Christian Reconstruction (10 points that DEFINE what it means to be a patriot/conservative!)

http://chalcedon.edu/ ^

[USALiberty]

The best description of the tenets of Christian Reconstruction, as espoused by Dr. R. J. Rushdoony, is found in his "Christian Manifesto":

--Sovereignty is an attribute of God alone, not of man nor the state. God alone is Lord or Sovereign over all things; over state, school, family, vocations, society and all things else. --The Bible is given as the common law of men and nations and was for most of U. S. History the common law, as Justice Story declared. --Salvation is not by politics, education, the church, or any agency or person other than Jesus Christ our Lord. --The myth of Machiavelli, that, by state control at the top, bad men can make a good society is at the root of our cultural crisis and growing collapse. A good omelet cannot be made with bad eggs. Truly redeemed men are necessary for a good society.2 --Civil rulers who rule without the Lord and His law word are, as Augustine said, no different than a mafia, only more powerful. --The state is not the government, but one form of government among many, others being the self-government of the Christian man, the family, the school, the church, vocations and society. The state is civil government, a ministry of justice. --For the state to equate itself with government is tyranny and evil. --The Christian man is the only true free man in all the world, and he is called to exercise dominion over all the earth. --Humanism is the way of death and is the essence of original sin, or man trying to be his own god. --All men, things, and institutions must serve God, or be judged by Him.

[USALiberty]

This pretty much sums up what we ae fighting for in November and beyond.

[Benchim]

Here is a great discussion http://antinomianism-salvation.blogspot.com/

[devane617]

my eyes hurt! my head hurts!

[ntmxx]

If you want a real Christian Reconstruction:

In my humble opinion, remove the State as arbiter of inalienable rights and return to a Constitutional Government, further, society must eliminate the Corporate Church and secular non-profits, and within each Christian group or household institute home teachings of the Bible.

The fastest way to achieve a Christian Reconstruction would be to establish educational vouchers and free choice.

[Loyal Sedition]

“This pretty much sums up what we ae fighting for in November and beyond”.

It had better NOT!

If you want to live under a theocracy, move to one, there are plenty available.

[lurk]

A ‘Christian’ government run by ‘Christians’ is well-intended, but cannot deliver righteousness, and will end up as corrupt as collectivism.

Besides, it’s based on a reckless hermeneutic.

[presently no screen name]

The Christian man is the only true free man in all the world, and he is called to exercise dominion over all the earth.

Too many ignore the fact that have dominion. Some say, 'God will do it'. He will but ONLY through us. One must use the power within, His Power, to do His Will.

[presently no screen name]

cannot deliver righteousness

I agree. Since when are we to expect others to give us what we should be obtaining for ourselves.

[airborne]

This pretty much sums up what we ae fighting for in November and beyond.

Not me.

[Infralutheran]

I believe very strongly in God’s sovereignty and I also am very strongly opposed to any form of Christian Reconstructionism.

[RJR_fan]

The best description of the tenets of Christian Reconstruction, as espoused by Dr. R. J. Rushdoony, is found in his Christian Manifesto":

• Sovereignty is an attribute of God alone, not of man nor the state. God alone is Lord or Sovereign over all things; over state, school, family, vocations, society and all things else.
• The Bible is given as the common law of men and nations and was for most of U. S. History the common law, as Justice Story declared.
• Salvation is not by politics, education, the church, or any agency or person other than Jesus Christ our Lord.
• The myth of Machiavelli, that, by state control at the top, bad men can make a good society is at the root of our cultural crisis and growing collapse. A good omelet cannot be made with bad eggs. Truly redeemed men are necessary for a good society.2
• Civil rulers who rule without the Lord and His law word are, as Augustine said, no different than a mafia, only more powerful.
• The state is not the government, but one form of government among many, others being the self-government of the Christian man, the family, the school, the church, vocations and society. The state is civil government, a ministry of justice.
• For the state to equate itself with government is tyranny and evil.
• The Christian man is the only true free man in all the world, and he is called to exercise dominion over all the earth.
• Humanism is the way of death and is the essence of original sin, or man trying to be his own god.
• All men, things, and institutions must serve God, or be judged by Him.

---

In other words, Jesus is Lord, not guru. He rules through all forms of human government -- the self-government of the Christian person, and the responsible exercise of such offices as parent, pastor, or juror.

