The Attraction to Theonomy

By Shane Lems - Posted at The Reformed Reader:

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Theonomy, or Christian reconstruction, is a relatively new movement and new way of interpreting Scripture. To be sure, some aspects of theonomy have been affirmed on a surface (or formal) level in the past. However, modern theonomy/Christian reconstruction is very much an American movement. One question I’ve had about Christian reconstruction, or theonomy, is “What’s the draw?” Another is: “Why would people want to reinstate many of the Old Covenant laws and penalties today?” John Muether answers these questions in an essay that focuses on sociological factors. It is found in Theonomy: A Reformed Critique (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990). I’ll give some highlights of his article below (emphases are mine).

Muether first talks about the external factors that draw people to the Christian reconstruction movement: 1) the changing landscape of American religion and 2) the cultural crisis. Some people are attracted to theonomy because the American culture is shoving Christianity off the playing field, and theonomy wants it to be central. Also, some people see America as falling apart morally and they believe a strong focus on biblical law will help restore America. “The threat of an increasingly hostile and secularizing culture goes far to explain the current interest in theonomy” (p. 248).

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