"A Christian Looks
At the Religious Right"
Reconstructionism
Dominion theology or Reconstructionism is a movement that has caught hold in many groups identified with the Religious Right. Its basic message is that Christians must march to take over the world so that Christ can then return to claim it as His own kingdom. In doing so, Reconstructionist types desire to replace democracy with a theocracy. Theocracy is simply God-rule. They desire to return the U.S. to Old Testament standards of law.
As one Theocratic web sight proclaimed, "God's form of government is a theocratic monarch,not a democracy. "1 The official organization promoting the movement is Chalcedon which has as its stated agenda: "To command the future and to exercise dominion in the Lord's Name, it is urgently necessary for Christians to recognize the essential nature of Christian self - government to freedom, the function of the tithe in Godly Reconstruction, and the necessity for the Christian dominion man to take back government from the state."2 The founder of the movement, R.J. Rushdoony believes Christians must conquer or be conquered. He holds little room for passive co-existence. Rushdoony says "For victims, there is no victory." R.J. and Francis Schaeffer are given credit for providing the theology behind the modern Religious Right movement to take over the country.
A sampling of the avid Reconstructionist David Chilton's book, REPRODUCTIVE CHRISTIANS, gives a decided insight into the movement. Chilton believes the only laws a nation is to have are Biblical laws pg. 24 (Old Testament laws are equal with the New.) Government taxation of property is theft. pg. 354 Currency is to be based on precious metals. pg. 41 God has outlawed immigration laws. pg. 47 The Bible permits slavery today and slavery is a good way to eliminate poverty. There are four legal ways the Bible supports today to have slaves: 1. Captured in war. 2. Punishment. 3. Theft. 4. To pay off a debt. pgs. 59-62. The Abolitionist movement was anti Christian and humanistic. pg. 73. Charles Finney was a heretic. pg. 75. Disease and political oppression in the world are God's way of dealing with heathen cultures. pg. 92 Christians are called to take over the world and control it. pg. 94 Christians are to dominate the government. pg. 150 Any eschatology except for Post Millennialism is unBiblical. pg.234 Foreign aid is aiding the enemies of God. pg.362 Of dominion: ". . .if we do not do it, others will. But if we do not do it we will be thrown away and trodden under the feet of men--men who will make us their slaves." pg. 213 Using credit cards is covetousness. pg. 197 The minimum wage law is state oppression and unfair. pg. 187 The only functions allowed to the state are defense of the people and punishment of criminals. Public education is unbiblical. pg. 178.
Militia websites often list Rushdoony's works in their links. They have a common position on social movements in the society. One Chalcedon magazine was devoted entirely to the idea of Christians owning guns. The movement has placed several aherents on national Religious Right organizations. Rushdoony has a lot of excess baggage that obviously makes him hard for many to admit to his acquaintance. Never the less many organizations have been impacted by his theocratic positions.
Southern Baptist are linked with Rushdoony through Paul Pressler and his famous "Fireside Chat" tapes. In the tape Pressler mapped out how he would take over the national convention similar to Rushdoony's concepts of Christians taking over the state. Neil Rodgers, a journalist, said there is a definite link with SBC national leaders and the movement. 4 Southern Baptist pastor Rick Scarborough has written a book stocked with theocratic ideas and identifies himself with such types in his descriptive manuscript on how to take over local governments. Retired professor Hugh Wamble of Midwestern Baptist Seminary said the SBC is turning to a Reconstructionist view of history. Although a SBC publication "Public affairs" denounced Reconstructionism in its Fall/Winter 1991 edition, current SBC offices stock Reconstructionist tapes and books and promote their reading. James Draper, head of the SBC literature services gratefully acknowledges R. J. Rushdoony for his influence.5
To these mindsets Democracy is mob rule and best done away with. 6 American history is riddled with misguided ministers who sought to instill their religious convictions into an official state position. Gerald Winrod, the "Jayhawk Nazi" was an earlier version of the idea. He was a Nazi sympathizer who was a Lutheran pastor running for Senator from Kansas. He desired to expose the "Jewish problem" in America and also use his office as Senator as a "sounding board for the Gospel". 7 As late as the last decade Jerry Falwell has stated that "satan keeps Christians from running their own country." 8
The Christian Nation theme is a common position taken on Religious Right airways through the media. Though the idea sounds innocent enough, its conclusion is that Jews, Mormons, and etc. are not welcome here in America. Such harsh rhetoric threatens the fragile fabric of separation of church and state which is a Constitutional principle. A Constitution by the way which Dominionists often find is a bad idea.
