In discussions with Full Preterists, you will encounter the stance that they came to Full Preterism because of "logical" or "exegetical" reasons. That is; they will claim they deduced Full Preterism simply by reading the Bible. If you try to point out the origins or claimed "founders" of Full Preterism (such as Max King's), they will claim they either didn't know anything about these origins when they themselves adopted Full Preterism, or they will reassert they came to Full Preterism simply by reading the Bible. What they fail to interact with is why over 2,000 years of billions of people reading the same Bible never came to these conclusions. But when they do interact with this fact, they normally chalk it up to how they smugly must know something no one else saw. Or that there had been some sort of mass misunderstanding or conspiracy that caused the bulk Christianity to not conclude anything like Full Preterism.
A few Full Preterists have even claimed Full Preterism was always latent or even taught in historical Christianity. Indeed, pretended ex-Full Preterist teacher, Sam Frost said:
"The purpose of my book [Misplaced Hope] was to assume Preterism as true, then, by that, explain how the Church 'sort of' got some parts right, and got some parts wrong. The thesis of my book was to find 'trace' elements of Preterism that would eventually progress into full Preterism through 'organic development' of ideas and our understanding...Since that is the case, full Preterism was demonstrated to be a 'development' from orthodox considerations early on that gradually flowered into a full Preterism...There was enough "evidence" in the history of the church and through the rubric of organic development (L. Berkhof, John Frame, et al) that justified the undertaking of seeking to establish full preterism as a viable evangelical eschatology that compliments the orthodoxy and doctrines of the Church." -- sourceThis is the most dangerous claim. First, let's note which theological attributes Frost uses:
- Presuppositionalism -- Assuming a theological premise as true.
- Organic Development -- Finding undeveloped or untaught doctrines
The idea that any Christian doctrine is "developed" is counter to the idea that Christ came to reveal and fulfill. For example, think of the many places Jesus stated the phrase: "You have heard it said, but I say..." then Jesus goes on to give the true interpretation of doctrine. Even Jesus didn't "develop" new doctrine. The problem with the organic development idea is that it implies either Jesus, the apostles or the Holy Spirit didn't give the Church every major doctrine we Christians have been following for 2,000 years. Organic Development implies that at any point some person is going to see or "develop" some doctrine never realized before in Christianity that may be dramatically different than the doctrine we have been taught (Romans 16:17-18). Indeed, Frost once said the idea of the Trinity was only developed because of heresy:
"Now my question is when did we do this for the second coming of Christ? When have we had these councils & Arius that came up and said `Hey, `, because afterall we became Trinitarians because there was a guy named Arius who stood up and said, `Hey I think Jesus was the first created being. I don't think he was an eternal being." - mp3 audioFrost has gone to great lengths to expunge his embarrassing writings and audios such as this. But what is troubling is that now that he claims he is no longer a Full Preterist, he STILL claims he arrives at his conclusions via "logic" and "exegesis". He claimed this too while he was a Full Preterist. Which Sam Frost do we believe?
I can understand an ex-Mormon who may tell me they were only a Mormon due to being raised as such or an ex-Charismatic who tells me they were caught up in emotionalism and now realize it was a delusion; but Frost and many of his followers and cronies claim to use the same "logic" and "exegesis" that supposedly led them into Full Preterism and now against Full Preterism. They even continue to cite men like Gordon Clark. We saw how Frost appealed to Louis Berkhof and John Frame and others. Frost still appeals to these theologians. What then? Did they really support his "organic development" concept or has Frost abused theologians for his own ends. And what do we do with a man like that? Do we just give him a pass because he claims to have switched sides?
People, please be careful with these men. Anyone who claims he used logic and exegesis to get into Full Preterism and then once out of it, still claims he is using logic and exegesis is lying somewhere -- this doesn't even get into whether Full Preterism is false or not; it just calls into question whether someone is trying to con people or not. So, whether you are a Full Preterist or not; be aware of men like Frost who seem to pander to whatever "side" will let him pander.
2 comments:
In the acknowledgments of Misplaced Hope, Sam refers to his seminary studies at Whitefield as where he came across the writings of first David Chilton and thru a footnote in one of his works came to know of Max and Timothy King (who wrote the foreword). So it was not the pursuit of his biblical studies alone that brought him to full preterism, but the influence of other men's ideas and opinions as well. That is what led him to a pursue the study of the writings of the ancient fathers and their ideas and opinions on eschatology. But it was scripture that showed him the disparity that existed between what the NT writers proclaimed vs what those who followed after understood from them. And it was that which fueled his own search into the scripture.
I think he did an excellent job of presenting his case in this book - whether his conclusions are right or wrong. And so must you at some point else you would not have held the same position for 15 years. That you both failed to prosper in trying to make FP 'systematic' and 'orthodox', is no doubt the reason you both abandoned this baby. Since neither of you have given a valid 'exegetical' answer to refute the discoveries scripture revealed to those of us who have not gleaned either the famous or obscure opinions of men to answer the question Sam raised in his foreword as to how it is the church has held to an 'imminent' future return of Christ that is beyond the scope of 'near' which the apostle's preached. Sam at least posed a solution from his research, which he now attempts to argue against yet without the same conviction that brought him to that understanding in the first place. And you have done no better either since you have both chose to return home to 'Mama' because it was too tough for you out there alone - where it takes a brave heart to hold fast to a conscience formed from scripture and not the ramblings of mere men who know not what they say - any more.
Robin
Thanks Robin for the input -- for read context, Robin is a FPist; one often even outside the main group of FPism. That being said. I agree with Robin that Frost is greatly influenced by...well trying to be a "man-pleaser".
However, Robin is inaccurate when she claims I failed to prosper as a FP and that I was attempting like Frost to make it "systematic" and "orthodox" -- I was perhaps the most radical FP; even questioning the need for any type of clergy within FPism. So, he narrative about me is wrong.
Unlike Frost, who immediately attempted to parlay his shift into a money making effort (opportunist).
Lastly, the idea I've returned to "Mama" (ie Mama Church) is absurd since on one hand I'm accused of not even attending to church and on the other of not joining with the cronies of Frost. I'm sorry Robin but your narrative falls flat on too many points.
While I think it is important to determine the motivation for a person's actions; you need to look at the big picture. If my heart wasn't "brave" I wouldn't be oppose but FPism and the fraudulent fake "anti-prets" like Frost.
My conscience holds fast with scripture and with billions of Christians who came before; Christians who oppose heresy of all types. Thanks again; maybe you'll get an atta-girl from Sam.
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