Professional Documents
Culture Documents
September/October 2005
Reclaiming America some foreign power or catastrophic disaster,” edge God as the true source of law and civil
In the Courtroom Moore said, “but by the most sinister and government,” Judge Moore said. “I serve
destructive of all enemies — our own courts. as chairman of the foundation, which files
Public display of the Ten Command- For nearly half a century our federal courts amicus curae [friend of the court] briefs in
ments. Protection of marriage. Individual have consistently and tirelessly denied various state and federal cases involving
religious liberty in the workplace. people the right to publicly acknowledge the religious liberty, and teaches the true source
The right to form free associations based God upon whom our country was founded of our liberty in seminars and classes given to
on Christian belief, from the Boy Scouts of and by whom our rights and liberties are pastors, legislators, lawyers, and judges.”
America to your local high school Bible club. made secure.” “We feel that one of the best ways to
These are all under fire today, all subject Today there are many Christian legal reclaim our communities for Christ is to
to abolition in the courtrooms of America foundations battling in courtrooms all over practice what is preached in the ‘red letters’
— and, for the most part, being defended by America to preserve our country’s Christian of the Bible,” said Richard Ackerman of Lively
lawyers working for Christian legal founda- heritage. Just to name a few, large and small: and Ackerman, San Diego (Pro-Family Law
tions that didn’t yet exist when R. J. Rush- the Alliance Defense Fund, the American Center). “Given the prominent role that law-
doony founded Chalcedon in 1965. Center for Law and Justice, the Christian Law yers and judges play in shaping the culture,
“Dr. Rushdoony has been very influential Association, the Christian Legal Fellowship, it is critically important that we let the light
on not only the legal community but how the Thomas More Law Center, the Pro-Family of Christ’s promises and Person shine in all
the wider Christian Right responds to various Law Center, and the Foundation for Moral that we do. If Christ does not play a role in
social and legal issues,” said John Whitehead, Law, founded by Roy Moore in 2004. The how we argue even mundane matters, we
president and founder of the Rutherford names of their founders, patrons, and top at- lose the faith and trust of all who rely on us to
Institute, a legal foundation which has torneys — James Dobson, D. James Kennedy, make the world a less contentious place.”
argued many cases involving religious liberty Jay Sekulow, David Gibbs, Thomas Finnery Constitutional lawyer Herb Titus — once
in the workplace. “In fact, the Christian Right’s — are frequently featured in top news stories an ACLU attorney, now a saved Christian
clamoring over judicial activism and the Ten involving controversial legal cases from Terri — remarked on the apparent lawlessness of
Commandments can be directly traced back Schiavo to homosexual “marriage.” activist courts and judges today.
to R. J. Rushdoony.” None of these organizations existed in “Don’t judge by outward appearances,”
Judge Roy Moore, who lost his position 1965 when Rushdoony founded the Chalce- he said. “There’s always hope in the Lord: the
as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme don Foundation, which proclaimed the lord- One Who is in control of everything is going
Court when he refused to obey a federal ship of Christ over every sphere of human to win. Don’t be cowed by the ungodly. All
judge’s order to remove a Ten Command- activity — including the courtroom. they have is the courts. That’s why they’re so
ments monument from his courthouse, took What do the foundations do? frantic.”
aim at judicial activism. “The Foundation for Moral Law in
“Today America is threatened not by Montgomery, Alabama, exists to acknowl-
My Recollection
of Chalcedon’s First Forty years
By Mark R. Rushdoony
M y father, Rousas
John Rushdoony,
formally launched Chal-
tion (1963), were more academically
oriented, as was The One and the Many
(1971) which was then already exten-
cedon in the summer of sively researched. When he lectured, he
1965. I was eleven years always asked for questions. His interac-
old at the time and our tion with these live audiences made
move from Palo Alto to Woodland Hills his written works increasingly geared
(in the suburbs of Los Angeles) was a towards the reading layman, rather than
memorable event. the academic.
