Four Dualistic Teachings that Undermine The Effect of the Gospel

Dualism is a theological focus that inadvertently separates the physical and spiritual realms. It also dissociates heaven from earth.  Within this inappropriate viewpoint, the gospel’s ability to engage and influence the earth becomes limited.

 In the Hebraic mindset of biblical times, the whole world is viewed as sacred and belonging to God (Psalm 24). Both heaven (representing the spiritual realm) and earth (representing the material world ) function as a cosmic temple for Yahweh.  Hence, the original gospel preached by Jesus and the Jewish Apostles was holistic and integrated both heaven and earth.  This is why Jesus taught His followers to pray for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven (Luke 11:2-4).  The gospel Jesus preached addressed both the spiritual and physical needs of individuals and their surroundings (Luke 4:18-19).

Unfortunately, despite the above rooted integrative approach, the gospel is often truncated by some believers and others as only addressing spiritual matters; this creates a dualism in which the natural or material world is viewed as insignificant.

The following are four theological perspectives that cause dualism:

1. Hyper premillennial dispensationalism

Dispensationalism is a theological system of interpreting biblical and church history by identifying ages or dispensations in which God moved differently. Some Protestant traditional denominations embrace this framework. The broad emphasis is placed on the distinct periods or ages charting God’s interaction with humanity throughout history. (This differs from historic premillennialism, which doesn’t use the same time frame as dispensationalists.) 

Within the above framework, Hyper-Dispensationalism expounds a belief in a future one-thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth distinct from the current Church Age and the preceding ages. It’s worth noting that this eschatological view originated in the early 19th century and is a minority view among serious biblical scholars. It is rightly criticized for potentially leading to a form of dualism and a compartmentalized understanding of Scripture, limiting church focus to only “individual salvation”. Adherents believe that the gospel will only positively affect the world during the 1000-year earthly reign of Christ. This belief includes the perspective that the world will progressively worsen and any attempts to reform it will be a waste of time – similar to rearranging the chairs on the Titanic. 

2. Semi-Gnosticism

Gnosticism is a term used to describe a variety of religious and philosophical systems that emerged in the early centuries of the Common Era, (A.D.) around the same time as early Christianity. Gnosticism is often considered heretical from the standpoint of orthodox Christianity.  It incorporates a dualistic worldview, positing a sharp division between the material and spiritual realms.  In Gnostic thought, the material world is often seen as evil or corrupt, created by a lower deity or “demiurge,” while the spiritual world is associated with a higher, unknowable God.

Many fundamentalist, pentecostal and charismatic teachings of the 20th century fell into a form of semi-Gnosticism since they often neglected the Old Testament, and focused exclusively on spiritual gifts, faith, and power for healing without a concomitant focus on meeting the physical practical needs of communities for human flourishing.

The Apostle John wrote against forms of Gnostic influence in his epistle (John 1:14; 1 John 1:1; 4:2) and the Apostle Paul (Colossians 2:8-9,18; 1 Tim. 6:20-21; 2 Tim 2:16-18). In 1 Tim 6:20-21, Paul warns against so-called science, which is false. The word science in Greek is the word gnosis, which is the root of the word Gnosticism, which was still being developed as a major heretical movement against authentic Christianity at that time.

Early Christian writers like Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Hippolytus wrote against Gnostic ideas, arguing that they deviated from the apostolic teachings and the message of the Bible. They criticized Gnosticism for its rejection of the goodness of creation, questioning the God of the Old Testament, and its tendency to promote elitism through secret knowledge.

3. Antinomianism

Antinomianism is a term used in Christian theology to describe the belief that Christians are not bound by Mosaic moral or religious laws. The term comes from the Greek words “anti,” meaning “against,” and “nomos,” meaning “law.” In this view, the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ is considered sufficient for salvation, making adherence to moral or religious laws unnecessary.

This idea is considered heretical by mainstream Christian thought because it undermines the importance of ethical conduct and the teachings of Jesus and the apostles regarding how one should live. Furthermore, without the law of God, there is no guiding light in which to structure laws and public policies for cities and nations. Thus, Christianity without the law (Antinomian) became irrelevant when nurturing civic leaders capable of crafting a society based on theocentric values. Consequently, without the moral law of Moses as a societal schoolmaster, this expression of Christianity became dualistic, having effectiveness only in the spiritual realm.

4. Hyper-Pietism

Extreme Pietism in Christian history refers to a form of Pietism that emphasizes personal holiness, inner devotion, and spirituality to exclude social and public responsibilities. Pietism originated as a movement within Lutheranism in the 17th century. It aimed to renew personal faith and piety, but its extreme form led people to disengage from societal issues, public ethics, and sometimes even the institutional church. In this view, the focus on personal devotion and spiritual experience was so pronounced that it led to neglect in the following areas:

• Public or communal expressions of faith
• Social justice concerns
• Civic duties and broader community involvement

The critique of extreme Pietism is that it fails to address the “public square” by keeping faith privatized and individualized, potentially ignoring the biblical calls for communal justice, mercy, and responsibility. This form of Pietism is criticized for offering an incomplete, dualistic expression of Christianity, emphasizing “personal spirituality” at the expense of broader social and ethical engagement.

