[Vision2020] Thenomy and Christian Reconstruction
DonaldH675@aol.com
DonaldH675@aol.com
Wed, 14 Jan 2004 14:38:18 EST
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Visionaries
The following explanation of theonomy (aka) Christian Reconstruction
philosophy blends nicely with Nick's recent email. A Google search will produce lots
of pages with further explanation. I encourage you to view those pages that
support Christian Recon points of view (although, a quick look at the Credenda
Agenda will serve the same purpose). Note the many, many similarities to what
the leadership of Christ Church says and prints. By the way, because of the
unsavory connection, many folks deny they are Recons, as part of a public
relations campaign. I don't have to remind V2020 readers, if it looks like a
duck, quacks like a duck, and waddles like a duck, it's a duck (even if it would
prefer to be called a swan).
Best,
Rose
What is Theonomy?
Theonomy. Dominion Theology. Christian Reconstructionism. All these terms may
be unfamiliar to most people, but they shouldn't be. You should be aware of
them and understand what lies behind them.
Collectively, the refer to the very extreme Religious Right - far beyond what
is normally thought of the Religious Right. The groups which can be described
as "Christian Reconstructionist" openly call for the elimination of not only
the First Amendment but most of our Constitution and the "reconstruction" of
our society along Old Testament lines.
Sincerely believing that they have the absolute and correct interpretation of
their god's will, they have premised their movement upon the idea that people
must submit themselves entirely to their god's will - all people. Including
those who don't happen subscribe to their theology. This idea isn't uncommon
among devout Christians, especially conservative Christians - but the idea of
forcing upon others isn't quite so common. Since the Old Testament is supposed
to represent a "perfect society," Old Testament rules are to be enforced by the
government through public laws. Those who disagree are "apostates" or "tools
of Satan" and would have their religious freedom restricted and their actions
curtailed. Democracy is of little value and the harsh theocracy of Geneva
under the leadership of John Calvin is the modern model of Reconstructionists.
There are a number of very interesting characters in this extremist movement.
Perhaps one of the better known and more influential leaders of the
Reconstructionists is R.J. Rushdoony, who heads the theonomical organization Chalcedon
Foundation. Rushdoony has long advocated the death penalty for all manner of
offenses, including "blasphemy" and worshipping "false gods." Another is Gary
North, an economist who had a falling out with Rushdoony. He also advocates the
death penalty for many offenses, and favors the use of stoning since it has a
nice "biblical ring" to it. Dr. Jay Grimstead heads the Coalition on Revival,
and although he denies that COR is Reconstructionist, its philosophy falls
right in line with standard theonomy. It's agenda has included abolishing public
education (a common demand by the Religious Right, since they feel that all
education should be conducted by churches), forming citizen militias across the
country (another common theme of the Religious Right that has had some
disastrous results) and abolishing the Federal Reserve Bank (many on the Religious
Right fear an international conspiracy of Jews and "Illuminati" who strive to
control the world through international banking).
The Rev. Donald Wildmon who founded the American Family Association was once
a member of COR, and so was televangelist D. James Kennedy, Robert Dugan of
the National Association of Evangelicals, Rev. Tim LeHaye of the Traditional
Values Coalition of Evangelicals, and Ed McAteer of the Religious Roundtable.
John Whitehead, founder of the Rutherford institute, has been influenced by their
ideas and readily admits to liking much of their philosophy.
Where does the "grand dame" of the Religious Right, Pat Robertson, fit in
with this? Interestingly, he disagrees with the Reconstructionists on a key
theological point: he is a premillenialist and believes that Christians will not
rule over the world until after a period of chaos and war following Christ's
return. Reconstructionists, on the other hand, are postmillenialists and believe
that they will rule over the world before Christ's return. Pat Robertson
specifically rejects the label "Reconstructionist," but he has no problem using
texts by Rushdoony and North at his Regent University and the Reconstructionists
consider him to be one of them, "operationally."
Although it is quite unlikely that they will obtain any sort of direct or
real power in the United States (for a grim view of the results of such an event,
read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood), the primary threat they
represent is the strong influence they exercise within conservative Christianity.
Portions of Reconstructionist Theology have been (perhaps unwittingly) adopted by
various church leaders, especially in fundamentalist and Pentacostal
congregations. More and more often Reconstructionists have been setting aside
doctrinal differences in order to work with non-theonomical, fundamentalist churches.
Sometimes, however, they only pretend to set aside such differences. For
example, they often reach out to charismatic Christians even though Rushdoony has
called their form of worship "meaningless babble" and a form of "abomination
condemned by Biblical law." Needless to say, Reconstructionists don't voice
these opinions to the charismatics. Maybe they don't consider "lying by omission"
to be covered by Biblical Law?
