2
Another dispensationalist who uses the phrase "dispensational doctrine of
sanctification," is John Witmer. Like Walvoord he sees his viewpoint on the same plane
as that espoused by Lewis Sperry Chafer.
3
Nondispensationalists
In
his
Primer on Dispensationalism
4
and in Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth
5
John Gerstner provides strong criticism of the "dispensational theory of sanctification."
6
He describes this theory by pointing to the sanctification teaching of two significant
dispensationalists: John Nelson Darby and Lewis Sperry Chafer. One of Gerstner's
methodological errors in Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth (his later and more
comprehensive book) involves his failure to provide a definition and description of
dispensationalism. Without this necessary starting point he tends to pick and choose
significant (and not-so-significant)
7
dispensationalists as representative of
dispensationalism's viewpoint regarding various aspects of theology. Because of this
methodological error, Gerstner assumes a connection between dispensationalism and a
particular model of sanctification, but he never demonstrates it. What is even more
perplexing is that the two areas of theology most affected by dispensationalism (as will
be seen below), eschatology and ecclesiology, are hardly touched upon at all.
Curtis Crenshaw suggests that dispensationalists differ from the Reformed view
of sanctification by making the Christian the "boss" in the sanctification process rather
than God.
8
In this portion of his book Crenshaw is discussing the theological tendencies
of dispensationalists and suggests that their view of sanctification (Chafer's and Ryrie's
in this case)
9
either accompanies dispensationalism or is inherent to its system.
10
It is
apparent in the development of his argument that Crenshaw believes that Ryrie and
Chafer's view of sanctification is inherent to dispensationalism. He traces this connection
to dispensationalism's rejection of the present rule of Christ by means of the law; this
rejection then leads to the idea of rejecting the Lordship of Christ in salvation; this leads
to the teaching of the "carnal Christian," which is part of Ryrie and Chafer's
sanctification teaching.
11
3
John A. Witmer, "A Review of Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth," BSac149 (April-June,
1992): 144.
4
John H. Gerstner, A Primer on Dispensationalism (Phillipsburg, NJ: Prebyterian and Reformed
Publishing Company, 1982), 10-15.
5
John H. Gerstner, Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth: A Critique of Dispensationalism
(Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1991), 231-50.
6
Ibid., 243.
7
Richard L. Mayhue, "Who is Wrong? A Review of John Gerstner's Wrongly Dividing the Word
of Truth," TMSJ 3 (Spring 1992): 85, provides this helpful critique along with many others.
8
Curtis I. Crenshaw and Grover E. Gunn III, Dispensationalism Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow
(Memphis, TN: Footstool Publications, 1985), 100.
9
Ibid., 94-101. Crenshaw refers particularly to the views demonstrated by Lewis Sperry Chafer,
He That is Spiritual, rev. ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1967) and Charles Caldwell
Ryrie, "Contrasting Views on Sanctification," In Walvoord: A Tribute, ed. Donald K. Campbell (Chicago:
Moody Press, 1982), 189-200.
10
Ibid., 82.
11
Ibid., 83-84.