Please check out the latest book from Joseph Mattera here!

Is America Already Undergoing Judgment? 

Scripture teaches us that it is not merely individual but systemic sin in nations that God opposes through His judicious judgment. “Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You?” (Psalm 94:20). Consequently, God holds kings and nations accountable to His Word: “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear” (Psalm 2:10-12).

Abraham’s conversation with God about Sodom & Gomorrah reveals his knowledge of God as Judge: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? (Genesis 18:16-33).

The following are eight signs of America under judgment: 

1. God grants a nation the leaders they deserve

In November 2024, America may have a rerun of Trump versus Biden for president. The inconceivable possibility that two men, not biblically qualified to lead a nation (see my article last week), are again the choice for president may be a sign of God judging America by granting the nation the type of leaders they crave or deserve (1 Samuel 8:10-22).

2. The redefinition of marriage and family  

Marriage between one man and one woman was the first institution set up as the primary foundation of human civilization (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 8:2:20-24). Jesus reaffirmed marriage as being between one man and one woman in Matthew 19:4,5. This country has legalized alternative forms of marriage and family, tearing up the societal foundation necessary to nurture future generations. Perhaps God has allowed this to be a sign of judgment upon the nation. If the foundations are destroyed, what will the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3) 

3. The cultural acceptance of gender dysphoria  

When a nation strays too far, God often gives them up to the desires of their hearts to experience the fruit of their actions (Genesis 15:16; Romans 1:24-32). Some scholars say the acceptance of transgenderism is the last indication of the collapse of an empire since understanding basic human identity is essential for a civilization to flourish.

4. Alternative global currencies countering the US dollar

The common practice of the US to weaponize the dollar to push its economic, military and cultural values on the rest of the world has resulted in serious attempts for alternative global currencies like BRICS. The eventual demise of the dollar as the world currency may be a sign of divine judgment upon the USA.  

5. Rampant crime in urban centers  

Citizens deserve the leaders and policies they vote into office. As a result, cities who elect “soft on crime” officials, due to their radical worldview, are paying the price with rampant theft and crime. This voter trend may be a sign of God handing citizens over to the desires of their heart as a form of judgment.

6. The capitulation of churches and leaders to various unbiblical positions regarding human sexuality 

Since the 20th century, many historic Protestant denominations have affirmed alternative forms of marriage and family. This practice continues to cause church division and splits especially within the Methodist and Anglican Churches.  

To see the Methodist division click here.

To see the Anglican split click here. 

See the following report from Time magazine on the drift away from biblical standards among Evangelicals here. 

Recently, evangelical megachurch pastor, Andy Stanley, made statements interpreted by many as affirming anti-biblical forms of human sexuality.  

Whenever Christian leaders willingly dismiss the clear teaching of scripture to accommodate culture, it can lead to some form of universalism and other heresies. Consequently, when a large percentage of spiritual leaders mislead the people of God, it is a sign that national judgment is looming.  

The Book of Jeremiah contains several passages that criticize spiritual leaders, prophets, and priests of his time for misleading the nation of Israel. (One such passage is Jeremiah 23:16-22.)

The prophet Ezekiel singles out the priests for misleading the people of God. “Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the profane…” (Ezekiel 22:26). 

Jeremiah and Ezekiel’s prophetic words illustrate that before a nation is judged, many of its spiritual leaders distort or dilute the word of God. The USA and other nations in the West may be in a similar situation. 

7. The growing acceptance of socialism among young people 

Surveys and polls conducted by various organizations like Pew Research Center, Gallup, and others indicate that younger people have a more favorable view of socialism.  For example, a Gallup poll from 2019 showed that 49% of Americans aged 18-34 had a positive view of socialism, compared to lower percentages for older age groups. 

Nations that embrace socialism have dramatically lagged behind free market nations. The fact that the next generation of US citizens embraces socialism may be a clear indication God is positioning the USA away from it’s undisputed status as a unipolar power.

8. The Migrant Crisis   

Under the Biden administration, hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants have illegally crossed the border, creating an existential crisis for the USA. Cities such as NYC will be forced to house about 100 thousand, costing the city about 12 billion dollars in support systems. 

 While most migrants are good people, desperate to find a better life for their families, the unfortunate reality is that they will also provide cheap labor and potentially take thousands of jobs away from US citizens. There is a huge concern they may also consume the housing market and other benefits of displaced military veterans and homeless people. Furthermore, terrorist groups like ISIS are reportedly responsible for aiding the passage of illegals, which can mean a significant increase in potential domestic terrorist activities. In essence, a nation without a functional border is no longer a true nation.  This crisis may be one of the final signs of God’s judgment upon our country, which appears to be disinheriting itself by its refusal to implement and enforce a secure border.  

Please check out the latest book from Joseph Mattera here!