The name Chalcedon was already Many of the early supporters of
familiar to me. For several years my Chalcedon were conservative Republi-
father had talked of starting Chalcedon, cans discouraged by the landslide loss of
but in those years his plans were more Barry Goldwater in the 1964 Presiden-
focused on a college. That idea persisted tial contest. Those were heady days for
for several years, but as my father’s liberalism. President Lyndon B. Johnson
writing grant expired, he decided not to threw massive amounts of money into
delay the start of his “educational insti- his “Great Society,” and those enamored
tution,” but to begin it by other means. with the cult of science claimed it was
Newsletter soon became less of a report
Over the New Year’s holiday of poised to find the solutions to many of
on activities than a monthly essay.
1965 we traveled to southern Califor- man’s problems.
Nevertheless, the name stuck and the
nia, where my father spoke and met My father consciously avoided
Chalcedon Newsletter became the Chal-
with potential sponsors. (We also made making Chalcedon into a conservative
cedon Report, a name it held long after
memorable family trips to Disneyland mouthpiece, because he saw the quest
and the Rose Parade.) The results of that it became a magazine in November of
for political answers as symptomatic of
trip were sufficiently encouraging that 1987. In January 2005, we changed the modern man’s problems. He believed
my father committed to move to Los magazine’s name to Faith for All of Life that the essential government was the
Angeles that summer. and the Chalcedon Report became what self-government of man under God.
To keep his supporters informed of it originally started out to be, a report Chalcedon thus avoided being evan-
his activities, my father began what was on Chalcedon and its ministry. gelistic. Its purpose was not to convert
simply called the Newsletter. It included The support provided by those early non-believers, but to teach believers. Its
an essay and a report on his activities, so contributors allowed my father to give purpose was always to train Christians
that the end of each Newsletter reported his full attention to his writing. It also, to be faithful to the law-word of God.
on the number of talks given, chapters I believe, changed his style of writing. Chalcedon was self-consciously estab-
written, and his travels. We came to re- Some of his earlier work was more lished to fill a large void in Christianity.
fer to it as “the report.” Because he saw scholarly. By What Standard? (1958), In- The church was so busy focusing on the
his supporters so frequently at meetings tellectual Schizophrenia (1961), and the “fundamentals” and the “simple gospel”
throughout southern California, the Messianic Character of American Educa- that it tended not to go beyond preach-
Celebrating the
history of the
Chalcedon Foundation
what’s important. Rushdoony would
consider it irrelevant. The proper start-
ing point is the birth of the ideas.
with time spent on bare necessities,
not penetrating the lofty ideas found
in books. Theirs was an oral tradition
and the work of R. J. animated by story and legend. Rousas,
Rushdoony (“Rush”) is Theonomy or Autonomy on the other hand, was a man of written
a difficult thing to do. He was a long way from his last words and rigorous thinking. In this
Rush would frown on any attempts to home in Santa Cruz, California, in environment the studious young mis-
cover or acknowledge the history of an 1946 when the thirty-year-old Rousas sionary was as out of place as a Cadillac
institution — he was about ideas not or- experienced the great transformation on the Moon.
ganizations. Because of this, the history to his thinking. Isolated within the 400 He didn’t seem to need many sup-
and people involved are scattered and square miles of the Duck Valley Indian plies on the reservation — only books.
diffused. In terms of the organization Reservation in Owyhee, Nevada, this The Shoshones would watch with
there is no clear line of growth. The only contemplative missionary-pastor had interest as Rousas frequently received
measurable growth is the ever-increasing already spent a year and a half carving a delivery of books to his mailbox. He
influence of the message. That’s what out the Kingdom of God among the seemed oblivious to his onlookers as
Rush was working towards. Western Shoshone Indians. he tore open each package and began
But it is practical to share a particu- Rousas was of medium height with reading as he walked back to his home
lar angle of the story of Chalcedon, espe- dark hair, olive skin, and a silent look — never lifting his head.
