Christians Criticize "Left Behind" Theology

Many people may believe that the theology which forms the basis for the bestselling Left Behind series of books is somehow standard to Christianity - but it's not. As a matter of fact, the theology is unique to Evangelical Dispensationalism, a theological position which has little regard for Christian tradition or the connections between the Old and New Testaments.

As a consequence, many other Protestant and Catholic theologians are hitting back, trying to get out the message that there is more to Christianity and Christian theology than what the Left Behind books portray. Richard N. Ostling writes for the Associated Press:

Dispensationalist teachers, [Carl E.] Olson contends, “have inserted divisions and distinctions in Scripture, often arbitrary and artificial in nature,” that are not self-evident in the Bible itself. One important problem, he continues, is that apocalyptic and poetic writings (especially Revelation) are interpreted as literal forecasts rather than as symbolic messages to the church.

Olson concludes that the literalist view “is a fabrication inconsistent in practice and misleading in theory.” The Christian position on the End Times, he says, has always been simply this: “Christ will return with and for his saints; he will judge all of mankind; time will end; and eternity will begin.”

It would be a pity if people got the impression that Dispensationalism was standard Christian theology — or even that it was very good Christian theology. It’s certainly popular and it certainly has a strong hold on American Christianity, but that’s about it. Dispensationalists, however, are eager to portray themselves as followers of mainstream theology. If they were to admit that their view is a minority one at best, and not one which is well supported by Christian tradition, they would have to also admit to the possibility of being wrong. That's hard for anyone to do, but it's especially difficult when it comes to one's religious beliefs.

 

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