I remember, as a kid, watching the Jule Miller film strips. For many folks, born and raised in the CofC, those films are iconic. I know those things are still around, having been transferred to a DVD format. I'm pretty sure Steve Miller (no relation to Jule) continues to use them in a limited manner for one on one teaching.
For those who have no idea of what I am talking about---
The Jule Miller film strips were for a number of years a popular resource for evangelistic teaching in CofC's. They were designed to convey fundamental concepts important for an understanding of the Bible's teachings regarding salvation. They could be used in church settings or taken to homes for more personal study.
In current times, Jule Miller's most famous work is no longer in vogue. It seems the whole conversation about dispensations has gone out of style. The main concept I recall from the films is the teaching of dispensations. Miller, reflecting conventional thinking within our brotherhood, taught that the Biblical revelation should be divided into 3 dispensations: Patriachal, Mosiac (or Jewish), and Christian.
Here's the short version:
Each dispensation signified a different covenantal arrangement between God and mankind. We are living in the Christian Age, which is articulated in the Bible in the books of Acts-Jude (heavy emphasis on Acts).
How long has it been since we have engaged in a good discussion of dispensations? Are you interested?
You might think I'm just chasing theological rabbits and that such a discussion has no significant bearing on anything important. However, a closer look will reveal that the notion of progressive revelation (dispensations) undergirds a whole lot of what makes us who we are.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Where has Jule Miller gone?
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9 comments:
Jason, funny that you would mention Jule Miller's presentation. I happen to know that the instrumental church of Christ has used these presentations for decades. I don't know if they have fallen out of use with them or not--I suspect they have for the same reasons we seldom use them. But I have found them very useful in the past. When I studied with people of Catholic background in the Detroit area, they viewed the 4 or 5 presentations as kind of a catechism class. If they agreed to watch them with you, they were saying that they wanted to make a change and would probably become a New Testament Christian (as opposed to a Catholic Christian) in the end. This was true in about 95% of the cases where I showed them. People in this area are not geared toward such presentations with a view toward conversion. Conversion to them is some kind of big emotional crying/praying/confessing sin event. Without these things happening, you haven't been saved. Jule Miller's presentation basically leaves them unmoved.
Do I think Jule's dispensational approach to the Bible is right? Yes. There are fundamental differences as to how God related to the patriarchs as opposed to the nation of Israel as opposed to the Christian era. At the same time there are overarching themes that are true in all dispensations. But understanding the differences between these three great periods of Bible history clarifies an awful lot for me and what God expects from me as a Christian and from His people as a whole in these modern times. I think it might be good for us to just watch the first four presentations and discuss them in some kind of class sitting as a church. That would be a lively discussion but one which we probably need. Steve Miller
I am very interested in watching this stuff and having classes on it. If am going to be a member of the church of Christ, I think it would be a good idea to know what exactly it is that I'm suppose to believe.
I already know what I do believe and what I don't believe as a follower of Christ, but I would be very interested in seeing if what I believe matches up with what churches of Christ teach.
Jennifer
Steve,
I agree that it would be a worthwhile discussion. It ties in well with a broader discussion of hermeneutics (principles of biblical interpretation). Alexander Campbell who popularized both the tri-partite hermeneutic (direct command, approved example, and necessary inference) and the 3-stage dispensation model, felt the two concepts were intrinsically linked. Campbell taught that before the Bible reader could appropriate a command or example from scripture, he must first understand from which dispensation the passage derives. (I know I'm telling you things you already know--this overstatement is for other readers of these comments.)
A discussion (class) of this nature would be a great entry-way into a deeper appreciation of the historical factors that dictate much of our present-day religious behaviors and leanings. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!
I thought Julie Miller was living with Steve and Serena.... Wow. I'm really confused now!
Third try posting this comment...
This post brings back happy memories, Jason. Thanks for mentioning Jule Miller.
Soon after I was baptized, Charlie Gorman invited Patsy and I over to his house for a series of Bible history lessons. That's been about 28 years ago, so I don't recall all the details. I think it was Jule Miller, either film strips or a movie. But I DO recall the musical intro to each lesson. I haven't been able to listen to "Give Me The Bible" since without thinking of those lessons :)
A newly baptized member of the CofC, preacher and wife come over to show film strip, I guarantee it was Jule Miller--there is no other.
These Jule Miller Bible study DVDs are available for purchase online at www.soulwinnersupplies.com (You click on Produts Available for Purchase to order.)
Jule Miller DVDs and even old filmstrips are available at
http://www.gospelservices.com/
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!
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