A collection of articles on Christian Reconstruction taken from the internet. While these are mostly critical, this was not intentional. It is simply that I could not find many good articles that defined 'Christian Reconstruction' written by reconstructionist authors. However the critical reviews (***) are probably the easiest way of finding out exactly what is Christian Reconstruction.

*** recommended serious articles

Download all articles as a 140 page zipped Word 97 document here (230k)

Short summary of beliefs:

• The law still applies today - (Mat 5:17-19)
• The OT Law is to govern over society as well. Since we are called to subdue the earth i.e. take dominion over it (Gen. 1:28), Dominion Theology teaches that God's Law should rule (or dominate) all aspects of society. This view is known as Theonomy (or God's law).
• The Law was divided into three sections: civil, moral, and ceremonial. The ceremonial law has been fulfilled by Christ and is no longer incumbent upon the believer, but not so the moral and civil parts of the law. Therefore, we are to live under the moral law and seek to establish, in our society, the civil system of OT Israel. The implication is that the death penalty would become far more widespread and restitution would have a greater emphasis.
• Reconstructionists teach that the mission of the church goes beyond the spiritual transformation of individuals, i.e. preaching the gospel and making disciples, to a mandate to change society.
• It is postmillennial, seeing the victory of the gospel on earth before Christ returns. It is therefore optimistic about the future rather than pessimistic like the premillennial and amillennial eschatological views.
• Home schooling is one of the methods for implementing the change in society.

The key issue is whether the civil law of the Old Testament still applies today. We are mostly agreed that the moral law still applies and that the ceremonial law was fulfilled by Jesus, and therefore does not apply today. If as Christians, we are not under law, should we apply the OT civil law to society?

Contents:

Download all articles as a 140 page zipped Word 97 document here (230k)

Books: linked to

1. By This Standard : The Authority of God's Law Today by Greg L. Bahnsen
2. No Other Standard : Theonomy and Its Critics by Greg L. Bahnsen
3. Christian Reconstruction : What It Is, What It Isn't by Gary North, Gary Demar
4. Institutes of Biblical Law by Rousas John Rushdoony
5. The Debate over Christian Reconstruction by Gary Demar, Greg L. Bahnsen

Links:

1. Chalcedon