The following was written by Miles J. Stanford in the early 1970's in an effort to explain a weakness regarding the doctrine of sanctification [instant spirituality], the source being Dr. L. S. Chafer and Dallas Theological Seminary. Many years have passed and modifications in teaching emphasis have been made. Consequently, the points in this series of critiques may or may not still hold true. We will make an attempt to update their status when subsequent information is available.
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Chafer, Ryrie, Pentecost, Thieme, Hodges,
Bright, Hession,
Grubb, Torrey,
Gordon, Simpson,
Tozer, Moody,
Murray
DR. LEWIS SPERRY CHAFER
- Miles J. Stanford
Dr. Chafer, who founded Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924, authored a number of doctrinal books. His exceptionally fine eight-volume Systematic Theology is a set that every student of the Word, should have.
CHRISTIAN LIFE TEACHING -- In his book He That Is Spiritual, written in 1918, Dr. Chafer stated clearly the identification truths of Romans 6, 7 and 8, and acknowledged fully their foundational importance in the life of the believer, positionally. However, he had very little to say about, the work of the Cross in relation to sin and the self-life, and even less to say about the process of growth into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ!
TEACHING EMPHASIS -- Dr. Chafer centered his Christian life teaching upon what he termed "spirituality." He defined this condition as being "rightly adjusted to the Holy Spirit." He taught that this adjustment would result in the filling of the Spirit with immediate manifestation of all the fruit of the Spirit; as well as power for service in the exercise of a "gift of the Spirit." No waiting, no processing, no development necessary!
SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS -- For this filling of the Spirit and the resultant instant spirituality, Dr. Chafer laid down three conditions: (1) repentance, and confession of all known sin (1 John 1:9); (2) yielding and dedication of all to God (Romans 6:13); (3) reliance upon, and walking in, the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
Dr. Chafer emphasized the confession of known sin, reasoning that one cannot deal intelligently with unknown sins. The problem is that this teaching has to do only with symptoms, and neglects to take into account their source. It fails to lead the believer to count upon (Romans 6:11) his co-crucifixion with Christ as God's remedy for the root cause of sins committed, the sin nature.
His basic test for this spirituality was the believer's ability to receive and understand divine revelation: "He that is spiritual discerneth all things" (1 Corinthians 2:15). His key verse for victorious Christian living was, Galatians 5:16: "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
CONCLUSION -- Dr. Chafer wrote that spiritual fruit and power for service will be normally produced by the Spirit in the Christian who is not grieving the Spirit, but has confessed every known sin; who is not quenching the Spirit, but is yielding to God; and who is walking in the Spirit by an attitude of dependence upon His power alone.
"Such an one is spiritual because he is Spirit-filled. The Spirit is free to fulfill in him all the purpose and desire of God for him. There is nothing in daily life and service to be desired beyond this."
Dr. Chafer went on to state that "spirituality is the present state of blessing and power of the believer who, at the same time, may be very immature. A Christian can and should be spiritual from the moment he is saved.
"Spirituality, which is the unhindered manifestation of the Spirit in the life, is provided to the full for all believers who 'confess' their sins, 'yield' to God, and 'walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.'
"When these conditions are complied with, the results are immediate; for no process is indicated. Jacob, an Old Testament type, was completely changed in one night. Christian experience bears unfailing testimony to two outstanding facts: (1) There is an abrupt change from the carnal to the spiritual when the Biblical conditions are met. And (2) there is an abrupt loss of spiritual blessing whenever there has been a yielding to sin."
Here is the tenuity of this teaching. Meet certain conditions: instant spirituality; yield to the slightest sin: instant carnality. It is not that Dr.,Chafer actually taught error concerning the Christian life; it is rather that his emphasis of the truth he taught is in error.
His emphasis was upon the Holy Spirit, instead of the risen Lord as Life; upon confession of sins (symptoms), rather than counting upon the crucifixion of the Cross for the self-life (source); upon instant and full-blown spirituality, in place of settling down to the Spirit's process of spiritual 'growth --"not I, but Christ."
In his sterling book, Holiness: the False and the True, Dr. H.A. Ironside wrote, "Nowhere in scripture is it taught that there is a sudden leap to be taken from carnality to spirituality, or from a life of comparative unconcern as to godliness to one of intense devotion to Christ. On the contrary, increase in piety is ever presented as a growth, which should be as normal and natural as the orderly progression in human life from infancy to full stature."
Dr. Chafer certainly knew the growth truths, the facts of our identification with Christ in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. However, it is one thing to know the liberating and maturing principles, and quite another thing to be able to share them properly and to keep them in their Biblical position and perspective.
He was in agreement with the "holiness by faith" teaching of the Arminians -- that of claiming certain Bible verses by faith for immediate and complete sanctification, instead of exercising faith for gradual growth to maturity (2 Corinthians 3:18).
1973-74