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Theonomy/Reconstructionism

theFijian

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Christian Reconstructionism (or Theonomy as I prefer to call it since it's less of a mouthful) was touched on in the Presup Ap thread and it caused me to dig up some old articles from the Free Church of Scotland website. In 1997 the Free Church general assembly declared that one could not be an office bearer in the Free Church and hold to Theonomy as it was deemed contradictory to the WCF.

The report to the general assembly can be found here: http://www.freechurch.org/oldrec/oldrecbh.htm and an opinion piece here: http://www.freechurch.org/robbo/robbon.htm

As a member of the Free church I am strongly in favour of the stance our assembly took. Any thoughts from our brethren worldwide?

grace and peace
Andy
 
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rmwilliamsll

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The PCA decided not to decide *grin*. Basically theonomy/reconstructionism/dominion can not be used one way or another at an ordination examination.
http://www.pcanet.org/history/pca/2-555.html

i like things that displease everyone-->
from the left:
http://www.presbyteriannews.org/volumes/v4/1/bvl.htm

from the right:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/reconstr1.htm

The reason it is an issue is that there are antecedents for the system both in Calvin and in Scripture. The big questions seem to be hermeneutical and not really clear nor settled in the reformed Church. which is exactly why it is a problem.

In my thinking, the issue is one of personalities and how certain people seem to gravitate to certainty and assurance that they are right and the rest of the world is wrong. I've known lots of theonomists, i became a Christian reading Rushdoony. I have yet to met a theonomist or read a book by them that was tentative, uncertain, examining lots of potential answers, in general looking like my philosophy texts rather than a law book. I think the ideas attract a particular type of personality, someone that can be very divisive in a church, and it is this personality psychology that is driving both the internal and external relationships with the thought.

but again, this is just my opinion from my experience.
from an intellectual viewpoint it appears to be an viable option but it is not a necessary complex of ideas to hold.

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this is a really big can of worms. remember once you open such a can you can never get it back into the same can, only a larger one....*grin*

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post posting edit

i think we discussed this before. In reference to the metaphor of the two tablets of the Law. First tablet is the responsibilities toward God and the second towards love of neighbor. Are both tablets written on the hearts of all mankind? or just the second? if both, then the Christian magistrate has a responsibility to enforce those particular laws upon all people. Which is really where the issue blows up, not just how Christians ought to live, but how the righteous State exercises authority over unbelievers. in a nutshell, do we want the state to punish for blasphemy?
 
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5solas

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Thanks for this thread, it's very interesting.

The idea of christian reconstructionism is quite new to me - I must have a very much deeper look into it.

When I read your statements two Bible verses came into my mind:

1Cor 5,12 For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?

1Cor 5,13 But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.

:wave:
 
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theFijian

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rmwilliamsll said:
i like things that displease everyone-->
from the left:
http://www.presbyteriannews.org/volumes/v4/1/bvl.htm
Very interesting, especially this part:

"Two years ago, one of the officers anointed with oil a computer that had crashed: after the anointing and prayer, the information on the hard-drive which had not been "backed-up" was able to be retrieved."

LOL!! ^_^ Was that before sparks started flying out of it?
 
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rmwilliamsll

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from: http://www.presbyteriannews.org/volumes/v4/1/bvl.htm

What is the issue?

All of us, Theonomists and Non-Theonomists alike, affirm that we are saved by grace alone, received through faith alone. We all agree that saving faith is never alone but is always accompanied by a changed life, increasingly godly but imperfect until we go to be with the Lord Jesus. We all agree that the entire Bible is the inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and life. We all agree that God's Moral Law, summed up in the Ten Commandments, is part of the abiding standard for determining what constitutes godly living. None of us is an Antinomian; none of us teaches justification except by faith alone. That is true for the teaching elders of Louisiana Presbytery, and it is true for the ruling

elders of my congregation as well.

Where we differ has to do with the issue of the continuing validity of the civil laws of Israel and whether or not the state is obligated to enforce those Old Testament judicial laws and their penalties. My view is that Israel as a nation with its political and legal structure served a unique function in the purpose of God. That purpose has been fulfilled in Christ. Under the overarching unity of the covenant of grace, there is diversity in its administration. Where Dispensationalism errs in its failure significantly to grasp the overarching unity, I believe that Theonomy errs in its failure significantly to grasp the diversity between the two Testaments.

That failure leads to a concern with politics and materialistic dominion. In my opinion, that error has led some Theonomists into involvement with organizations such as the League of the South. That organization states: "We see no way of reforming the corruption within the present system; therefore, The League of the South shall seek to spread acceptance of the idea of secession among the people of the South." ("The League of the South Position On Secession" under "LS Position Papers" at http://www.dixienet.org)

To be active and supportive of presbytery, one must agree with its mission. A presbytery with a Theonomic vision is frightening to me. When Christian men believe that their position is biblical, they will inevitably seek to make it the dominant and controlling view. Inasmuch as I perceive this to be the direction of Louisiana Presbytery, and inasmuch as the issue of Theonomy has been adjudicated by the General Assembly contrary to what I now believe is wise, I can no longer participate in good conscience without rupturing the peace of Presbytery and therefore believe that it is in the best interest of the church that I seek affiliation in another communion.

As I go, I commend you to God. May the Holy Spirit guide you in your understanding of biblical truth.


looks like it is going to be an issue in the PCA despite everyone's best intentions.
 
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MKalashnikov

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http://www.religioustolerance.org/reconstr.htm

Respectfully the religioustolerance site (run by wiccans FYI) is full of lies, distortions and half truths.

Here is a much better Theonomy FAQ

http://www.forerunner.com/theofaq.html

This link is also good.

[size=-1]http://www.chalcedon.edu


[/size]The religioustolerance site and it's links to anti-theonomy sites, totally misrepresent the views of Theonomy. The liberal/atheist/skeptic/ect... has a very simple and flawed playbook. When one refers to an OT condemnation of a particular sin, they bring up Dietary/Ceremonial laws that are no longer in place to try to say that all OT laws no longer apply.

There is a clear distinction in Biblical law between the Moral law of God (which is unchanging and forever binding) and the Ceremonial and Dietary law, which existed as a foreshadowing of Christ.

The Westminster Confession of Faith makes this distinction:

Chapter XIX

Of the Law of God

I. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which He bound him and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.[1]

II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables:[2] the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the other six, our duty to man.[3]

III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;[4] and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties.[5] All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament.[6]

IV. To them also, as a body politic, He gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging under any now, further than the general equity thereof may require.[7]

V. The moral law does forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof;[8] and that, not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it.[9] Neither does Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.[10]

VI. Although true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified, or condemned;[11] yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly;[12] discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives;[13] so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin,[14] together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of His obedience.[15] It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin:[16] and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law.[17] The promises of it, in like manner, show them God's approbation of obedience,and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof:[18] although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works.[19] So as, a man's doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law: and not under grace.[20]

VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it;[21] the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requires to be done.[22]


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