Personal Versus Theological

In the public realm, especially in politics we often see people trying to compartmentalize their lives.  The height of this is perhaps when former U.S. President Bill Clinton tried to claim his in-office affair was a “private life” issue.  This kind of thinking ought not be part of the Christian mindset.  We are NOT to be one person in private & another in public.  A person who has an extensive writing presence, when scrutinized for how they apply their stated principles to their own life, should not try to claim this compartmentalization as if you “got to know” them personally, you would see them differently.  They should not attempt to claim they are one person in their writing & another in their so-called private/personal life.


Recently, I saw a quote from Hyperpreterist Sam Frost wherein he said:

“God has been dealing with me on a couple (well, a lot) of issues. Personal ones (not theological ones!). Sometimes I get so involved in the theological aspects that I neglect the practical, applicable ones.” (Sam Frost)

Yet the Bible says, “For as [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7
Jesus clarifies that what is in the heart is revealed by what comes from the mouth:

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)

My point is, when a hyperpreterist claims he is fixing or focusing on “practical, applicable” aspects versus theological ones, the person is falling into the same carnal mentality as the secular world that attempts to disconnect the heart & mind.  A hyperpreterist’s theological view will affect his or her “personal” applications & visa-versa.  This is the reason that I keep emphasizing that at the core of hyperpreterist theology is ARROGANCE.  Arrogance that MUST claim 2000 years of historic Christian interpretation on eschatology has been grossly in error & not until these hyperpreterists came on the scene has there supposedly been anyone who really knew what they were talking about.  Now, folks if a person holds THAT kind of theology then it will most definitely affect the “practical, applicable” aspects of their lives.  It is NOT that they are “neglecting” the personal aspects of life, it is that either consciously or subconsciously they ARE applying the arrogant & erroneous “hubris-neutic” of hyperpreterism.
All the “sabbaticals” or times of reflection in the world won’t change that the driving force is their bad theology.  It is almost amazing that hyperpreterists can go around claiming they are holding to a radical paradigm shift & yet they somehow don’t think their “practical” life is going to be affected???
The “practical, applicable” aspects of hyperpreterism are usually manifested in a few of these observable traits:

1. Overt or subtle disdain for historic Christianity
2. Martyr complex (everyone is on a “witch hunt” to get them)
3. Need to redefine environment (reject traditional & remake new)
4. Combative even with their “fellow” hyperpreterists
5. Need for validation (either from non-hyperprets or fellows)

So, although we may think it commendable that a hyperpreterist is trying to get his or her “practical” life in order, remember that all aspects of their life are affected by “what a man thinketh in his heart”.  Ideas mean things.  Ideas affect things. Ideas have consequences.