I can see the appeal of the notion that Jesus is our pet guru, our "personal" spiritual adviser, whose reign extends no further than the sub-rational, emotional, subjective, "realm of the heart." A guru exists to make us feel better. A Lord has something greater than our satisfaction with ourselves in mind.

[eclecticEel]

Ruchdooney’s misuse of the “dominion mandate” should disqualify him from being taken seriously by any Christian. My mind is always blown by the logical contortions he needs to place upon the verse to try and make it comport with his pet theories. The mandate was intended to explain a very simple idea, that man has dominion over the natural world - a fact of life so obvious I think it would hardly need exposition. It wasn’t written to a Christian vs. an unbeliever, it doesn’t say anything about politics, or society, or the arts, humanities, or any other human endeavor. Yet it seems that Rushdoony has created a whole philosophy of life surrounding his fictitious interpretation.

[RJR_fan]

At least, Rushdoony made it plain that God’s Word applies to such things as “politics, or society, or the arts, humanities, or any other human endeavor.” Those who assert that God is indifferent to all of these aspects of the created order have nothing profitable to contribute to the conversation. Such folks are, as the enemies of God and man would prefer, neutered. Harmless. Sterile.

You can’t fight something with nothing. A navel view will never suffice when confronting a world view, no matter how hysterically you amp up, and goose, your navel view. Real life is not impressed by the intensity of our pious feelings.

[presently no screen name]

Ruchdooney’s misuse.....should disqualify him from being taken seriously by any Christian.

I don't know who he is or how he is misusing anything. I was responding to 'dominion' and what THE WORD says about dominion.

I take NO man seriously so why you are signaling out him or any man to be taken seriously is suspect, IMO.

Never question my Christianity.

[presently no screen name]

Those who assert that God is indifferent to all of these aspects of the created order have nothing profitable to contribute to the conversation.

EXACTLY! And, IMO, they don't KNOW Him!

[Wallop the Cat]

Help me please. Where in the Bible does it say that man is able to bring about a Christian Reconstruction? As I read it, we are on a steady downhill slide into the great abyss and ain’t nothing gonna change that until Christ’s return.

[Persevero]

“The mandate was intended to explain a very simple idea, that man has dominion over the natural world -”

History shows us that this is indeed true. Men do have dominion.

The question before us is: which men?

Who would we have rule?

Muslims? Amish? Atheists? Evangelicals? Agnostics?

Personally I think SINCERELY Christian men are well proven to be the best leaders. That’s why I vote for them.

(must I state that SINCERELY is important. I can’t read a man’s heart, but I can judge by his fruits. I look beyond someone saying they are Christians - I look at their actions and VOTES.)

They won’t save me, and they won’t be perfect. But I do believe they are the best bet.

[eclecticEel]

Thanks for the response; although understand that it doesn’t seem to fit my comment. I wrote criticizing Rushdooney’s fallacious interpretation of the “Dominion Mandate” of Genesis 1.

You know I usually don’t respond to purely religious/theological threads, I never look to the “Religion” tab on FR - but this isn’t the “Religion” tab, and the original poster is asserting that we’re fighting this upcoming election to institute Theonomy, as imagined by Chalcedon. That’s not something I’ll allow to stand. God instituted one theocracy. We can read about it; but nevertheless, it ceased to exist. To assert that God intends us to create another in the present day, as Rushdooney and the Chalcedon people do, is incredible presumption. If Jesus is Lord (which He is) what business do we have giving orders that He never gave? Or are we to be like Peter: correcting the Messiah, “No no, Lord, Your kingdom actually is of this world”?

Most of the content of Rushdooney’s 10 points - as presented here - I wouldn’t have so much problem with. Perhaps the formulation is a bit off, but it could be worked on. However, the notion that we, as Christians, are intended to take “dominion” of the world is a carnal perversion of Christianity. It attempts to kick Christ form his position, make a mockery of the Bible’s repeated admonitions to look to the world to come, and also breaks the third commandment (I’m still shocked that many Christians believe the commandment is about saying a dirty word). These are strong statements, but Theonomy theorists make strong claims - which demand a forceful response.

[crghill]

I agree with almost everything RJ said but you’ll be hated and shunned for posting this here. The idiots that reply that living in a Theocracy is bad don’t realize they live in one already. The Theocracy of secular humanism and the god’s name is Sam, Unlce.

Theocracy is unavoidable.

[ReformedBeckite]

I’m still shocked that many Christians believe the commandment is about saying a dirty word.

Good point, never thought about it that way.