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Newsletter>
THEOLOGICAL STUDIES NEWSLETTER
October 17, 2007
CONTENTS:
--What’s New at TheologicalStudies.org?
--SPECIAL REPORT: “What is New Covenant Theology?”—An
Interview with Michael J. Vlach
--Current Trends: “Younger Generation Becomes More Hostile
to Evangelical Christianity”
--Church History: “Who Was Saint Patrick?”
What’s New at TheologicalStudies.org?
--Be sure to get Michael Vlach’s new book, "Philosophy 101:
The 'Big Idea' for the 101 Most Important People and Ideas
in Philosophy." This book is a helpful summary of the 101
most important ideas in the history of philosophy. For more
information or to purchase this book visit
www.Philosophy101.citymax.com.
--Look for Michael Vlach’s upcoming article, “How Does New
Covenant Theology Relate to Covenant Theology?” in the
upcoming Fall 2007 edition of The Master’s Seminary
Journal (to be released in November). In this edition Dr.
Vlach and several members of The Master’s Seminary faculty
address the topic of New Covenant Theology. To subscribe to
The Master’s Seminary Journal please visit
www.tms.edu/journal.asp.
SPECIAL REPORT
What is New Covenant Theology?
An Interview with Michael J. Vlach, Ph.D.
New Covenant Theology is a new system of theology that
addresses the biblical covenants and their relationship to
the people of God. In the following interview, Michael J.
Vlach, President of TheologicalStudies.org and Assistant
Professor of Theology at The Master’s Seminary, offers his
thoughts on New Covenant Theology.
TheologicalStudies.org: So what is New Covenant Theology?
Vlach: New Covenant Theology (hereafter NCT) is a system of
theology that is an alternative to Covenant Theology and
Dispensationalism. NCT is a perspective on the covenants of
the Bible and the role of these covenants in relation to
the people of God. NCT stresses that the New Covenant is a
distinct covenant that is not the outworking of the alleged
‘Covenant of Grace’ of Covenant Theology. Also, NCT asserts
that there is significant discontinuity or difference
between the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant. Thus, the
New Covenant is not an amplification of the original Mosaic
Covenant.
TS.org: Who are some of the leaders of NCT?
Vlach: There are several people who are linked with NCT.
Steve Lehrer, John Zens, Tom Wells, and Fred Zaspel have
written works promoting New Covenant Theology. John
Reisinger is known as the pioneer of NCT thinking.
TS.org: So what’s your evaluation of NCT?
Vlach: I’d say my evaluation is mixed. It appears that NCT
is mostly a reaction against Covenant Theology. And in most
areas where NCT breaks with Covenant Theology, I would say
NCT is more biblical. Yet NCT’s views on the relationship
between the Old and New Testaments concerns me. I also have
problems with NCT’s views on Israel.
TS.org: In what ways does NCT break with Covenant Theology?
Vlach: NCT breaks with Covenant Theology in some important
ways. First, NCT rejects the three foundational covenants
of Covenant Theology—the Covenant of Redemption, Covenant
of Works, and Covenant of Grace. NCT states that these
covenants are theological constructs of Covenant Theology,
not covenants that find support in Scripture. Also, unlike
Covenant Theology, NCT argues that the Mosaic Law is a unit
that cannot be divided. And as a unit, the Mosaic Law has
come to an end. Thus, there is no sense in which Christians
today are under any aspects of the Mosaic Law. Those who
hold to NCT say that Christians today are only under the
Law of Christ which consists of the commands and principles
found in the New Testament.
TS.org: Any other differences?
Vlach: Yes, NCT holds that the church began with the events
of Acts 2 and was not found in the Old Testament as many
Covenant Theologians assert. NCT also does not believe that
infant baptism finds support in the Bible.
TS.org: Do you see these beliefs as a good thing?
Vlach: Yes I do. I agree that the foundational covenants of
Covenant Theology are not found in the Bible. I also agree
that the Mosaic Law is a unit that has been fulfilled in
Christ. Thus, we are under the Law of Christ today and not
the Law of Moses. It should also be noted that several of
the leading New Covenant theologians come out of a
background in Covenant Theology. I respect their ability to
see where Covenant Theology has strayed on some important
issues. And even more, I respect their being willing to
make some changes and come to a more biblical view.
TS.org: So do New Covenant theologians disagree with
Covenant Theologians on most areas of doctrine?
Vlach: Actually, most New Covenant theologians are Reformed
in their doctrines of salvation and the sovereignty of God,
so they agree with Covenant theologians on these areas. It
is mostly in the areas of the role of the Mosaic Law and
the New Covenant that New Covenant theologians disagree
with Covenant theologians.
TS.org: Where does NCT differ from Dispensationalism?
