Response to "What is 'Theonomy'?" by Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen
An article entitled "What is 'Theonomy'?" was sent to me by a youtube user who asked quite nicely for my thoughts regarding it. I have reposted my response here in the hopes that anyone involved with or considering becoming involved with the ideas of Theonomy will take into account this Biblical perspective. Hopefully, this post is clear enough that it will not be necessary to read the original article in order to understand the arguments involved, but in case you wish to, here is the address of the article to which I am responding: http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/pe180.htm
Thank you for your message and I read Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen’s essay as soon as I received it from you and I’ve taken some time to think about it. I’ll tell you at the outset that the first few paragraphs I was agreeing with it but as soon as he said that national Israel was no longer the heir to God’s promises, I had to disagree. The covenants of God are eternal and God has not forsaken or ‘redefined’ Israel.
As for the Law of GOD governing nations:
“Those who do not favor taking God's law as the ultimate standard for civil morality and public justice will be forced to substitute some other criterion. The civil magistrate cannot function without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not the revealed law of God, then in some form or expression it will have to be a law of men -- the standard of self-law or autonomy. Men must choose in their civil affairs to be governed by God's law (theonomy), to be ruled by tyrants, or acquiesce to increasing social degeneracy.” – from Bahnsen’s article
Let me say this about the notion that the OT laws are still the best for nations. I largely agree with this and have been thinking along these lines a lot. I consider that no nation until Christ comes will truly be Christian, but they may well (and historically, have) adopted God’s laws for self-government. Those laws are good and righteous and will result in GOD’s blessing on a nation that keeps them. Therefore we see as the Western nations begin to turn away from God’s laws, there is an increase in lawlessness and no human efforts are able to stem the rising tide. So to this extent I agree. Spiritual (saved) Christians are not under the Law because Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and so by Him, when we walk in His Spirit, we will not transgress His Law. If a country were full up with Christians, we would judge all transgressions righteously because He has written His Law upon our hearts (Isaiah 51:7). But in the mean time, yes, we should govern our country with the Mosaic Law, though without the death penalties (and certain others as well) because of Christ’s mercy.
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?---Deut 4:8
I believe that in this world we have no continuing city. This world lies in wickedness and has a false god of its own who controls the airwaves. Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world but it will rule this world one day, when Jesus returns, and not one moment sooner. We cannot change that but must remain unspotted by this world, like ambassadors who remain representatives of their home country even when abroad in a foreign land. They are required to avoid the ways and habits of the land of their diplomatic appointment because otherwise they can no longer represent the character of their home nation. In a similar way I believe Christians are called to show their difference to the world and I know you’re not saying that we should become like the world, but I think the talk of spiritual war in the Bible is very real. We’re not going to entice the world over to the Kingdom of God, rather, we’re hopefully going to draw people from the world to Christ, and they will switch sides, going from rebels to faithful citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, having received amnesty from our Gracious King!
The Catholic church became corrupt because (not entirely but largely for this reason) it took a hand in temporal matters. Its effort to establish an earthly kingdom in the name of Christ was the seed of its downfall because Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world,” and the ways of this world invariably require compromise of the truth, which God will not bless, since He IS the Truth. A Kingdom divided cannot stand, so deceiving them into compromise is the devil’s weapon against God’s people; it is an enticement that leads to death. I think the Bible teaches clearly that we are not here now to build God’s Kingdom but rather that we ourselves are God’s edifice and His planting and that He is building His Kingdom in us and of us (1 Cor 3:9-10), and when He comes His Kingdom will be established on earth.
I want to see God’s Kingdom manifested on the earth in fullness ASAP, don’t get me wrong. It’s only that I don’t want to misdirect my efforts attempting that which God will not allow and which He has not blessed, even though well-intentioned. His will will be done because only He knows how to get maximal glory. Glory I think comes from victory unexpectedly and privately won when all is dark and despairing because of the appearance of overwhelming odds, when all but One have already believed defeat. That is why Christ’s glorification is His Crucifixion. I am persuaded that the End-Times return of Christ will be His sudden arrival into a like situation for man and especially the Jewish people. This is contrary to a gradual ‘building-up’ of righteousness through the Law, which goes against the teachings of Christ, Who says, “Behold, I come quickly!” and His declaration that believing Israel will be a people formed in a day (Isaiah 66:8). Also, let us remember that righteous government by the Law has its own pitfalls, including the natural tendency to fall away from it because only faith, which is not the basis of the Law, can truly transform and save individuals and nations.
“And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”---Gal 3:12
I hope I have accurately understood Dr. Bahnsen’s arguments. I do want to offer a warning about this man's interpretation/version of ‘covenant theology’ which tends towards ‘replacement theology’ insofar as it appears to separate national Israel from the promises God made to her, and to which He will be faithful. So many religious groups (Mormon’s, RC Church, Seventh Day Adventists, British-Israel) have claimed that they are the ‘new’ or ‘true’ Israel, which is a usurpation of historical, national Israel’s right to her Creator’s special favour.
“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,”---Rom 11:1-2
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from JACOB:
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”---Rom 11:25-29, my emphasis, by using the natural name of Israel, Jacob, God emphasises that He is speaking of the nation of Israel, the Jews.
“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Tim 2:13
"Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds the sheaves his arms" Psalm 129:5-7
"Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married." (Isaiah 62:3-4.)
I encourage you strongly if you are not yet convinced to send a message to a brother here on yt by the name of AbaloneKid. He has recently sent a message telling his youtube "Friends" that if anyone doubts that Israel is the only nation God has guaranteed will live on into eternity, please send them to him and he will attend to them with the Lord’s help.
Thank you for the contact and please feel free to reply!
