Faith and Theocracy
"According to a common error, theocracy means the rule of men in the name of God. The Bible clearly contradicts this view. The state in Scripture is a minimal institution, and so too is the church as an institution. The rule of God's law is essentially through the lives of men as they apply their faith, and as they create tithe agencies to govern various areas and needs. Where faith wanes, the theocracy wanes. The Book of Judges gives us no change in polity from beginning to end, but it gives us an alternation from peace and prosperity to oppression and tyranny, and the key is faith. The essential government comes from the self-government of the Christian man. The U.S. was best governed when it was least governed, not because less control from the state was the essential ingredient but because Christian self-government was central in the eras of good government. Without strong, self-governing Christians taking back self-government under Christ in health, welfare, education, and more, we cannot return by politics to less statism." ~ R. J. RushdoonyThe resistance to Christian dominionism is a relatively weak one. This is due mainly to the fact that secularists hold no meaningful worldview, and therefore cannot inspire the kind of activism found in the burning hearts of devout Christians. Modern Christianity is driven by a surge which began over 2,000 years ago, and obstructing that torrent will require much more than the feeble blogging of the "theocracy watchers." It also will not be stopped by a Democratic victory in 2008. This is what all theocratic critics must bear in mind: Christianity is a faith, not a political constituency. It only has implications for politics.
Rushdoony rightly said, "Where faith wanes, the theocracy wanes." Therefore, the only way to defeat dominionism is for faith to wane. No means of legislation can remove the Christian voice from the political arena, or any other sphere of life. Only a decrease in the faith of men and women will lead to the marginalization of the Christian political voice. But again, politics is but one sphere where faith is represented. Christianity has implications for every area of life, and the need now is for more organizations and churches with a levitical calling to equip God's people for self-government and godly reconstruction.
Rushdoony concluded above, "Without strong, self-governing Christians taking back self-government under Christ in health, welfare, education, and more, we cannot return by politics to less statism." The Chalcedon Foundation is helping to lead the way in educating Christians around the world in godly reconstruction. I encourage you to support that mission with prayer, activism, and financial support. It is now that the Christian voice must be heard even more as hundreds of millions of Bible-believers invade every sphere of life with the Word of God. Help us to fulfill that vision if God so graciously leads.
Happy Resurrection Day!