Author Chip Berlet believes the modern success of movements like the Christian Coalition needs to thank Reconstructionsts for their success. 9 It is a common perception at National Coalition meetings I attended that separation of church and state was a bad idea. Dominionists often share a common position on government ideas with Militias who hold that the highest form of government is found in the county sheriff. 10
Rushdoonny and followers are often linked with extremist ideas like racism, the John Birch Society and anti government ideas. Some have associated followers with Holocaust denial. Rushdoony often receits conspiracy viewpoints in the writings. R.J. says ... " a basic perspective of a Christian view of history is conspiracy."
Tyler, Texas' Gary North is a known Reconstructionist writer and publisher. North is noted as the man who moved his family from Tyler, to the foothills of Arkansas at the turn of the millennium . North was convinced that mass rioting, looting and anarchy would lead to Marshall law. Gary says women who have abortions and their doctors should be executed.12 North has also advocated stoning as an economical way to execute wrongdoers. 13 North also advised that 3rd World countries should get on their knees and repent and feel guilty for their poverty.14
Rutherford Institute has ties with Rushydoony whom some experts see as its founder. John Whitehead of Rutherford decries the miss interpretation about Jesus found in John 18;36 which says that Jesus' kingdom is not of this world.
In Whitehead's book, RELIGIOUS APARTHEID, Reconstructionism is promoted.15
Rev. Paul Hill is known as the killer of abortion Doctor David Gunn. Dr. Gunn was gunned down by Hill who was trained at a Reconstructionist seminary. 16 The Dominion movement has definite ties with violence, bombings and the far right in the nation.
Chalcedon Report is the magazine published by Rushdoony, his son and followers. The magazine has had an interesting history of extremist bends. The August 98 version recommends the Old Testament standard for justice be installed in the country. The issue demanded that the state was not to provide resources or mercy, only God's vengeance. Apologies followed after a known racist published an article about guns in the Feb. 2000 issue. Chalecedon denied any ties to racism. In the same issue was an article by Larry Pratt of Gun owners of America. Pratt's ties to speaking at White Supremacy meetings cost him a spot on Pat Buchannan's campaign board. The September 97 issue carries articles about Chalcedon's experts training foreign leaders in Africa about the Biblical admonishment to take dominion. The April 96 version had several articles glamorizing the Civil War as a Holy war fought by a Christian South versus a Unitarian North. In the January 98 edition Rushdoony said of clergy In the U.S.... "the clergy themselves are abysmally ignorant". In the same issue the John Birch Society was praised. The January issue also said Dominionists are "willing to die for our cause." The next monthly issue stated Feminism is a false religion warring against Christianity. Several Chalcedon publications have decried the ordination of women as satanic. Other
articles are supportive of Joseph McCarthy, border on xenophobia and indirectly endorse racist politics.
Extremist statements and positions are attached to the movement which relegate it to the behind - closed - doors element in the Religious Right. They claim their movement is growing and its influence seems to back up their boasts. Their concepts of taking dominion is definitely not limited to prayer and missions. Some have suggested they have provided a network for right wing violence in the nation.
ENDNOTES
1. http://sureword.com/melton/kjv.htm 8/24, 1999.
2. "The Future is the Lord's" Chalcedon Position Paper no.18.
3. "Sin Confession and Dominion" Chalcedon Position Paper no. 34.
4. Neil Rodgers, BAPTIST LAITY JOURNAL, Sept. 1988.
5. John Baugh, THE BATTLE FOR BAPTIST INTEGRITY, Battle for Baptist Integrity Inc. Austin Tx. pg. 155
6. Chip Berlet, EYES RIGHT, South End Press, Boston, Ma. 1995, pg. 76.
7. Leo Ribuffo, THE OLD CHRISTIAN RIGHT, Temple Univ.Press, Phill., Pa. 1983, pg. 119.
8. Ibid. pg. 267.
9. Berlett pg. 80.
10. Ibid. pg. 231.
11. Ibid. pg. 74.
12. Ibid. pg. 62.
13. Rob Boston, WHY THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS WRONG, Prometheus Books, Buffalo, N.Y., 1993, pg. 185.
14. Tom Teepe, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, July 3, 1986.
15. John Whitehead, RELIGIOUS APARTHEID, Moody Press, Chacago, 1994, pg.150.
16. Fredrick Clarkson, ETERNAL HOSTILITY, Commcn Courage Press, Monroe, Maine, 1997, pgs. 140-141