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The essence of Theonomy, in terms of what
makes it aberrant to the theology of the Confession of Faith, is not
establishmentarianism; it is its commitment to see the Old Testament penal
code enforced. The Free Church of Scotland is not an
anti-establishmentarian Church, but it is on record against
Reconstructionism and Theonomy.
From the time that Constantine became sole emperor of the Roman Empire in
A.D. 324 and set about to make Christianity the religion of the Empire,
large numbers of Christians have lived under a government that patronized
some form of Christianity. That was true in Byzantium, where the emperor
was effectively over the Church, and it was true in the West, where the
Pope was effectively over the petty rulers of Europe. (Of course, unlike
Byzantium, there were ups and downs in Europe, ranging from Henry IV's
penance before Gregory VII at Canossa to several popes adventures at
Avignon.)
The United States is something of an historical anomaly. Yet, even here, a
kind of broadly Protestant, establishment of religion existed in most of
our states until the second half of the twentieth century, when the First
Amendment ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . ") was
interpreted and applied to the individual states in fairly sweeping ways.
But in the strict sense of the word, the United States has historically
rejected a state church, certainly at the national level.
American anti-establishmentarianism is seen the modification of
Westminster Confession of Faith on the Civil Magistrate, Chapter XXIII,
paragraph iii.
The original, British version reflects the traditional Christian position
from the time of Constantine, who called the Council of Nicea:
"The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of
the Word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of
heaven: yet he has authority, and it is his duty, to take order that unity
and peace be preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be kept pure
and entire, that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed, all
corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed,
and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administrated, and observed.
For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be
present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be
according to the mind of God."
The American revision states:
"Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of
the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith. Yet, as nursing
fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our
common Lord, without giving the preference to any denomination of
Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical
persons whatever shall enjoy the full, free, and unquestioned liberty of
discharging every part of their sacred functions, without violence or
danger. And, as Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and
discipline in his church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere
with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary
members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own
profession and belief. It is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the
person and good name of all their people, in such an effectual manner as
that no person be suffered, either upon pretense of religion or of
infidelity, to offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or injury to any
other person whatsoever: and to take order, that all religious and
ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation or
disturbance."
What makes Reconstructionist Theonomy contrary to the Confession and to
the historical position of the vast majority of Christians is its
obliteration of the distinction between the moral law and the civil laws
of Old Testament Israel. Historically, Christians have believed that the
moral law was also encompassed within natural revelation. God's moral law
is exhibited in the Ten Commandments, but it is also known to all men,
even to those who have never seen a Bible. Therefore, all governments on
earth should mirror God's moral law in their own individual legal systems.
Calvin's position and that of the Confession of Faith is that while the
moral law is binding on all men, the case laws of the Old Testament and
their penalties expired: "To them also, as a body politic, he gave
sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that
people; not obliging any other now, further than the general equity
thereof may require." (Westminster Confession of Faith, XIX, iv)
Bob
Vincent |
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