the floor for debate)? What is the kingdom of God?
As far as Freaked-Out Fellowship, we will not change our focus. As far as spreading the gospel through prophetic imagination, the understanding of a preterist worldview actually makes our hope that much stronger. A proper understanding of salvation and the promises of our awesome God, makes being “freaked-out” that much more easies, and Spirit-led.
Here is the mission statement of Messiah Reformed Church- “Messiah Reformed Church exists to glorify God
by pursuing and sharing our joy through the knowledge of Him.”
Combining that with the motto of Freaked-Out Fellowship, “turning the world upside-down”, makes perfect sense. Why? It is our understanding of Jesus Christ and what He did for us, that gives us a joy worth sharing (Good News).
I can imagine that most people will have questions and concerns, and I would love to dicuss these things with you in much more detail, so please feel free to email or call me.
In His service, by His love,
Michael Miano
The time is near ; Yes I am coming soon ... Revelation 22:10-12
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