Can Christians Ever Be a Governing Class?

By Mark R. Rushdoony
May 18, 2016

“Remember, there will always be a governing class. Our present schools, colleges, universities, churches, and foundations are essentially geared to producing a humanistic leadership. Fight this order all you will, but as long is it shapes the minds of the leaders and the followers, it will continue to prevail. Document its evils and chronicle its corruptions all you want, and you will not change it unless at the same time you work to establish a new people, and a new leadership.” (R. J. Rushdoony, Roots of Reconstruction, p. 663)

Because a governing class is an inescapable concept, Christians must be intentional about training godly leadership that understand that the faith must be applied to every area of life. This is why, for example, the family and Christian education are so vital.

The state can only prepare leaders for humanism, and the state will not train up a governing class that doesn’t serve the interests of collectivism and bureaucracy. Therefore, there must be a new governing class of Christian leaders prepared to advance the Kingdom of God in every sphere.

Take a few moments right now as Mark Rushdoony answers the question, “Can Christian Ever Be a Governing Class?”

Topics: Biblical Law, Christian Reconstruction, Church, The, Government

Mark R. Rushdoony

Mark R. Rushdoony graduated from Los Angeles Baptist College (now The Master’s College) with a B.A. in history in 1975 and was ordained to the ministry in 1995.

He taught junior and senior high classes in history, Bible, civics and economics at a Christian school in Virginia for three years before joining the staff of Chalcedon in 1978. He was the Director of Chalcedon Christian School for 14 years while teaching full time. He also helped tutor all of his children through high school.

In 1998 he became the President of Chalcedon and Ross House Books, and, more recently another publishing arm, Storehouse Press. Chalcedon and its subsidiaries publish many titles plus CDs, mp3s, and an extensive online archive at www.chalcedon.edu.

He has written scores of articles for Chalcedon’s publications, both the Chalcedon Report and Faith for all of Life. He was a contributing author to The Great Christian Revolution (1991). He has spoken at numerous conferences and churches in the U.S. and abroad.

Mark Rushdoony lives in Vallecito, California, his home of 40 years with his wife of 42 years and his youngest son. He has three married children and nine grandchildren.

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