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. CHARLES C. RYRIE
Miles J. Stanford
INTRODUCTION -- At one time president of Philadelphia School of the Bible, Dr. Ryrie is presently Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Systematic Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. His strongest and clearest teaching has mainly to do with the dispensational aspects of the Word. This is substantiated in his book, The Basis of Premillennial Faith, and especially in his outstanding Dispensationalism Today, now Dispensationalism - Revised & Expanded. This latter none should be without.
CHRISTIAN LIFE TEACHING -- In his book Balancing the Christian Life, he shows an understanding of the identification truths. He takes a stand against instant spirituality and rightly insists upon the time factor involved in true Christian maturity. The title of his book would seem to indicate an attempt to rectify the imbalance of sudden spirituality.
A similarity to Dr. Chafer's teaching is his failure to give the identification truths their proper place, nor does he apply the work of the Cross to the self-life. Instead, both men simply refer to the Spirit's control of the old nature through the new nature.
TEACHING EMPHASIS -- Dr. Ryrie's governing theme is "dedication." He insists that there can be no filling with the Spirit, no spirituality nor maturity without this foundation. He defines dedication as a "crisis commitment for all the years of one's life"--complete relinquishment of control over the life and a giving of that control to the Lord.
SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS -- His conditions for the filling with the Spirit are obedience, and the yielding to God of the dedicated life. The results of this filling with the Spirit are the fruit of the Spirit, a life of service and soul-winning characterized by praise, worship, thanksgiving and submission.
A further imbalance in Dr. Ryrie's attempt to balance the Christian life is found in his presentation of the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of the Christian. Far too much onus is placed upon the believer as to what he must do. This would seem to be a reaction to quietism. However, quietism is not the only alternative.
CONCLUSION -- Due to the misplaced emphasis of dedication, Dr. Ryrie is able to deliver a series of messages entitled "The Spirit-filled Life" without unfolding the identification truths and with hardly a mention of the Cross.
For him the focal point of spirituality is the dedication of oneself to God for the filling with the Spirit, rather than the Biblical balance of "not I, but Christ" through the work of the Cross and Spirit-fostered growth in grace.
Also see UNBALANCING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, and The Filling of the Holy Spirit ~ Is It the Biblical Basis for Christian Maturity?