The Kingdom Come

We must first ask what makes an "ism" within theology? For LuthernISM, CalvinISMⁱ, or ArminianISM. All of the men these "isms" were named after certainly would rather had their names not become an ISM. So, why did they? They didn't use those terms to describe their views; although these terms help us to quickly sum up a perspective or at least get the general idea.

However, the "isms" come along especially when an advocate begins to propose perspectives they often claim are "their" teaching or "their" view.

WHAT IS TALBOTISM?

Talbotism is still in the making but it is a perspective around the teachings and practices of a man named Kenneth Talbot. Talbot and some of his followers like to deride people for pointing out the rise of his own personal "ism" and his own "followers"; who have been called "Talbotites", "Talbotians", and "Talbotists". But the fact remains, Talbot is making his own personal "ism". This is especially evident in the fact that Talbot has created his own denomination, his own seminary, and his own church. This far exceeds what Martin Luther and John Calvin did in personalizing their perspectives; so if those men have had their names turned into "isms", certainly Talbot's name is more a candidate.

In October 2008 I wrote to Whitefield Theological Seminary (WTS) and to its president and founder, Kenneth Talbot concerning its relationship with then hyperpreteristⁱ leader Samuel M. Frost. Frost had long boasted that he in part arrived at his heretical position via the tools provided him by WTS and Frost had made a point of claiming he was accepted by Talbot as a Christian brother. This is confirmed by Talbot constantly calling Frost and other hyperpreterists, "brother" and validated by the FACT that Talbot was purportedly utilizing Frost to help develop the student Hebrew program for WTS. All of this while Frost was still hot and heavy into the heresy.

My inquiry to WTS and Talbot's surprisingly rather unChristian response (see full details), caused me to distance myself from the so-called "anti-hyperpreterist" community (and the feeling was mutual, as the anti-hyperprets saw in Talbot, a new champion despite his validation of heresy).

My contention then and now is unwavering; that a Christian or a Christian institution should NEVER appear to be validating known heresy. It doesn't matter if the institution is not the Church proper, it still wears the label of "Christian" and when a known heretic can use that institution's credibility to proffer him or herself as accepted within Christianity -- perhaps even as Christian -- then that Christian institution has done a great disservice to the Faith.

According to the official website, Dr. Kenneth Talbot is the president and dean of unaccredited Whitefield Theological Seminary located in Lakeland Florida. Dr. Talbot founded the seminary in 1980.

Prompted by the continual use of Dr. Talbot's and WTS' name by heretical hyperpreterists as tolerant and supportive of the heresy and one of the hyperpreterist movement's leaders, Samuel Frost; in October of 2008, Roderick Edwards wrote an email to Whitefield Theological Seminary inquiring if the seminary considered hyperpreterism to be a heresy and if WTS would have a problem if someone claimed they concluded hyperpreterism by employing the principles taught by WTS; and further if WTS was allowing a hyperpreterist to help design the seminary's Hebrew program.