A Dispensational Response To The Knox Seminary Open Letter To Evangelicals -- By: Michael D. Stallard

Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 07:2 (Fall 2003)
Article: A Dispensational Response To The Knox Seminary Open Letter To Evangelicals
Author: Michael D. Stallard


A Dispensational Response To The Knox Seminary Open
Letter To Evangelicals

Mike Stallard

Professor of Systematic Theology
Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

In 2002 Knox Theological Seminary posted on its website a document entitled “An Open Letter to Evangelicals and Other Interested Parties: The People of God, the Land of Israel, and the Impartiality of the Gospel” written by Fowler White and Warren Gage, two faculty members of the school.1 This document is a strongly worded and passionate criticism of dispensationalism along with a defense of replacement theology.2 Tak-

ing a cue from the subtitle of the document, the message of its theology is that the people of God should be defined only soteriologically, the geographical land of biblical Israel is unimportant in the scheme of world history today, and the gospel of Christ is compromised when it is taught that any divine favor rests upon Israel (or any other nation) apart from Christ.

The document consists of three introductory paragraphs followed by ten propositions. The document closes with five paragraphs that affirm inaugurated eschatology, frame beliefs about the Jews, and appeal to other evangelical pastors and educators to sign the document as presented. At the end of the document is a list of signatories who agree with the document. They are divided into three lists: (1) educators, (2) pastors, and (3) public figures and lay leaders. Instructions are given for adding one’s name to the document.3 The presence of a name does not mean that Knox Seminary endorses the signatories, only that the signatories endorse the Open Letter. Among the signatories are the members of the faculty of Knox Seminary with the exception of the well-known and respected D. James Kennedy, who is the founder, chancellor, and president of the seminary and who also teaches evangelism. R. C. Sproul is also listed as a faculty member of the school and has added his name to the Open Letter. Other well-known signatories would be Richard Gaffin, Michael Horton, and Bruce Waltke. The men who have signed the statement hold to various interpretive positions ranging from classical amillennialism (e.g., G. I. Williamson) to postmillennial Christian reconstructionism (e.g., Gary Demar). Preterism is also represented in the list of signatories (e.g., Sproul, Demar). They all have in common a belief in replacement theology.

The Open Letter contains fifty-five footnotes composed entirely of Scripture passages with most passages listed in ...

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