Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 04:4 (Winter 1961)
Article: Distinctive Teachings Of Ultra-Dispensationalism
Author: Ernest Pickering

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CenQ 4:4 (Winter 1961) p. 39

Distinctive Teachings Of Ultra-Dispensationalism

Ernest Pickering

Dean, Central Conservative Baptist Seminary, Minneapolis

Copyright 1961 Religion Analysis Service
902 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis 3, Minnesota

The “Grace Movement”, more commonly known to outsiders as “ultra-dispensationalism,” has one of its chief centers in the Milwaukee Bible College (recently moved to another location) and has its organizational expression in the “Grace Gospel Fellowship.” The American segment of the movement was fostered under the ministry of J. C. O’Hair, for many years the pastor of an undenominational church in Chicago. Since the death of O’Hair the leadership has passed to such men as Charles Baker and Cornelius Stam.

It should be noted from the outset that the proponents of what is known as “ultra-dispensationalism”

CenQ 4:4 (Winter 1961) p. 40

are thoroughly sound in their views of most of the major doctrines of Scripture such as the inspiration of the Bible, the person of Christ, His atoning work, salvation by grace, and the person and work of the Holy Spirit. They have repudiated modern liberalism and neo-orthodoxy as well as the teachings of the false cults. It is chiefly in the area of ecclesiology, the doctrine of the church, where their errors appear, and these errors have such an impact upon the teaching and practice of the New Testament faith that careful attention must be given to them.

Within the compass of a short article is it manifestly impossible to discuss in detail the finer points of all that is held by the ultra-dispensationalists. Their case is stated within the pages of one volume which gathers together the principal tenets of the movement, the book being entitled, Things That Differ, by Cornelius Stam. A large number of tracts, books, and booklets are also published by the group in addition to the work already cited.

There are four or five major points which distinguish the teachings of the ultradispensationalists from those of the more common brand of dispensationalism as represented popularly in the Scofield Bible. It is with these crucial points that this article deals.

I. That The Great Commission Of Matthew 28 Is Not For This Age Of Grace

At this point there is often an effort to identify their position with the teaching of well-known dispensationalists such as A. C. Gaebelein, J. N. Darby, and William Pettingill. These men, however, did not arrive at the same conclusions at all as do the ultradispensationalists.

Essentially the claim is made: (1) that the commission of Matthew 28 (and the other gospel...

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