Christian Reconstructionism

ARTICLE A Reformed Approach to Economics: Christian Reconstructionism he impact upon economic thought of the Protestant Reformation was seen across Western Europe, in England, and in North America in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In particular, Christians Tguided by the teaching of the Reformer John Calvin approached their work, their finances, and their participation in civil life from a perspective they understood to be explicitly grounded in the law of God. They sought guidance in Biblical law regarding questions such as interest-taking on loans and the proper amount to pay for the laborer’s wages. The first generation of New England Puritans went so far as to make Old Testament law binding upon their communities in these areas as well as in non- economic matters. In recent years, some Christian thinkers in the Reformed tradition have advocated a similar approach to social and economic questions, utilizing the appellation of “Christian Reconstructionism.” Moving beyond published works in the 1960s which were essentially critiques of modern philosophy, politics, and education, the Reconstructionist writer Rousas John Rushdoony produced The Institutes of Biblical Law in 1973. The Insti- tutes extensively examined the Ten Commandments as the expression of God’s law. Much in the vein of the New England Puritans, Rushdoony’s work sought to develop the implications of Biblical law for modern economic and political institutions. Following Rushdoony’s lead, other Reconstructionist writers in the past twenty years have generated a series of published materials advocating the application of Biblical law to a myriad of social questions. The teachings of Christian Reconstructionism have been increasingly AUTHOR influential in recent years for evangelicals advocating social policy in vari- Edd S. Noell is ous mainline denominations and independent churches. They have also Associate Professor induced a fairly strong and at times quite critical reaction both within and of Economics at outside the Reformed community; among the sobriquets given to Recon- Westmont College. structionists are “triumphalists” and “the liberation theologians of the right.” 6 SPRING 1993 © 2003, Association of Christian Economists ARTICLE This survey begins with an examina- …the Bible, as the infallibly inspired tion of the methodology and key doctrines revelation of God to sinful man, Reconstructionists of Christian Reconstructionism. In the next stands before us as that light in terms have sought to of which all the facts of the created section, the Reconstructionist critique of fashion a modern economic methodology is as- universe must be interpreted. All of finite existence, natural and redemp- sessed. Some examples of Reconstruction– uniquely Bibli- tive, functions in relation to one all- cal economic ist economic policy as derived from Bibli– inclusive plan that is in the mind of cal law are then outlined. Following that God. Whatever insight man is to have epistemology. section, an evaluation of the Reconstruc– into this pattern of the activity of God tionist approach to economics is presented. he must attain by looking at all his The study concludes with an anno- objects of research in the light of tated bibliography which covers many of Scripture (The Defense of the Faith, the works of Christian Reconstructionists p. 107). pertaining to economics, as well as se- Furthermore, Van Til contended that any lected other Biblical and theological Christian apologetic that conceded a studies. There are over 100 published measure of autonomy to non-Christian books and journal volumes devoted to man in any area of life, however slight, Christian Reconstructionism. Representa- was heretical. tive Reconstructionist writers include Taking their cue from Van Til’s Rushdoony, Greg Bahnsen, David Chilton, apologetic method, Reconstructionists Gary DeMar, and Gary North. Of this have sought to fashion a uniquely Biblical group, North is the one who has written economic epistemology. North writes that the most on Christianity and economics (at “the first principle of Christian economics” least 35 books, and numerous journal is its dependence on Biblical revelation as articles), and thus his works will draw a a normative standard (Unconditional large portion of the focus of this survey. Surrender, p. 147). Reconstructionists insist that there are fundamental principles I. Methodology and Principle which are either explicitly stated in Doctrines Scripture or can be derived from the Bible Arguing that the Scriptures provide for numerous specific areas of life. Thus, the only sufficient starting point in the Scripture teaches that God as Creator is the defense of the faith, Reconstructionist owner and governor of all creation. The writers turn to the apologetic methodology orderly creation reflects an orderly, developed by the Reformed theologian sovereign God. Men and women, created Cornelius Van Til. Van Til advocated a in God’s image, have