Yours In Christ,
Jonathan
I encourage everyone to leave comments! I would like to hear what you think. Also, the invitation to contact AbaloneKid through youtube is open to everyone. Check out his Gospel website at http://www.theabalonekid.com/.
GOD bless you!
Thank you for your message and I read Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen’s essay as soon as I received it from you and I’ve taken some time to think about it. I’ll tell you at the outset that the first few paragraphs I was agreeing with it but as soon as he said that national Israel was no longer the heir to God’s promises, I had to disagree. The covenants of God are eternal and God has not forsaken or ‘redefined’ Israel.
As for the Law of GOD governing nations:
“Those who do not favor taking God's law as the ultimate standard for civil morality and public justice will be forced to substitute some other criterion. The civil magistrate cannot function without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not the revealed law of God, then in some form or expression it will have to be a law of men -- the standard of self-law or autonomy. Men must choose in their civil affairs to be governed by God's law (theonomy), to be ruled by tyrants, or acquiesce to increasing social degeneracy.” – from Bahnsen’s article
Let me say this about the notion that the OT laws are still the best for nations. I largely agree with this and have been thinking along these lines a lot. I consider that no nation until Christ comes will truly be Christian, but they may well (and historically, have) adopted God’s laws for self-government. Those laws are good and righteous and will result in GOD’s blessing on a nation that keeps them. Therefore we see as the Western nations begin to turn away from God’s laws, there is an increase in lawlessness and no human efforts are able to stem the rising tide. So to this extent I agree. Spiritual (saved) Christians are not under the Law because Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and so by Him, when we walk in His Spirit, we will not transgress His Law. If a country were full up with Christians, we would judge all transgressions righteously because He has written His Law upon our hearts (Isaiah 51:7). But in the mean time, yes, we should govern our country with the Mosaic Law, though without the death penalties (and certain others as well) because of Christ’s mercy.
And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?---Deut 4:8
I believe that in this world we have no continuing city. This world lies in wickedness and has a false god of its own who controls the airwaves. Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world but it will rule this world one day, when Jesus returns, and not one moment sooner. We cannot change that but must remain unspotted by this world, like ambassadors who remain representatives of their home country even when abroad in a foreign land. They are required to avoid the ways and habits of the land of their diplomatic appointment because otherwise they can no longer represent the character of their home nation. In a similar way I believe Christians are called to show their difference to the world and I know you’re not saying that we should become like the world, but I think the talk of spiritual war in the Bible is very real. We’re not going to entice the world over to the Kingdom of God, rather, we’re hopefully going to draw people from the world to Christ, and they will switch sides, going from rebels to faithful citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, having received amnesty from our Gracious King!
The Catholic church became corrupt because (not entirely but largely for this reason) it took a hand in temporal matters. Its effort to establish an earthly kingdom in the name of Christ was the seed of its downfall because Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world,” and the ways of this world invariably require compromise of the truth, which God will not bless, since He IS the Truth. A Kingdom divided cannot stand, so deceiving them into compromise is the devil’s weapon against God’s people; it is an enticement that leads to death. I think the Bible teaches clearly that we are not here now to build God’s Kingdom but rather that we ourselves are God’s edifice and His planting and that He is building His Kingdom in us and of us (1 Cor 3:9-10), and when He comes His Kingdom will be established on earth.
I want to see God’s Kingdom manifested on the earth in fullness ASAP, don’t get me wrong. It’s only that I don’t want to misdirect my efforts attempting that which God will not allow and which He has not blessed, even though well-intentioned. His will will be done because only He knows how to get maximal glory. Glory I think comes from victory unexpectedly and privately won when all is dark and despairing because of the appearance of overwhelming odds, when all but One have already believed defeat. That is why Christ’s glorification is His Crucifixion. I am persuaded that the End-Times return of Christ will be His sudden arrival into a like situation for man and especially the Jewish people. This is contrary to a gradual ‘building-up’ of righteousness through the Law, which goes against the teachings of Christ, Who says, “Behold, I come quickly!” and His declaration that believing Israel will be a people formed in a day (Isaiah 66:8). Also, let us remember that righteous government by the Law has its own pitfalls, including the natural tendency to fall away from it because only faith, which is not the basis of the Law, can truly transform and save individuals and nations.
“And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”---Gal 3:12
I hope I have accurately understood Dr. Bahnsen’s arguments. I do want to offer a warning about this man's interpretation/version of ‘covenant theology’ which tends towards ‘replacement theology’ insofar as it appears to separate national Israel from the promises God made to her, and to which He will be faithful. So many religious groups (Mormon’s, RC Church, Seventh Day Adventists, British-Israel) have claimed that they are the ‘new’ or ‘true’ Israel, which is a usurpation of historical, national Israel’s right to her Creator’s special favour.
“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,”---Rom 11:1-2
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from JACOB:
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”---Rom 11:25-29, my emphasis, by using the natural name of Israel, Jacob, God emphasises that He is speaking of the nation of Israel, the Jews.
“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” 2 Tim 2:13
"Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds the sheaves his arms" Psalm 129:5-7
"Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married." (Isaiah 62:3-4.)
I encourage you strongly if you are not yet convinced to send a message to a brother here on yt by the name of AbaloneKid. He has recently sent a message telling his youtube "Friends" that if anyone doubts that Israel is the only nation God has guaranteed will live on into eternity, please send them to him and he will attend to them with the Lord’s help.
Thank you for the contact and please feel free to reply!
Yours In Christ,
Jonathan
I encourage everyone to leave comments! I would like to hear what you think. Also, the invitation to contact AbaloneKid through youtube is open to everyone. Check out his Gospel website at http://www.theabalonekid.com/.
GOD bless you!
