Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Sept/Oct 2006
O ur world is in
desperate need
of Christian action. It
“Taking dominion” is
misconstrued when it’s
Our emphasis must shift because we
are failing in the fundamentals. Putting
politics before family, education, and
is equally in need of a portrayed as the Christian welfare will only fortify the animos-
redefinition of Chris- ity towards Christianity and weaken
tian action. After nearly
seizure of civil power.
the foundations of our faith. However,
thirty years of the Religious Right, the We are rather “taking back” certain branches within the conservative
secularist sees political activism as the dominion from the state Christian community are determined to
sole meaning of “Christian action.” commit all of their resources to politi-
This political organization, now labeled by self-government and
cal activism. The Apostle Paul writes,
as “dominionism,” is somewhat at fault Christian responsibility. “[S]tudy to be quiet, and to do your
for misconstruing Christian responsibil- own business” (1 Thess. 4:11). The wis-
ity both within and without the Chris- among whom ye shine as lights in the
dom here is that the Kingdom can grow
tian community. This has also provided world” (Phil. 2:14–15).
very well in the quietness of faithfulness.
the secular left with a useful “boogey- This does not mean a Christian
In my opinion, Christian Recon-
man” as myriads of Internet-based cannot engage in civil or political ser-
struction has been weakened by the
fear technicians prop up a “Christian vice. By all means, dedicated Christians
overemphasis upon the political. A care-
Goliath” at which to sling stones. must seek to apply their faith to every
sphere, but the priority should be placed ful reading of R. J. Rushdoony teaches
The realm of the political is addic-
on conduct and less on political organi- us that humanism seeks its godhood in
tive to both sides. They can’t get enough
zation. We must not allow “faithfulness” the state while the church prophetically
of it. Despite the old warning to avoid
to be defined as merely lobbying for seeks to inform the state of its limited
all discussions of religion and politics,
Christian legislation on gay marriage, role under God. Some of us, however,
the contemporary debates are laden with
prayer in schools, and abortion. This could not resist the temptation to push
both ingredients. Now the world itself is
becoming quite versed in a false inter- is not the primary meaning of Chris- the agenda of the Kingdom through the
pretation of Christian action. Now any tian action—or, should I say, Christian conduit of the state. For this we are now
Christian action, whether political or responsibility. perceived as religious power brokers, and
not, is perceived as “dominionist,” and Our first order is faithfulness to less as the faithful servants of our Lord.
therefore a reason for social concern. God’s covenant and law within the Christian duty must never be at-
This would include something as spheres of self-government, family, tached to a particular political party.
simple as homeschooling your child, church, education, and vocation. The Granted, our voice must be heard at
which is now seen as a move to bank- view of the state within Christian Re- the political level, but it should not be
rupt the public school system and train construction is the Biblical model of a identified with politics. It is simply a
young Christian children in militant, reduced magistrate responsible primarily matter of emphasis—let us not neglect
and potentially violent, Christian activ- for justice and defense. By focusing upon the weightier matters of daily faithful-
ism. This is not a good thing. The Apos- the welfare of our families, and the larger ness by only organizing politically. “Tak-
tle Paul instructs us to “do all things Christian community, we are showing ing dominion” is misconstrued when
without murmurings and disputings: ourselves straight in a crooked nation it’s portrayed as the Christian seizure of
That ye may be blameless and harmless, and pure among a perverse people. Our civil power. We are rather “taking back”
the sons of God, without rebuke, in the duty is to shine as lights in the world, dominion from the state by self-govern-
midst of a crooked and perverse nation, not only as lights in Washington. ment and Christian responsibility.
Christian Obedience
(Reprinted from Salvation and Godly Rule [Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books, 1983], 387-393).
By Chad Bull
F or forty-eight years
a single organiza-
tion has led the way in
R. J. Rushdoony once wrote, “The
key to the John Birch Society’s effec-
What Is The John Birch Society?
