Christian
Reconstructionism
also known as
Theonomy (Rule by God's law), Dominion theology
Founders:
Arose out of the conservative Reformed (Calvinist) churches.
The leading proponent is Rousas John Rushdoony (1916 - 2001) who in 1973 published
the
Institutes of Biblical Law, a large work expounding the 10
commandments.
Recent advocates are Gary North, Gary DeMar, Kenneth
Gentry, Larry Pratt, Greg Bahnsen.
Membership:
Few adherents who usually are Calvinists and hold to the orthodox
doctrines of the Trinity, deity of Christ, vicarious atonement,
Christ's physical resurrection, justification by faith, etc.
Teachings:
Christian Reconstructionism (also known as
theonomy) is a highly controversial movement within some
conservative
Christian circles. It maintains that the world should be brought under
(reconstructed) the lordship of Jesus Christ in all areas:
social, moral, political, judicial, military, family, art,
education, music, etc. Christian Reconstructionism advocates the restoration of Old Testament civil and moral laws
in order to reconstruct present American society into an Old Testament
type Mosaic form and that the three main areas of society - family,
church, government - should all be biblically modeled, the Bible
being the sole standard. This would
include severe punishments for law breakers. Some Christian reconstructionists would advocate death for adulterers, abortionists,
idolaters, murderers, homosexuals, rapists, etc.
Reconstructionts maintain a strong belief that the Bible
is true and inerrant. Generally postmillennial – that through the
preaching and teaching of the gospel, the world will be converted to
Christianity and that Christ will return after a period of time
after the world is converted.
Christian reconstructionism advocates removing prisons and
and replacing them with the practice of restoration
of damages done. Christians are the new chosen people of God,
replacing national Israel. Other religious systems would be
strongly resisted.
There is a debate among some Christian reconstructionists on
whether or not slavery should be reinstituted; not all are in
agreement.
Opposes evolution. Teaches Jesus will physically
return to Israel.
Christian reconstructionism began with the publication
of the Institute of Biblical Law by R. J. Rushdoony in 1973.
This 800 page work expounded on the 10 Commandments. After
Rushdoony's death in 2001, his son-in-law Gary North took the reins
and has become a prolific writer further advocating Christian
Reconstructionism.
Publications: Conspiracy,
published in 1986, also Was Calvin a theonomist,
published in 1990 by Gary North, Ph.D, president of the
Institute for Christian Economics; By What Standard, The Roots of
Reconstructionism, The Mythology of Science, The Biblical Philosophy
of History, Institutes of biblical law, by R. J. Rushdoony
Comments: This movement
rose out of Calvinism. It is an extremist Christian movement,
not held by very many people.
The concern is that when a religiously dominated
society has control of family, moral, and governmental regulations,
who is to govern the governors?
Return to the Religious
Movements List
|