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BOB THIEME'S TEACHINGS ON CHRISTIAN LIVING By Joe Layton Wall A Th.D. dissertation, published with revisions, by permission of Dallas Theological Seminary, originally entitled "A Critical Examination of the Teachings by Robert B. Thieme, Jr., on the Christian Life" ii Copyright Joe L. Wall, 1978. Published by Church Multiplication, Inc. Produced by Art/Forms - Houston, Texas Printed by United Missionary Services, Inc. Second printing with minor revisions, 1979. Third printing with minor revisions, 1982 Additional copies are available free of charge as funds are provided. Requests for copies and tax- deductible contributions should be made out to Church Multiplication, Inc., c/o Spring Branch Community Church, 9560 Long Point Road, Houston, Texas 77055. iii Dedication to Linda, God's gift to me as an understanding wife through five years of doctoral studies iv In appreciation to -- Vicki Callendar, typist Phyllis Markel, typist Trace Guthrie, cover v FOREWORD.......................................................................................................................XIII PREFACE........................................................................................................................................................... xv INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................1 THIEME'S INFLUENCE...................................................................................................................................1 Berachah Publications .......................................................................................................................................1 Other Publications .............................................................................................................................................1 Electronic Media ...............................................................................................................................................2 Conferences .......................................................................................................................................................2 Pastors ................................................................................................................................................................2 Missions .............................................................................................................................................................3 Primary Contribution ........................................................................................................................................3 CURRENT CONTROVERSY...........................................................................................................................4 Response to Thieme's Ministry by Many in the Christian Community.........................................................4 Attacks Related to Thieme's Personal Life ......................................................................................................5 Criticism Directed Toward Thieme's Ministry................................................................................................5 Controversy Over Thieme's Teachings ............................................................................................................8 Response to Critics............................................................................................................................................8 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................................11 THE APPROACH OF THIS DISSERTATION...........................................................................................11 Purpose.............................................................................................................................................................11 Thesis ...............................................................................................................................................................11 Methodology....................................................................................................................................................12 CHAPTER I BACKGROUND CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................13 HISTORICAL CONTEXT...............................................................................................................................13 Family and Training ........................................................................................................................................13 History of Berachah Church ...........................................................................................................................14 Thieme's Place in Current Theological Developments.................................................................................16 THE QUESTION OF THIEME'S ORTHODOXY......................................................................................16 The Standard for Orthodoxy...........................................................................................................................17 Thieme's Assertion of Orthodoxy...................................................................................................................18 Allegations of Thieme's Lack of Orthodoxy .................................................................................................18 Summary of The Issues Related to The Doctrine of The Blood of Christ...................................................20 Issue One. The Term “Blood of Christ” ........................................................................................................21 Issue Two: Blood in Heaven...........................................................................................................................23 Issue Three: Christ's Physical Death and Salvation ......................................................................................26 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................................30 THIEME'S METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................................................30 Study Methodology.........................................................................................................................................30 Teaching Methodology ...................................................................................................................................33 CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................................................36 vi CHAPTER II DISTINCTIVE FOUNDATIONAL DOCTRINES ..................................................37 AN OVERVIEW OF THIEME'S THEOLOGICAL SYSTEM.................................................................37 Theological Classification ..............................................................................................................................37 Summary of Distinctive Doctrinal Emphases ...............................................................................................37 BIBLE DOCTRINE...........................................................................................................................................38 Definition.........................................................................................................................................................38 Importance .......................................................................................................................................................38 The Message and the Man...............................................................................................................................40 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................40 THE NATURE OF GOD..................................................................................................................................42 Thieme's Approach to Describing God..........................................................................................................42 The Love of God .............................................................................................................................................43 The Justice of God...........................................................................................................................................44 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................45 DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY AND HUMAN VOLITION ..............................................................................47 The Relationship Between Divine Sovereignty and Human Volition.........................................................47 Related Doctrines ............................................................................................................................................48 Implications .....................................................................................................................................................50 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................50 THE ANGELIC CONFLICT...........................................................................................................................50 Pre-history Conflict.........................................................................................................................................50 Relationship to Man ........................................................................................................................................51 Questions Answered By the Doctrine of the Angelic Conflict ....................................................................52 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................53 THE IMMATERIAL PART OF MAN ..........................................................................................................53 Dichotomy vs. Trichotomy.............................................................................................................................53 The Essence of the Soul ..................................................................................................................................54 The Origin of the Soul ....................................................................................................................................56 The Mentality of the Soul ...............................................................................................................................58 The Emotion of the Soul .................................................................................................................................58 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................59 SIN AND EVIL...................................................................................................................................................62 Definition of Sin..............................................................................................................................................62 Doctrine of Human Good and Divine Good..................................................................................................63 Doctrine of Evil ...............................................................................................................................................65 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................67 THE DOCTRINE OF GRACE........................................................................................................................69 Definition.........................................................................................................................................................69 Phases of God's Grace Provisions for Man....................................................................................................70 Grace-thinking .................................................................................................................................................71 Areas of Application .......................................................................................................................................71 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................72 THE PEOPLE OF GOD...................................................................................................................................72 Dispensations ...................................................................................................................................................72 The Royal Family of God...............................................................................................................................74 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................74 vii THE DOCTRINE OF HISTORY....................................................................................................................74 Interpretation of History .................................................................................................................................74 Divine Establishment and the Divine Institutions .........................................................................................75 Priest Nation ....................................................................................................................................................77 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................77 THE MILITARY...............................................................................................................................................79 National Right to Wage War ..........................................................................................................................79 Christian Participation in the Military............................................................................................................79 Principles for the Military in the National Entity..........................................................................................80 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................81 SUMMARY CRITIQUE...................................................................................................................................81 CHAPTER III BASIC SPIRITUALITY....................................................................................83 FELLOWSHIP AND REBOUND...................................................................................................................83 