These are the concluding thoughts from Sam's article "The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat." I thought them to be so pertinent to the subject of church life that I included them here under "Body Life." Sam's hit the bull's eye here! Even if you don't read "Weeds Among the Wheat" (and I hope you do), this segment is worthy of our consideration.

Christians have an unusual talent for separating themselves from those who disagree. I urge preterists not to do this. I myself have many friends who are not preterists. I make it a point to fellowship with them. Preterists run the risk of “breaking off* with the established organizational denominations, thinking they are “more wise” than the traditionalists. Although I am entirely convinced that the Bible teaches this doctrine, beyond a shadow of a doubt, this parable tells me that “breaking away” too fast is both unwise, and unloving. Many preterists do not even attend church anymore. I find this alarming. Are we so wise that we can say, “I have no need of thee” to others we deem not so wise?

The principle between the Jews and the Gentiles applies here as well. The message of the gospel was spiritualized, based on Israel*s fleshly perception. Jerusalem “below” was now “Jerusalem above,” the “lamb of the offering,” was now, spiritually, Jesus, the “lamb of God,” the fleshly circumcision was now the “circumcision of the heart.” Israel, “according to the flesh,” was not fully prepared to hear this spiritualization of their promises. They wanted a physical Jerusalem, and physical rule and reign over the world. Paul was taking their Scriptures and teaching a “new” spin on them, “according to the Spirit.” Did he break from them? Did he not seek them out? Did he not say, “love your enemies?” Preterism is a stumbling-block for many Christians, so what should our treatment of them be?

Unless I am called a blatant heretic, then I seek fellowship. Obviously, those non-preterists that make such a charge are guilty of “separating” what God has joined together. The whole general tone of love is to “reason together and see if these things are so.” But, if non-preterists want no part, having made up their minds that their tradition is the correct tradition, then, obviously, it becomes hard to fellowship. But, I have met many, some quite learned, that seek to understand my view as they hold to theirs, and we have fellowship together without animosity, and without division. They don*t call me a “heretic,” and I don*t tell them that they make Jesus a liar, along with the apostles. Such dialogue gets one no where.

I, too, was “one of them,” being raised in a denominational church, hearing the Dispensational view. It was in Bible College that I began to see that view as fatally flawed, Did that mean that I was lost until I became a preterist? Nope. Therefore, if we are all in Christ, errors and all, then why can we not see this as God sees it?

The preterist vision is what John saw in heaven. People from all nations, languages, and tribes together wearing white. I think that is how God sees His Church, from all denominations, languages, and varying theological differences. We are all wearing white, the righteousness of Christ. Well, perhaps we should begin to see each other that way, and speak to one another over our differences, which I do not devalue in the slightest. If we have God*s perspective of those who profess Jesus as Lord, and treat them as such, without being so quick to separate, isolate, and not tolerate, then we can really begin to make headway in the 21st century.

Preterists have a massive hill to climb, and adding to the burden of being intolerable ourselves worsens the situation. Non-Preterists have the burden of explaining why so many millennial veiws are rampant today. Is it not better to suggest that the best people to explain this were the ones to whom it was originally given in the Bible? Did Paul allow for “agreeing to disagree” on his eschatological view? Or did he, rather, say, to his own congregants, “I do not want you ignorant brothers,. . .and now you know?” (2 Thessalonians 2:1 ff). Why, then, does the Church accept “ignorance” and “panmillennialism” (it will all pan out in the end)? Is that Paul*s eschatology? We will continue in love to challenge our brethren.

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