cially for those who are unfamiliar with that left one wondering what was trans- Rushdoony received numerous
the history of Christian Reconstruction.1 piring behind his deep eyes and pro- books during his stint on the reserva-
Typically, most historical accounts nounced brow. He sparked the curiosity tion, but one volume in particular
begin with the date and location of the of the Duck Valley residents. Like most affected him deeply. The New Modern-
birth of the founder. When discussing Native Americans, their culture was not ism by Dr. Cornelius Van Til was a new
Christian Reconstruction this is not noted for its scholarship. Life was basic, release in 1946 and promised An Ap-
praisal of the Theology of Barth and Brun-
ner — something the young Rousas was
much interested in due to the widening
influence of modernism in Protestant
circles. Dr. Van Til was a sober but hu-
morous Dutchman whose slender frame
and thick glasses disguised his long
history as a trenchant defender of the
Christian faith. He was the professor of
apologetics at Westminster Theological
Seminary and from that single location
launched a sustained campaign against
humanism, modernity, and their Chris-
tian cousin, neo-orthodoxy.
Despite the theological strength of
such establishments as Westminster,
modernism continued its determined
march into the Second World War.
Rushdoony in younger years sporting an indian headress Its influence was felt in many spheres
T he Bible accurately
identifies the fact
that without vision,
listen to me I would abandon him along
the side of the road to the care of robbers
and thieves.
did paved the way for me to be able to
homeschool without significant incident
or opposition.
the people perish. For Rush’s works do more than sound Additionally, there were the many
many of us, our original a warning. His Institutes of Biblical Law people who had read his work and heard
reasons for homeschool- and Systematic Theology give home- him speak and began to take dominion
ing pale in comparison to the strong schooling parents the “seminary-like” in the area of homeschooling support
motivations we now have. education that equips them to teach groups, magazines, legal assistance, and
Too few of us really knew what every subject from a godly, orthodox writing and designing curriculums, etc.
was at stake. We began with the Spirit’s perspective. His experience and exper- In other words, others built on his work;
prompting — in many cases living tise have often led me along paths that as a result, there are myriads of good
quite above our stated theology. But would reap tremendous rewards for me resources available to homeschoolers
without a strong theological, intellectual and my children. Thanks to his teaching everywhere.
base, well-meaning friends and family, that every area of life and thought is sub- Rush didn’t stop there. He contin-
an intrusive school board, or political ject to the law of God, from the time my ued to write and challenge Christians to
legislators answering to strong and well- children were very little, discussions on cast their bread upon the waters. He was
funded lobbies would have knocked us daily problems or situations were viewed not interested in becoming a celebrity-
down and knocked some of us out. from the perspective of where (not if) guru with followers who follow him
The writings of R. J. Rushdoony God’s law addressed it. Many times our blindly. Far from it. He lived humbly,
(specifically his books on public educa- dinner table has been the place of impor- took time to answer questions (even
tion, Christian education, and the strug- tant theological discussions undergirded from children), and challenged people
gle between Christianity and humanism) by a solid orthodox base. to begin a work in their own area and
provided guidelines to keep us on track. But these are personal encounters re-take ground for the kingdom of God.
When my son was young, I would often with a writer and his work. The ground- The quality of the people he drew to
threaten to send him to “public school” work Rush laid by spearheading the him over the years is astounding. Their
when he repeatedly failed to adhere to Christian and homeschool movements, books fill my bookshelves as do the
my instruction. But after Rushdoony and his participation in landmark cases works of many great men he referenced
taught me to understand the extent of involving the rights of Christians to and on whose work he expanded.
the assault on Christianity and God’s law educate their children as directed by Over the years, I have spoken to
in state schools, I never threatened again. God, helped me even before I had the many home educators who have known
I realized that my threats would be com- blessing of knowing him. For the work Rushdoony, the work of the Chalcedon
parable to telling him that if he failed to he and those who worked with him continued on page 32
T hough he was
a controversial
figure in many circles,
a specific cultural climate and expects
him to live out and defend his faith in
it. When the response of evangelicalism
Scriptura, which Rush, among many
others historically, continually taught.
