A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

nce of dispensationalism in Mennonite Brethren circles. Since the above- named men were known for their positive attitude toward the authority of Scripture and the doctrine of salvation by grace, dispensational teach- ing was accepted as an integral part of evangelicalism. In the light of the Mennonite Brethren Confession of Faith, which represents the brotherhood's understanding of biblical revelation, the issues which are raised by dispensationalism are crucial for the life and mission of the church. Perhaps the most serious question is raised by the dispensationalist teaching that certain parts of the Bible apply almost exclusively to national Israel and not to Christians. In their attempts to "rightly divide" the Word of truth, dispensationalists have at times reduced the evangelical canon to the Gospel of John and the Pauline Epistles. According to Scofield, the Sermon on the Mount must be viewed as the constitution of a future kingdom, and as such it is "pure law." 63 In such a view of Scripture it is relatively easy to relegate Christ's teaching on discipleship to another age. Although Mennonite Brethren, like the earlier Anabaptists, have UNDERSTANDING BIBLICAL REVELATION 379 consistently held to the view of a progressive revelation in Scripture and to the finality of the New Testament, they have at the same time accepted the significance and relevance of the whole Bible for the faith and work of the church. The artificial and arbitrary division of Scripture found in dispensationalism is foreign to historic Mennonite Brethren theology. 91 The doctrine of the "postponement" of Christ's kingdom by dispensationalists has far-reaching implications not only for Christian ethics, but also for the mission of the church. Since the "Great Commission" in the New Testament is inseparably linked to the establishment of Christ's kingdom on earth, dispensationalists have relegated the fulfillment of Christ's command — at least in part — to a future kingdom. In the millennium the Great Commission will be carried out more fully through a converted Israel. The Jews will finish the task begun by the Christians. Such teaching can easily become an alibi for the failure of the church. The author is inclined to agree with the observation that "the Darbyist eschatology has never captured the whole M.B. Church as though it were an integral part of M.B. theology." 85 It has not found expression in the official confessional documents of the General Conference, although a number of leading brethren have advocated such teaching. In their Confession of Faith, and generally also in their teaching and preaching, Mennonite Brethren have accepted the whole gospel as relevant for the present age. Such a view makes no provision for the "postponement" of the kingdom, nor for a suspension of Christian ethics or Christian missionary responsibility. Mennonite Brethren confess Christ's lordship over all of life, which