Vlach: On two major issues—hermeneutics and Israel. First,
New Covenant theologians believe in a view of New Testament
priority in which the New Testament is the interpreter and
even re-interpreter of the Old Testament. Thus, one must
always start with the New Testament to understand the Old
Testament. Dispensationalism, while holding to progressive
revelation in which the New Testament is a more complete
revelation than the Old Testament, believes that a
historical-grammatical approach is necessary for
understanding the Old Testament. Second, New Covenant
theologians hold that the nation Israel was primarily an
unbelieving picture of the people of God, which today is
found in the church. While there may be some flexibility on
this issue, it appears that some New Covenant theologians
deny a future for the nation Israel. No New Covenant
theologians hold that there will be a restoration of Israel
as promised in the Old Testament.
TS.org: So what’s your take on these issues of disagreement
with Dispensationalism?
Vlach: I don’t agree with the hermeneutics of NCT or its
view of Israel. I believe the New Testament is a more
complete revelation than the Old Testament based on the
concept of progressive revelation, but I don’t see enough
evidence to conclude that the historical-grammatical
context of Old Testament passages must be set aside for
alleged New Testament reinterpretations of Old Testament
texts. I also object to the idea that Israel was simply an
unbelieving picture of the people of God. Both the Old and
New Testament present a much brighter picture for Israel’s
future than NCT asserts. Passages such as Matthew 19:28;
Acts 1:6; and Romans 11 reaffirm the Old Testament
expectation of a salvation and restoration of Israel. So I
think NCT is seriously wrong on the issue of Israel.
TS.org: For those interested in learning about NCT what
resources do you recommend?
Vlach: I suggest "New Covenant Theology" by Steve Lehrer.
For a critique of NCT I highly recommend that people
purchase the upcoming Fall 2007 edition of The
Master’s Seminary Journal. I and several other faculty
members of The Master’s Seminary offer a critique of NCT.
This is a review that those interested in theology will
want to get.
For more information or to subscribe to The Master’s
Seminary Journal please visit www.tms.edu/journal.asp
CURRENT TRENDS
Younger Generation Becomes More Hostile to Evangelical
Christianity
Young Americans are becoming more negative toward
Evangelical Christianity. So says a recent study done by
The Barna Group (www.barna.org). The report, “A New
Generation Expresses its Skepticism and Frustration with
Christianity,” shows that “16 to 29-olds exhibit a greater
degree of criticism toward Christianity than did previous
generations when they were at the same stage of life.”
According to the report, a decade ago, most Americans,
including young people, had a favorable view toward
Christianity and its role in society. Times have changed.
Today, only 16% of non-Christians in their late teens and
twenties have a “good impression” of Christianity.
The view of young Americans towards Evangelicals is
especially low. Only 3% of 16 to 29-year old non-Christians
express favorable views of Evangelicals.
The report also revealed the following beliefs of young
Americans:
--87% say Christianity is judgmental
--85% say Christianity is hypocritical
--75% say Christianity is too involved in politics
When asked to give their impression of Christianity two
common themes were “Christianity is changed from what it
used to be” and “Christianity in today’s society no longer
looks like Jesus.”
CHURCH HISTORY
Who Was Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick was born of Christian parents in Roman
Britain. At age sixteen he was taken into slavery by Irish
raiders and taken to northern Ireland where he worked with
pigs. After six years as a slave, Patrick escaped and
returned to his family.
He dreamed of Irish children calling out to him, “Holy boy,
we are asking you to come home and walk among us again.”
After studying in a monastery in France he returned to
Ireland in 432. Most of his work was in northern and
western Ireland.
Patrick had amazing missionary results, converting most of
the Irish to Christianity. About 300 churches were
established and around 120,000 were baptized.
Perhaps because of his years as a slave in Ireland, Patrick
had a gentle and convincing touch with the people of
Ireland. He also wrote and spoke in a way the people could
understand. Although he experienced resistance from the
local leaders and the Druids, the pagan leaders in Ireland,
his engagements with the Irish were generally peaceful. He
once used the shamrock to help explain the Trinity.
According to legend, Patrick drove the snakes out of
Ireland.
Patrick was not interested in developing the church in
Ireland based on the hierarchical system of the Roman
Catholic Church. The church was organized around the
monasteries and it focused on preaching and helping the
needy. Ireland did not become fully Catholic until the
twelfth century.
Few missionaries in history experienced the success that
Patrick had in converting a people. Years later, western
missionaries arrived in Ireland they found many already
committed to the cause of Christ. The faith of the Irish
would also influence other areas of Europe.
There is debate concerning the death of Patrick. One
traditional view places his death in 461. Others place it
later. By the eighth century Patrick became known as the
patron saint of Ireland. The Catholic Church has never
formally canonized him as a saint but he is informally
recognized as a saint.
Today, our St. Patrick’s Day of March 17 is believed to be
the date of his death.
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