What do you know about The John
Birch Society? Maybe you’ve heard that
tiveness has been a plan of operation
preserving America’s na- which has strong resemblance to the the JBS was a far-right racist organiza-
tional sovereignty while tion reminiscent of fascistic Nazis or
early church: have meetings, local ‘lay’
helping to fortify the hate-filled Klansmen. Or maybe you’ve
leaders, area supervisors or ‘bishops.’”1
moral blockade on our failing culture. caught wind that the JBS is a paranoid
And like most organizations that stand This resemblance to the early church is
think tank for conspiracy theorists
up to the machinations of wicked- understandable in that the JBS is “both perpetually decrying the impending
ness, this group has suffered the unjust criticized, hated, and attacked as the takeover by the United Nations. Either
disparagement and ridicule from those early church was to a far greater degree, way, identifying oneself with the JBS
who misunderstand its mission or are and that it is led by volunteer laymen.”2 has meant risking a public relations
trying to subvert its efforts. This con- The JBS has preserved itself by blemish that could stain one’s efforts for
tempt of The John Birch Society (JBS) maintaining a simple but effective years to come, and this has frightened a
has left it isolated with few who will call model of information distribution, and good many Christian conservatives from
themselves “allies” to its cause. both my father and I have participated publicly endorsing the JBS mission.
Those who have stood long be- for many years as representatives for This is why I was delighted when
side Chalcedon, and the mission of Chalcedon asked if I would contribute
both the mission of the JBS as well as
Christian Reconstruction, can heart- an article on the JBS to this issue on
Christian Reconstruction. We see them
ily empathize with that same sense of Christian action. My family has always
as having complementary missions, and
national quarantine. Such organizations viewed participation in the JBS as a
have chosen to keep to the straight and both endeavors are needed now more
primary means of preserving Chris-
narrow, and they understand that it is than ever. My hope is that after reading tian liberty for our countrymen and
usually a “remnant” who will make the this article, you will have a greater ap- ourselves, and as the threat to personal
difference. Attempts to allure the masses preciation for organizations like the JBS freedom looms closer than ever, I feel we
are considered anathema to those whose and Chalcedon. Such groups deserve are long overdue an insider’s view into
greatest concern is the truth. our support and prayers. this American organization.
New
Educational
Release from
Chalcedon!
“Let’s go see
Rushdoony!” By Arnold Jagt
“Let’s go see Rushdoony power would double for the same price entered a community college for one
in Vallecito this Sunday; every eighteen months. I was seventeen year, earning my diploma in telecom-
what do you think?” and had a great desire to perform some munications management. With this
It was 1996, and the work for God. I decided that this was diploma I was able to land a job quickly,
world was as busy as something worthy to be captured for and I began my life as a professional
ever. I was having din- Christ; the growing power of computers computer geek.
ner with my friend Byron Reese in Palo seemed like an excellent tool to employ Computers were still very new, and
Alto while doing a stint in San Fran- for God’s Kingdom. most people didn’t understand them
cisco for my employer. He had a sweet While at Reformed Bible Col- well. I wasn’t brilliant, but I discovered
red convertible Mustang that made his lege, my friend Doug Vos and I started how to use CompuServe and then the
invitation very inviting indeed. Computers for Christ to try to build on newly formed Internet to solve any
I knew who Rushdoony was, having this idea. It was 1979, and IBM was just problems that I came to, giving me an
been introduced to him ten years earlier starting to think about selling PCs. We edge many people didn’t have.
