Faith for All of Life Jan/Feb 2009 Editorials 2 from the Founder the Beatitudes 4 from the President the Christian and the Passi
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Faith for All of Life Jan/Feb 2009 Publisher & Chalcedon President Rev. Mark R. Rushdoony Chalcedon Vice-President Martin Selbrede Editorials Columns Editor 2 From the Founder 15 Canadian Bloggers Targeted Rev. Christopher J. Ortiz The Beatitudes by “Human Rights” Censors Lee Duigon Managing Editor 4 From the President Susan Burns The Christian 19 Icondulism: Reaching Out Contributing Editors and the Passing of Time and Touching God Lee Duigon Greg Uttinger Features Kathy Leonard 28 Thou Shalt Have 6 A Crown of Thorns: Chalcedon Founder No Other Gods Before God Reigning Through Suffering Rev. R. J. Rushdoony Bret McAtee (1916-2001) Christopher J. Ortiz was the founder of Chalcedon Products and a leading theologian, church/ 10 Protection and Covering: state expert, and author of numer- A Look at God’s Provision for 33 Catalog Insert ous works on the application of the Biblical Trustee Family Biblical Law to society. Andrea Schwartz Receiving Faith for All of Life: This 23 None Dare Call It Phariseeism magazine will be sent to those who Martin G. Selbrede request it. At least once a year we ask that you return a response card if you wish to remain on the mailing list. Contributors are kept on our mailing list. Suggested Donation: $35 per year ($45 for all foreign — U.S. funds only). Tax-deductible contributions may be made out to Chalcedon and mailed to P.O. Box 158, Vallecito, CA 95251 USA. Chalcedon may want to contact its readers quickly by means of e-mail. Faith for All of Life, published bi-monthly by Chalcedon, a tax-exempt Christian foundation, is sent to all who request If you have an e-mail address, please it. All editorial correspondence should be sent to the managing editor, P.O. Box 569, Cedar Bluff, VA 24609-0569. send an e-mail message including Laser-print hard copy and electronic disk submissions firmly encouraged. All submissions subject to editorial revi- your full postal address to our office: sion. Email: [email protected]. The editors are not responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts which [email protected]. become the property of Chalcedon unless other arrangements are made. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of Chalcedon. It provides a forum for views in accord with a relevant, active, historic Christianity, though those views may on occasion differ somewhat from Chalcedon’s and from each other. For circulation and data Chalcedon depends on the contributions of its readers, and all gifts to Chalcedon are tax-deductible. ©2009 management contact Rebecca Chalcedon. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint granted on written request only. Editorial Board: Rev. Mark R. Rushdoony, President/Editor-in-Chief; Chris Ortiz, Editor; Susan Burns, Managing Editor and Executive Assistant. Rouse at (209) 736-4365 ext. 10 Chalcedon, P.O. Box 158, Vallecito, CA 95251, Telephone Circulation (9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m., Pacific): (209) 736-4365 or or [email protected] Fax (209) 736-0536; email: [email protected]; www.chalcedon.edu; Circulation:Rebecca Rouse. From the Founder The Beatitudes (Taken from the soon-to-be released Sermon on the Mount [Vallecito, CA: Ross House Books, 2009]) R. J. Rushdoony And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matt. 5:1–12) ur Lord, seeing inward implications (Matt. 5:21–48) in Our Lord in the Beatitudes there- Othe multitudes, speaking to the twelve. However, while fore describes the covenant man, the man went up into the moun- this renewed covenant, with its renewed of grace who is therefore the man of law. tain; this mountain is affirmation of the law (Matt. 5:17–20) These are the blessed. not identified for us, is with the twelve, the multitudes of The blessed are first of all defined as but our Lord’s act does Judea heard Him at the same time “the poor in spirit.” Edgar J. Goodspeed give us an identification. God gave the (Matt. 7:28–29). The covenant made by very ably paraphrases this as “those who law through Moses on Mount Sinai Jesus Christ is new, because it is with a feel their spiritual need.” These are they (Exod. 19); from Mount Ebal, the curse new people, the new church or assembly who know that they are not autono- of God upon disobedience to His law of God’s firstborn (Heb. 12:22–24), mous men, not gods (Gen. 3:5), but was pronounced; and, from Mount but it is the same covenant with Adam, sinners. It is not the Kingdom of Men Gerizim, His blessing upon faithfulness Noah, Abraham, and Israel; the same they want, but God’s reign and King- was declared (Deut. 27:11–28:68). All dom. They reject man’s way and the tree of life is the life of the covenant, but three mountains are recalled in the Ser- tempter’s plan (Gen. 3:1–5) and want in new branches are grafted into it, and the mon on the Mount, which begins with all of their being the Lord’s reign in their dead branches are pruned out (Rom. the blessings of the Beatitudes, and ends lives, and the triumph of His law-word. 11:17–24). The tree of life, Jesus Christ, with the judgment and curse upon the These too are they who mourn (pen- is the center and life of the New Jerusa- house not built upon the Rock, Jesus theo) as they see their sin and the world’s Christ (Matt. 7:26–27). That accursed lem, God’s Kingdom and city, in every apostasy. They rejoice in the Lord’s sal- and fallen house is unbelieving Judah age (Rev. 22:1–2). vation, but the world’s rebellion against and Israel. This new covenant thus renews the Christ the King is a manifest grief to Jesus came preaching the Kingdom law, because a covenant is a law-treaty, them. The Kingdom of God or Heaven of God (Mark 1:15). He gathered to but, at the same time, an act of grace belongs to all such, and the Lord is Himself almost at once twelve dis- from the superior to the lesser. Because their comfort. (Because of the Hebraic ciples; many more followed Him, but the triune God gives His covenant law fearfulness of any vain use of God’s He singled out twelve for the inner to man, an act of grace, man must in Name, Matthew substitutes “Heaven” company. Even as Moses delivered the gratitude and faithfulness keep that law. for “God” in speaking of the Kingdom.) law to the twelve tribes of Israel, so our To depart from the covenant law and Covenant men are God’s blessed Lord renews the law, and develops its grace is to be accursed. meek (praos). In origin, meek referred to 2 Faith for All of Life | January/February 2009 www.chalcedon.edu Faith for All of Life a gentled horse, one broken to harness The covenant made by Jesus Covenant man has a reward here or saddle and made useful. Emphatical- Christ is new, because it is with and now in Christ, and in the inheri- ly, the word meek does not mean mousy a new people, the new church tance of the earth, and in heaven (Matt. or timid before men, but useful to the or assembly of God’s firstborn 5:12). He is also a part of the wars of Lord, and harnessed to His service and the Lord, not as the Lord’s enemy, but law-word. If the word and Spirit of (Heb. 12:22–24), but it is the as the Lord’s man. As a result, he will be God bind us and guide us, we are the same covenant with Adam, persecuted for righteousness’ sake. He blessed meek. It is the blessed meek Noah, Abraham, and Israel; the may be killed for the Lord’s sake (Rom. who shall inherit the earth (Ps. 37:11, same tree of life is the life of the 8:36). His enemies, however, earn hell 22) and shall delight themselves in the covenant, but new branches are for their works, but covenant man gains abundance of peace. For covenant men grafted into it, and the dead heaven and the new creation. He may be reviled or abused, and to conquer the world for Christ (Matt. branches are pruned out 28:18–20), it requires of them this kind spoken falsely of, for Christ’s sake, but (Rom. 11:17–24). The tree of life, of character, meekness, being harnessed he will gain from his Lord the joyful to the word of God and tamed and gen- Jesus Christ, is the center and word, “Well done, thou good and faith- tled by the Holy Spirit.