Tradesmen of the Kingdom
Christian Reconstruction has more to do with our responsibility to act than any particular program. Even when we are not sure to what extent our attempts at service will be fruitful, the responsibility to serve is ours; the results are in God’s hands.
- Mark R. Rushdoony
Christian Reconstruction is a long-term vision of the Kingdom of God that has more to do with our responsibility to act than any particular program. By that, I mean it is about our duty to act in terms of the lordship of Jesus Christ and the certain advance of His Kingdom, even when we are not sure to what extent our attempts at service will be fruitful. The responsibility to serve is ours, the results are in God’s hands.
As far as Chalcedon’s work is concerned, we see ours as a largely educational one. We have largely done that through publishing.
Those of us at Chalcedon are aware of the perception problem we face. If we are a publisher and do not publish in a given period, we look like we are doing nothing. Yet, we are constantly re-typsetting, editing, and indexing material – some published over 60 years ago and some never published. There are currently 19 books alone on my office’s whiteboard “project list.” We are also busy expanding our archival material in multiple formats.
Let me give you an example of how we never know the influence a title will have. In 1988, Chalcedon first published The Incredible Scofield and His Book by Joseph Canfield because my father saw it as important. We have kept it in print, even creating a new edition since then. The author passed away a few years ago. At times, the book has barely sold, but very recently it was discussed on a radio ministry, and we are now scrambling to print more copies to keep up with the demand. A commercial publisher would have dropped the title 30 years ago and sold the inventory off as “remainders.” It was my father’s foresight to print the book and Chalcedon’s determination to keep it available that has kept that important scholarship accessible. This is why our-under-the-radar work is valuable.
When you support us, you are investing in the long-term availability of resources to serve the Kingdom for generations to come. Christian Reconstruction is about building, but it is not always one of “Grand Openings.” We are all tradesmen in the building of the Kingdom. We do our job as assigned by the best of our ability. Your support enables that and for it we are truly grateful.
- 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. His biography of his father will be published later this year (2024).
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 has lived in Vallecito, California, since 1978. His wife, Darlene, and he have been married since 1976. His youngest son still resides with him. He has three married children and nine grandchildren.