by Eugene Newman. He drove all the read every issue of BYTE magazine and I discovered the Christian Recon-
way from Detroit to Toronto just to dreamed about somehow putting this struction movement while in college
play us a Rushdoony tape and then have knowledge to work for God’s Kingdom. and read almost all of Gary North’s
a discussion about it, something that Several years later I was married, books. One of the new books at that
impressed me more than the lesson did. finished with college, and looking for time was a co-authored work called
But going to Vallecito was the start of a job. I had spent some time in pre- Fighting Chance: Ten Feet to Survival
something bigger than I realized at the dentistry and carbon chemistry without written by Gary North and Arthur
time. I was only beginning to appreciate learning much, and I earned a degree in Robinson. I bought quite a few of these
the man we were about to meet in person classical civilizations, which convinced to hand out to people I knew, but I had
for the first and only time in our lives. me that Christianity needed to be de- a thought: with the new abilities of the
Greek-ified. The Greeks were thorough- computer, you could scan a book and
The Birth of a Notion going humanists. place it on a floppy. You could put it in
About twenty years earlier, in 1975, Looking for a job to support my your computer, copy it, and make an-
my dad took me to the Ontario Sci- family, I found that there were not other floppy that would be just as good
ence Center where we saw a film about many openings to be found in which as the first one. You could give this copy
computers and “Moore’s Law,” the now- this degree would be of any help. While to someone else, and he could make
famous proposition that computing working any odd jobs I could find, I copies, and then his friends could make
Christian Reconstruction
Comes to Appomattox
By Lee Duigon
A ppomattox, Vir-
ginia, is no stranger
to great events. It’s fa-
Reformed, but they’re still part of the
Bible Belt, and that makes them recep-
tive. We could never do this in New
mous as the place where York.”
Robert E. Lee laid down
Leaving New York
his sword, bringing to
Throughout history, religious move-
an end the American Civil War.
ments have often meant the movement
Today something else is happening
of a people from once place to another:
in Appomattox that may, in the long
the Pilgrim’s journey from Europe to
term, prove significant to America’s
America, for example. Pastor Raymond’s
future. It’s happening quietly, in a small
way, but God often works subtly, using flock moved to Virginia from Long
small things to great effect. Island, New York.
Centered around a little church in “I was ordained in the Christian
Appomattox, a band of ex–New Yorkers Reformed Church,” he said, “but that
is trying to apply, in the real world, the church fell into a difficult time in
principles of the Bible and Christian the 1990s, becoming more and more
Reconstruction. They’re not an army, liberal, less and less Biblical. We pleaded
Paul and Jane Raymond
and they’re hardly in the spotlight. They for reform, but our requests fell on deaf
haven’t set up a utopian community, tion as a county supervisor, which, he ears. So we left the CRC.”
but blended into the community that’s said, brought favorable attention to the Not setting out to found their own
there. Unlike the Amish or the Hasidic church. And the church’s homeschool- church, the congregation first tried to
Jews, you wouldn’t be able to identify ing families carried out many different affiliate with the Orthodox Presbyterian
them on the street. projects to benefit the whole commu- Church. The OPC didn’t have the re-
nity. sources to plant a new church on Long
Fitting In Island, Raymond said, “so we finally
“We have established ourselves as
“They thought we were a cult [at had to start a church of our own. I never
people with honor and integrity,” he
first],” said Paul Michael Raymond, intended to become the pastor, but at
pastor of the Reformed Bible Church in said. “It took time and conscious effort.
last I had to do it because we couldn’t
Central Virginia. Are we serving as salt and light for the afford to hire one.”
To fit in, he recalled, church mem- community? Absolutely! And now we’re The move to Virginia, he said, was
bers went out of their way to engage regularly asked by local government offi- inspired by conversations with Howard
town and county residents in conversa- cials to give interviews on the radio, etc., Phillips, founder of the Constitution
tion, write letters to the local newspa- for our analysis of assorted local issues. party.
pers, and establish themselves as regular “Whatever the issue, our take on it “Mr. Phillips said, ‘How can you
and reliable customers at all the local is always Biblical. The people around incorporate the principles of dominion
businesses. Pastor Raymond ran for elec- here are mostly Arminian Baptists, not in New York? You’re in the belly of the
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they
are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the
flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (Romans 9:6–8)
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