The Next Phase of History
The irrationality of modern man represents his downward spiral, his desperate desire to avoid reality. At some point, the failure of his rebellion will overcome him. That is inevitable because we live in a world governed by a reality implanted by God.
- Mark R. Rushdoony
Cornelius Van Til referred to the thinking of reprobate man as “integration into the void.” Paul described that downward spiral in the first chapter of Romans.
Modern man is racing into a void, the dead end of the naturalistic world he has embraced. He clings to the irrational conclusions to which his worldview has led him, but this cannot continue indefinitely.
It is not uncommon to hear stories of sobriety that recount how men and women found themselves in the most degraded situations before they realized they had to change or they would die. Their downward spiral could not last indefinitely; there was a reckoning.
So it is with cultures. The willful ignorance of consequences finally yields to reality.
The irrationality of modern man represents his downward spiral, his desperate desire to avoid reality. At some point, the failure of his rebellion will overcome him. That is inevitable because we live in a world governed by a reality implanted by God.
My father often said, even thirty or more years ago, that we were at the end of the age of humanism because its failures were becoming increasingly apparent. As it entered its death throes it would become more vicious, but its weakness would finally cause it to crumble. (Incidentally, he predicted the fall of the Soviet Union well before it occurred. Now I think his prediction of the end of the age of humanism seems prescient.)
The question remains, “What will replace the humanistic worldview and its institutions?”
That, he saw was the next phase of history, and he believed it would be a new period of growth in the Kingdom of God. That growth has begun in many areas, such as China, Africa, and the Middle East. The church has increased exponentially in Iran in recent years. But quantitative growth requires qualitative growth, and this is why the work of Christian Reconstruction is so important. We must point fellow citizens of the Kingdom toward their responsibility.
We so appreciate those whose enabling help to our ministry allows us to promote this message to the citizens of the Kingdom.
- 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 43 years with his wife of 45 years and his youngest son. He has three married children and nine grandchildren.