It was this great principle that drew the
many defenders of the to the ongoing moral collapse of our ire of his enemies and the thanksgiv-
orthodox Reformed culture was defeatist eschatology (“Wait ing of his students. For if Scripture is
faith affectionately for the Rapture”), ethical pietism, and not relevant, authoritative, and binding
looked to Dr. Rushdoony as a father and cultural compromise, he showed us our everywhere, it is not so anywhere. Its
teacher. He was one of the men whom duty to stand for the truth of the entire claims are comprehensive, and so must
God raised up in the latter half of the Bible at exactly the place where it is be our obedience if we would be Christ’s
20th century to emphasize neglected under the fiercest attack. This included disciples.
aspects of Biblical Christianity, espe- advocating the Bible’s principles of Critics of Dr. Rushdoony might
cially its societal implications, awaken social, judicial, and economic justice, object to high praise of him on the
the church to engage in the cultural even when these were largely abandoned grounds that he had many enemies or
battle for Christ’s Kingdom, and reject by the church and violently ridiculed in that his teachings were divisive. Great
theological, philosophical, and personal academic circles. men, however, whom God raises up
compromise. While we mourn his loss Dr. Rushdoony was a defender of to lead the church out of a period of
in 2001, we thank Jesus Christ for giv- the faith; this cannot be denied. His life darkness and into the blessed realm of
ing us this precious gift, and rejoice with demonstrates the abiding duty of every greater conformity to His Word, are
Dr. Rushdoony, as he is now part of the Christian to know the Bible, understand not cheerleaders. Their message is not
Church Triumphant, enjoying the pres- the culture, and issue a direct challenge usually universally received, for they
ence of the triune God to whose Word to unbelief, autonomy, and rebellion. must go against popular sentiment and
and doctrine he devoted his entire life. Dr. Rushdoony’s message spawned tradition to redirect the church toward
Dr. Rushdoony’s writings have a movement. Movements are always dif- the Kingdom of God.
made a tremendous impact on my own ficult to define, but it must be said that All praise must go to our great God
thinking. I will never forget the first his writings and preaching have created for the life, teaching, and legacy of Dr.
time I read through his Institutes. His a groundswell of affirmation that Bibli- Rushdoony. He was one of Christ’s
ability to show the application of God’s cal law and order, personal obedience wonderful love-gifts to the church. It
law to every area of faith and life was to God’s law, and the reformation of is my prayer that even though he is
invigorating and challenging. I began to society in terms of submission to Jesus now dead, he will continue to speak
understand what David meant when he Christ and His law are every Christian’s to generations to come, calling them
wrote: “I have seen an end of all perfec- calling. to total obedience to Christ, cultural
tion; your commandments are exceed- This is Dr. Rushdoony’s greatest discipleship, and liberty in submission
ingly broad.” Given the shallow and contribution to the revival of Biblical to Messiah the Prince.
truncated version of the Bible espoused Christianity in the late 20th century. He
by the majority of evangelical churches, encouraged Christians to be renewed Rev. Christopher B. Strevel currently
pastors Covenant Presbyterian Church
his works are revolutionary, demanding and purified in their minds by the
(RPCUS) in Buford, Georgia. He also
an entire reorientation of the Christian authority of God’s holy Word. Even
oversees students in Bahnsen Theological
mind toward Christ, law, and liberty. those in Reformed circles who cannot Seminary specializing in Calvin’s Institutes of
Dr. Rushdoony’s life exemplified call themselves “Reconstructionists,” the Christian Religion. He currently resides
how Christian theologians and pastors or who take issue with some of Dr. in Dacula, Georgia, with his wife of twelve
ought to engage the culture in which Rushdoony’s principles, are forced to years, Elizabeth, and his three children,
they live. God places each believer in clarify their positions in terms of sola Christopher, Caroline, and Claire.
