A Handmaids Tale

[Aquila]

I'd like to offer my thoughts, and perhaps a couple friendly counterpoints.

Originally Posted by votivesoul

I've never heard of him, and I don't claim to subscribe to any such position. But I will say this: the entire purpose of evangelism is to bring people under the saving influence of the Son of God, the Lawful One. When a person receives the Holy Spirit, they receive the Law of God written upon their heart so that they may freely live out the commandments of God as contained in His Word.

Amen. I have no real disagreement with your statement above. However, I think many Christians disagree on what "law" is written upon the heart. Some will argue that it is the Ten Commandments, some will argue that it is the entire Law of Moses. I contend that it is the Law of Christ, the Law of Love. This law teaches us to love God with all our being, and to demonstrate that love by loving others as ourselves. A law that leads us to manifest agape in our lives. A law that transcends the legalistic stipulations of the OT law, and calls us to a deeper and more authentic holiness. The single impulse of divine love is perfectly fitting for being a law written upon the heart.

If we desire all people to be saved in the same way and for the same reasons as God does, then whether we admit to anything openly, or however we might argue against something otherwise, deep down, anyone trying to be a light to their world and bring souls to Jesus is automatically theonomically inclined, or else there is no purpose in evangelizing anyone.

Here is where some disagreement might come in.

The term "Theonomic" is a loaded term. Let's define "Theonomy". According to American Vision, a leading theonomist thinktank, "Theonomy" is defined as:

"The biblical teaching that Mosaic Law contains perpetual moral standards for living, including some civil laws, which remain obligatory for today."

- First, theonomy isn't about salvation or personal holiness. It is about social reconstruction. It is a political theory that proposes that some civil laws under the Mosaic Law remain obligatory today.

- Second, this theonomic source states that only "some" civil laws from the Mosaic Law are obligatory today, not all.

I'd like to make a few observations.

As stated above, Theonomy isn't about salvation or personal holiness. It is about social reconstruction and reform. So one's rejection of Theonomy is not a disregard for Scripture, salvation, holiness, or the Gospel. It is the rejection of a political theory. Attempts are often made by Theonomists to corner tender hearted believers into thinking that if they don't support Theonomy, they don't believe in the Bible or the Gospel itself. Such is a blatant distortion of truth and is the first indicator that one is not dealing with an honest Theonomist, but rather a manipulator who uses one's own convictions to bring them under the spell of accepting theonomy.

Also, as stated above, Theonomy teaches that "some civil laws" are obligatory for today. This statement is often used to soften the impact of such thinking, for most would reject Theonomy outright if it didn't have this caveat. However, one should note that Theonomists differ greatly on this. Some actually do advocate adherence to the entire Mosaic Law. Those who don't are often in disagreement with one another as to what Mosaic Laws do apply. So, when evaluated, discussed, or debated, while each Theonomist has a comprehensive view, as a group, they do not.

Various theonomic authors have stated such goals as "the universal development of Biblical theocratic republics" (Chilton, David, Paradise Restored: A Biblical Theology of Dominion, Appendix A), exclusion of non-Christians from voting and citizenship (North, Gary, Political Polytheism, p. 87), and the application of Biblical law by the state (Bahnsen, Greg, By This Standard: The Authority Of God's Law Today, pp. 346-347). Under such a system of Biblical law, homosexual acts (DeMar, Gary, Ruler of the Nations, p. 212), adultery, witchcraft, and blasphemy (North, Gary, Unconditional Surrender: God's Program for Victory, p. 118) would be punishable by death. Propagation of idolatry or "false religions" would be illegal(An Interview with Greg L. Bahnsen) and could also be punished by the death penalty (Rushdoony, R.J., The Institutes of Biblical Law, (Nutley, NJ: Craig Press, 1973), pp. 38–39, Schwertley, Brian M., "Political Polytheism). More recent theonomic writers such as Joel McDurmon, President of American Vision, have moved away from this position, stating that these death penalties are no longer binding in the new covenant (Joel McDurmon, The Bounds of Love). Polemicist and Theonomy critic, JD Hall, who debated McDurmon in 2015, has argued that abandoning Mosaic penologies such as the death penalty means that McDurmon and others who hold similar positions cannot be said to hold to theonomy in any meaningful way (Hall, J.D., "On Joel McDurmon’s Abandonment of Theonomy").

As one can see, the classical, and consistent theonomist must embrace the whole of Mosaic Law or, as JD Hall stated, one doesn't hold to theonomy in any meaningful way.

I present a different perspective that I've found to be true. First, Theonomy is a stumbling block for evangelism. Most recoil at the notion that Jesus wishes to save them to set up a Christian theocracy. Second, such a theocracy would use social pressure to convert individuals, meaning their conversions are coerced and not genuine. It's a race to the bottom to create a society full of fake and superficial legalistic religionists, with millions who "convert" to escape civil penalties. It also leads to the deepest corruption in that sinners will go even deeper into the darkness to hide their sin for fear. Making open confession and dialogue about sin nearly impossible. If you think people hide behind a fake and superficial righteousness now... imagine how it would be in a Theonomic society.

Conversion or righteousness by coercion isn't true conversion nor true righteousness. This is why I contend that the pure Christian faith can only flourish in a free and just society. Yes, men and women will sin. However, their sin will not be buried at all costs for fear of death or sanction.

The true Christian understands the difference between the spiritual Kingdom of Christ and the earthly kingdoms of this world. And so, the true Christian understands that the only righteous and just society is one in which all men are free, and love for God and one's fellow man governs the actions of Christians.

We live in a world that is seeing increasing religious extremism. Islamic theonomists, Christian theonomists, and every other extreme branch of religion are becoming more and more prominent. This is an increasing danger to mankind. Because rather it be Christian or Muslim, Theonomy is the religious extremism behind all religious wars and terrorism. It is also the foundation of the tyranny true Christians have resisted under the authority of the Roman Catholic Church for over 1,200 years.

Theonomy isn't the answer... going all the way back to Rome... it is the problem.