Post by cherylannhannah on Jul 1, 2010 19:18:12 GMT -5
Like Jill, I was part of the Christian Reconstruction movement. I would have to say that her ex husband was a real extreme and not at all representative of most of the people I knew in that movement.
I would also like to say that I read Rushdoony for years and that a lot of stuff that he gets blamed for is the result of "young turks" taking some of what he said and running with it. I remember one discussion I was part of in the RPNA where some young men were debating about whether or not you would put women to death who had had abortions in the past, as well as abortion providers. I finally pointed out to them that this meant putting to death *real people* that they knew in their own congregations, many of them repentant mothers of many and did they really think God was demanding this of us? I also reminded them of the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It was the ringleaders who got it in the neck and no one else. Those who participated in Baal worship by bringing sacrifices were not touched. (And don't think I am advocating bombing abortion clinics, btw -- I'm not.)
One thing that Rushdoony emphasized over and over again is that salvation is NOT to be found in the State and any laws it comes up with. Civil gov't governing the outward conduct of our lives is never the answer.
The book of Proverbs emphasizes over and over and over again our need to "get wisdom and get understanding". As I get older, I see how little justice we have in this world and in our churches because we apply things without wisdom. God help us.
More and more I see that real justice and mercy are things that flow out of a heart that is connected to God without all the outer trappings of what we think Christianity should be and should look like. As I have been reading the commentary on Chris Hedge's book and digesting what is said in some of the links put up, I am coming to see more and more that what we call Christianity is more a cultural expression of North American Gringo Society with a Christian gloss over it. God save us from religion and help us to find just Him.
I would also like to say that I read Rushdoony for years and that a lot of stuff that he gets blamed for is the result of "young turks" taking some of what he said and running with it. I remember one discussion I was part of in the RPNA where some young men were debating about whether or not you would put women to death who had had abortions in the past, as well as abortion providers. I finally pointed out to them that this meant putting to death *real people* that they knew in their own congregations, many of them repentant mothers of many and did they really think God was demanding this of us? I also reminded them of the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It was the ringleaders who got it in the neck and no one else. Those who participated in Baal worship by bringing sacrifices were not touched. (And don't think I am advocating bombing abortion clinics, btw -- I'm not.)
One thing that Rushdoony emphasized over and over again is that salvation is NOT to be found in the State and any laws it comes up with. Civil gov't governing the outward conduct of our lives is never the answer.
The book of Proverbs emphasizes over and over and over again our need to "get wisdom and get understanding". As I get older, I see how little justice we have in this world and in our churches because we apply things without wisdom. God help us.
More and more I see that real justice and mercy are things that flow out of a heart that is connected to God without all the outer trappings of what we think Christianity should be and should look like. As I have been reading the commentary on Chris Hedge's book and digesting what is said in some of the links put up, I am coming to see more and more that what we call Christianity is more a cultural expression of North American Gringo Society with a Christian gloss over it. God save us from religion and help us to find just Him.