been given the task presuppositionalist approach to of subduing the earth and ruling over it. apologetics, declaring that it is impossible This is expressed in Genesis 1:26-28, the to prove the validity of Christianity to dominion covenant.1 As stewards of the unbelievers. Rather, as part of regenera- earth, we are to act as God’s appointed tion, the converted person comes to contractors. The Bible supplies the blue- presuppose certain truths, including the prints for our actions.2 validity and authority of Scripture. The The notion of the dominion covenant Bible attests to its own truth. In turn, the supplies a second key element of Recon– truth of the Bible is the Christian’s starting structionist economics. The specific tasks place in regard to every concern of life. It involved in fulfilling the mandate of the is the master lens by which the believer dominion covenant are found in the rest of must perceive all the datum of created life. Scripture. Reconstructionists seek to expli– In one of his primary works on apologetics, cate this Biblical teaching in their writings. Van Til wrote that The Reconstructionist emphasis on the BULLETIN 7 ARTICLE fundamental doctrines of the authority of binding on Christians today. 4 Reconstruc– Reconstructionist Scripture in every area of life and on the tionists who espouse theonomic postmil– writers [make] dominion covenant reflects the influence lennialism assert that worldwide victory an extensive of the theological precepts of Calvin.3 One for the gospel will result in adherence by critique of the example is found in Calvin’s development all nations to the standards found in of the implications of the dominion cove– Biblical law.5 methodology nant for man’s work. For Calvin, man’s life Christian Reconstructionists are fond of modern in its entirety is understood as a response of contrasting their position with that of economists. to the calling of God. Calvin sought to dispensationalism. Dispensationalists counter the medieval notion that a calling contend that only Old Testament laws applied only to special areas, so-called repeated in the New Testament are “holy orders,” for which a special conse- binding today. Reconstructionists assert, cration was needed. By way of contrast, however, that unless an Old Testament Calvin stated in the Institutes of the Chris- law is specifically abrogated, it is still tian Religion that whether one labors in an obligatory. The New Testament has obscure job or as a magistrate, one’s work abrogated the ceremonial elements of the must be regarded as true service to God: Mosaic law (such as animal sacrifices) “no task will be so sordid and base, pro- since they were fulfilled in the life and vided you obey your calling in it, that it ministry of Jesus Christ. The civil elements will not shine and be reckoned very pre– of the law are still binding today for cious in God’s sight” (Book 3, 10, 6, p. 725). Christians; indeed, they are binding as In a related way Calvin placed great God’s law for all nations.6 stress upon the worthiness of labor. Labor was given to man in the garden before his II. Critique of Modern Economic fall. Though now it involves toil and strug– Methodology gle, it is still part of the Lord’s mandate for Reconstructionist writers have utilized those made in His image. Calvin could not Van Til’s presuppositional apologetic as view work as payment for sin; instead, he the basis for an extensive critique of the understood work to be a divine vocation methodology of modern economists. Per– to which man is called. He opened up a haps North overstates the case, but he has way to see many varieties of occupations surely caught the essence of the modern as callings to which men are particularly economists’ perspective on their own appointed by God and by which they may discipline: “The autonomy of economics as worship Him. Reconstructionists follow a science from ‘metaphysics,’ namely any Calvin in seeing man’s task as fulfilling the revelation from God, is the hallmark of all dominion covenant through devotion to contemporary economic practice” (“Eco– God’s particular calling. nomics,”p. 78). Lionel Robbins supplies a Reconstructionists understand this good illustration of this viewpoint: task in terms of bringing the whole world The economist is not concerned with under the rule of God’s law. This under- ends as such. He is concerned with standing is derived from two other prin- the way in which the attainment of ciple doctrines associated with Reconstruc- ends is limited. The ends may be tionism: its postmillennial eschatology and noble or they may be base. They may its theonomic approach to ethics. Post- be ‘material’ or ‘immaterial’—if ends millennialism contends that prior to the can be so described. But if the attain– Second Coming of Christ, his kingdom ment of one set of ends involves the sacrifice of others, then it has an will be manifested in a worldwide conver- economic aspect (p.

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