bob thieme's teachings on christian living - withCHRIST.org

211 Pages·2001·0.52 MB·English

by  Steve Niles

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"
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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.
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Dedication to Linda,
God's gift to me as an
understanding wife through
five years of doctoral studies
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In appreciation to --
Vicki Callendar, typist
Phyllis Markel, typist
Trace Guthrie, cover
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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