Basic Emphasis................................................................................................................................................83 Categories of Fellowship ................................................................................................................................83 The Mechanics of Fellowship: Rebound........................................................................................................85 The Meaning of Temporal Fellowship...........................................................................................................86 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................86 SPIRITUALITY AND THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT...........................................................................88 Definition.........................................................................................................................................................88 Characteristics of Spirituality.........................................................................................................................88 How to Become Spiritual ................................................................................................................................89 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................90 FAITH–REST LIFE..........................................................................................................................................93 Definition.........................................................................................................................................................93 Exegetical Basis ..............................................................................................................................................93 Description of the Faith-Rest Technique .......................................................................................................94 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................94 MENTAL ATTITUDE......................................................................................................................................94 Importance of Mental Attitude .......................................................................................................................95 The Two Viewpoints of Life ..........................................................................................................................95 Areas of Mental Attitude ................................................................................................................................96 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................96 DOCTRINE OF LOVE.....................................................................................................................................97 Definition.........................................................................................................................................................97 The Development of Love ..............................................................................................................................98 Production from Love .....................................................................................................................................99 Categories of Love ..........................................................................................................................................99 Critique ............................................................................................................................................................99 SUMMARY CRITIQUE.................................................................................................................................101 CHAPTER IV SPIRITUAL MATURITY................................................................................ 103 OBJECTIVE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.................................................................................................103 The Context of the Christian Life ................................................................................................................103 viii The Objective Described...............................................................................................................................103 The Objective Seen in Relation to Christ's Death.......................................................................................104 Analysis of Maturity: The Edification Complex of the Soul......................................................................105 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................107 PROCESS FOR GROWTH ...........................................................................................................................108 Review of Thieme's Model of the Immaterial Part of Man........................................................................108 Human IQ and Spiritual IQ...........................................................................................................................109 Grace Provisions for Learning Doctrine ......................................................................................................109 The Mechanics of GAP .................................................................................................................................110 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................112 STAGES OF GROWTH.................................................................................................................................114 General Categories of the Plan of Grace......................................................................................................114 Description of the Stages of Growth............................................................................................................114 Scriptural Basis..............................................................................................................................................115 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................116 THE DIVINE RESPONSE TO GROWTH .................................................................................................118 Blessings in Life ............................................................................................................................................118 Rewards in Eternity.......................................................................................................................................119 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................120 HINDRANCES TO GROWTH: REVERSIONISM..................................................................................121 Definition.......................................................................................................................................................121 Biblical Basis .................................................................................................................................................121 Stages of Reversionism.................................................................................................................................122 Stages of Discipline.......................................................................................................................................124 Categories of Reversionism..........................................................................................................................124 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................124 SUMMARY CRITIQUE.................................................................................................................................124 CHAPTER V THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE LIFE OF THE INDIVIDUAL .................. 127 BASIC ECCLESIOLOGY: LOCAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT.........................................................127 Thieme's Position ..........................................................................................................................................127 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................128 DOCTRINE OF RIGHT PASTOR...............................................................................................................129 Statement of the Doctrine .............................................................................................................................130 Implications Relative to Separation .............................................................................................................131 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................131 DOCTRINE OF PRIVACY...........................................................................................................................136 Foundational Doctrines.................................................................................................................................136 Explanation of the Doctrine..........................................................................................................................136 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................137 SUMMARY CRITIQUE.................................................................................................................................137 CHAPTER VI OTHER SIGNIFICANT DOCTRINES ............................................................. 138 RIGHT MAN - RIGHT WOMAN ................................................................................................................138 ix The Doctrine Stated.......................................................................................................................................138 Biblical Support.............................................................................................................................................138 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................139 DIVINE GUIDANCE......................................................................................................................................140 The Doctrine Explained ................................................................................................................................140 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................141 PRAYER............................................................................................................................................................142 The Doctrine Explained ................................................................................................................................142 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................143 DOUBTFUL THINGS....................................................................................................................................143 The Doctrine Explained ................................................................................................................................143 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................144 SUFFERING ....................................................................................................................................................144 The Doctrine Explained ................................................................................................................................144 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................146 GIVING.............................................................................................................................................................146 The Doctrine Explained ................................................................................................................................146 Critique ..........................................................................................................................................................148 SUMMARY CRITIQUE.................................................................................................................................148 CHAPTER VII CONCLUSION ............................................................................................ 151 RECAPITULATION OF EVALUATIONS................................................................................................151 SUGGESTIONS TO PASTORS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE MINISTRY OF R. B. THIEME, JR....................................................................................................................................................................153 SUGGESTIONS TO STUDENTS OF R. B. THIEME, JR........................................................................154 SUGGESTIONS TO CONCERNED PASTORS, ELDERS, AND OTHER CHURCH LEADERS......155 APPENDICIES ................................................................................................................... 157 APPENDIX A GLOSSARY OF THIEME'S DISTINCTIVE TERMINOLOGY...........................159 APPENDIX B DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY............162 APPENDIX C BERACHAH CHURCH CONSTITUTION ...............................................................171 SOURCES CONSULTED.................................................................................................... 185 x ILLUSTRATIONS (Used by permission of R.B. Thieme, Jr.) Figure 1, Essence Box.........................................................................................................................................42 Figure 2, Essence of the Soul..............................................................................................................................55 Figure 3, Dispensations .......................................................................................................................................73 Figure 4, Two Circles of Fellowship..................................................................................................................84 Figure 5, Old Sin Nature .....................................................................................................................................90 Figure 6, The Edification Complex of the Soul...............................................................................................106 xi

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