Although subtle, they represent a real threat to religious freedom and
plurality in this country. They should not be underestimated, and people should be
aware of them. Challenge them when the surface, and don't let them deceive
others about their real intentions.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/2850/Theonomy.html
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<DIV>Visionaries</DIV>
<DIV>The following explanation of theonomy (aka) Christian Reconstructi=
on philosophy blends nicely with Nick's recent email. A Google search=20=
will produce lots of pages with further explanation. I encourage you t=
o view those pages that support Christian Recon points of view (althoug=
h, a quick look at the Credenda Agenda will serve the same purpose). N=
ote the many, many similarities to what the leadership of Christ Church says=
and prints. By the way, because of the unsavory connection,=
many folks deny they are Recons, as part of a public relations campaign.&nb=
sp; I don't have to remind V2020 readers, if it looks like a duck, quacks li=
ke a duck, and waddles like a duck, it's a duck (even if it would prefer to=20=
be called a swan).</DIV>
<DIV>Best,</DIV>
<DIV>Rose </DIV>
<DIV>
<CENTER>
<P><B><FONT color=3D#8b008b size=3D6>What is Theonomy?</FONT></B></P></CENTE=
R>
<P><B><FONT size=3D4>T</FONT></B>heonomy. Dominion Theology. Christian Recon=
structionism. All these terms may be unfamiliar to most people, but they sho=
uldn't be. You should be aware of them and understand what lies behind them.=
</P>
<P><B><FONT size=3D4>C</FONT></B>ollectively, the refer to the very extreme=20=
Religious Right - far beyond what is normally thought of the Religious Right=
. The groups which can be described as "Christian Reconstructionist" openly=20=
call for the elimination of not only the First Amendment but most of our Con=
stitution and the "reconstruction" of our society along Old Testament lines.=
</P>
<P><B><FONT size=3D4>S</FONT></B>incerely believing that they have the absol=
ute and correct interpretation of their god's will, they have premised their=
movement upon the idea that people must submit themselves entirely to their=
god's will - all people. Including those who don't happen subscribe to thei=
r theology. This idea isn't uncommon among devout Christians, especially con=
servative Christians - but the idea of forcing upon others isn't quite so co=
mmon. Since the Old Testament is supposed to represent a "perfect society,"=20=
Old Testament rules are to be enforced by the government through public laws=
. Those who disagree are "apostates" or "tools of Satan" and would have thei=
r religious freedom restricted and their actions curtailed. Democracy is of=20=
little value and the harsh theocracy of Geneva under the leadership of John=20=
Calvin is the modern model of Reconstructionists.</P>
<P><B><FONT size=3D4>T</FONT></B>here are a number of very interesting chara=
cters in this extremist movement. Perhaps one of the better known and more i=
nfluential leaders of the Reconstructionists is R.J. Rushdoony, who heads th=
e theonomical organization Chalcedon Foundation. Rushdoony has long advocate=
d the death penalty for all manner of offenses, including "blasphemy" and wo=
rshipping "false gods." Another is Gary North, an economist who had a fallin=
g out with Rushdoony. He also advocates the death penalty for many offenses,=
and favors the use of stoning since it has a nice "biblical ring" to it. Dr=
. Jay Grimstead heads the Coalition on Revival, and although he denies that=20=
COR is Reconstructionist, its philosophy falls right in line with standard t=
heonomy. It's agenda has included abolishing public education (a common dema=
nd by the Religious Right, since they feel that all education should be cond=
ucted by churches), forming citizen militias across the country (another com=
mon theme of the Religious Right that has had some disastrous results) and a=
bolishing the Federal Reserve Bank (many on the Religious Right fear an inte=
rnational conspiracy of Jews and "Illuminati" who strive to control the worl=
d through international banking). </P>
<P><B><FONT size=3D4>T</FONT></B>he Rev. Donald Wildmon who founded the Amer=
ican Family Association was once a member of COR, and so was televangelist D=
. James Kennedy, Robert Dugan of the National Association of Evangelicals, R=
ev. Tim LeHaye of the Traditional Values Coalition of Evangelicals, and Ed M=
cAteer of the Religious Roundtable. John Whitehead, founder of the Rutherfor=
d institute, has been influenced by their ideas and readily admits to liking=
much of their philosophy. </P>
<P><B><FONT size=3D4>W</FONT></B>here does the "grand dame" of the Religious=
Right, Pat Robertson, fit in with this? Interestingly, he disagrees with th=
e Reconstructionists on a key theological point: he is a premillenialist and=
believes that Christians will not rule over the world until after a period=20=
of chaos and war following Christ's return. Reconstructionists, on the other=
hand, are postmillenialists and believe that they will rule over the world=20=
before Christ's return. Pat Robertson specifically rejects the label "Recons=
tructionist," but he has no problem using texts by Rushdoony and North at hi=
s Regent University and the Reconstructionists consider him to be one of the=
m, "operationally."</P>
<P><B><FONT size=3D4>A</FONT></B>lthough it is quite unlikely that they will=
obtain any sort of direct or real power in the United States (for a grim vi=
ew of the results of such an event, read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atw=
ood), the primary threat they represent is the strong influence they exercis=
e within conservative Christianity. Portions of Reconstructionist Theology h=
ave been (perhaps unwittingly) adopted by various church leaders, especially=
in fundamentalist and Pentacostal congregations. More and more often Recons=
tructionists have been setting aside doctrinal differences in order to work=20=
with non-theonomical, fundamentalist churches. Sometimes, however, they only=
pretend to set aside such differences. For example, they often reach out to=
charismatic Christians even though Rushdoony has called their form of worsh=
ip "meaningless babble" and a form of "abomination condemned by Biblical law=
." Needless to say, Reconstructionists don't voice these opinions to the cha=
rismatics. Maybe they don't consider "lying by omission" to be covered by Bi=
blical Law?</P>
<P><B><FONT size=3D4>A</FONT></B>lthough subtle, they represent a real threa=
t to religious freedom and plurality in this country. They should not be und=
erestimated, and people should be aware of them. Challenge them when the sur=
face, and don't let them deceive others about their real intentions.</P>
<P><A href=3D"http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/2850/Theonomy.html">ht=
tp://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/2850/Theonomy.html</A></P></DIV></BODY=
></HTML>
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