"Left Behind"

Only the Layman could twist a defense of historic Reformed doctrine into something sinister. Robert Mills takes Sierra Blanca Presbytery to task for our overture about the famous Left Behind series, while we were silent on the Dirk Ficca incident, and wonders if we're joshing. Well we're serious as a case of hantavirus, and there are a million things about which we have not bothered GA with an overture.

Overture 01-25 was originally generated by our congregation In Alamogordo. in response to repeated concerns and questions by church members. Sierra Blanca is responding to a wildly popular cultural phenomenon, a theological movement (Left Behind-style dispensationalism) that: a) does not tell the truth about God's intentions toward humankind, b) our denomination has twice declared (1944 and 1978) to be out of accord with Reformed doctrine, and c) our members are confronted with every time they enter the bookstore (a series that ought to be shelved in "Science Fiction," not "Religion") or get into a religious conversation with others in their communities.

By contrast, the Layman is hung up on what one pastor said, in one address, at one conference - truly majoring in minors. Nearly everyone in our pews has heard of Left Behind, unfortunately. Almost none them have heard of Dirk Ficca. Which makes one wonder why the Layman would misrepresent and twist the facts so badly as to give back-door endorsement to heretical theology, simply because it comes from the right. Does theology really matter for the Layman, or only manipulative politics?

Sierra Blanca counts among its members a goodly number of intelligent, evangelical pastors. If you would like, I'm sure we could provide your staff with remedial education on the difference between evangelical theology and fundamentalist dispensationalism.

J. Shannon Webster

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An index of our reports from

BECOMING NEIGHBORS:
An Invitation
to Global Discipleship

A Witherspoon conference
on global mission and justice

September 16 - 19, 2007
Louisville, Kentucky

Check out our report from the Conference
on
Terror, Torture,
and Security