“When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
“And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering.
O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky: but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Matthew 16:2-3
O n April 29-30,
2005, Chalcedon’s
Communications
The first of Rushdoony’s Chalcedon
Position Papers, the 1979 essay “Con-
flict with the State,” affirmed the same
Director, Chris Ortiz, theme:
and I attended Examin- In recent years, under the influences
ing The Real Agenda Of of humanism on the one hand and
The Religious Far Right at the CUNY pietism on the other, the church has
Graduate Center in New York. The withdrawn from many of its historic
speakers hailed from very diverse ideo- and basic functions. As the church
begins to revive and resume its required
logical backgrounds and institutions,
ministry, the result is conflict with the
yet all found common cause in decrying
humanistic state. (The Roots of Recon-
the “danger” posed by Christians who conform themselves to the new faith struction, p. 1)
mount any challenge to the secular- and the new morality. There has been
ism entrenched in modern politics deception on the part of the courts, by The key elements of Rushdoony’s
and culture. This event was funded their profession of religious neutrality, analyses are these: (1) the theological
solely through conference fees. It didn’t as they have substituted one religion collapse of the churches paralleled a
promote an agenda per se so much as a for another, humanism for Christianity. concomitant infiltration of humanism
reactionary anti-agenda set in opposi- The basic reason, however, has been and pietism into their midst; (2) the
the theological collapse of the churches, progressive exclusion of Christianity
tion to growing Christian effectiveness
and this has been true of all of them. from modern life marginalized it into
in the sociopolitical arena.
As I sat and listened, I repeatedly This theological collapse led to the irrelevance; (3) Christian weakness and
asked myself, “How was R. J. Rush-
untenable belief in religious neutral- irrelevance had rendered opposition to
ism and to the surrender of Christian it superfluous and pointless, especially
doony able to see across the decades and schools for statist education. As a result,
so accurately predict that things would where the church had effectively become
humanism became the established an ally of humanism; and (4) any rever-
come to this?” As to content, mode, religion of state and school, and, by
and strategy, Rushdoony had described, sal of these trends would be treated as a
infiltration, of the churches as well.
in disturbing detail, how and why the dangerous threat.
Christianity is quite logically progres-
opposition to Biblical Christianity sively excluded from state, school, and The “T word”
would unfold in our time. In particu- church and has a weak and scarcely Just as the term “fundamentalism”
lar, his 1986 book, Christianity and the tenable position in modern life. It has become the new “F-word,” so too
State, characterizes the issues raised at probably lacks extensive and organized “theocracy” has become the new “T-
this 2005 conference with near-journal- persecution in most countries because
word.” Of course, conspicuously absent
istic precision. orthodox Christianity has become
from the conference was any citation
To return to the basic problem today, progressively weaker and less and less
relevant. of Rushdoony’s that actually touched
the real issue is not between church on the topic of theocracy proper in any
and state, but simply this: the state as a Any revival of Christian strength will
pertinent way. A quick referral to the
religious establishment has progressively thus precipitate major conflict, in that it
disestablished Christianity as its law will constitute a threat to the human-
first three sentences of Rushdoony’s
foundation, and, while professing neu- istic establishment. In recent years, few “Chalcedon Position Paper No. 15: The
trality, has in fact established human- have feared the church, because the Meaning of Theocracy” would have
ism as the religion of the state. When church has been impotent and itself an corrected (and rendered irrelevant) 85%
the religion of a people changes, its ally of humanism. There are evidences of what passed for “concerned scholar-
laws inevitably reflect that change and that this may change. (p. 7-8) ship” at the conference. In Rushdoony’s
Or, buy Volumes 1 and 2 and receive Volume 3 for FREE! The World Under God’s Law
A tape series by R.J. Rushdoony. Five areas of
life are considered in the light of Biblical Law-
the home, the church, government, economics,
and the school.
5 cassette tapes, RR418ST-5, $15.00
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