A World of Rebellion
One of the most common remarks come from people with objections to something in the Bible or newspapers: “A good God couldn’t allow that to happen.”
- R. J. Rushdoony,
California Farmer 261:7 (Nov. 3, 1984), p. 21E.
One of the most common remarks that I have heard over the years has to do with people’s objections to something in the Bible or newspapers. “A good God couldn’t allow that to happen,” these people will say, very earnestly.
What they mean is that God must be bound by their idea of goodness, and if He fails to meet their standard, something is wrong with God! The truth is, something is wrong with these people and their standard of goodness.
I am reminded of a spoiled child, who when denied his demands, screamed at his mother, “You don’t love me.” This child’s standard required he be gratified as proof of love. If the mother had met his requirements, she would have shown not love, but unconcern and even hatred.
We have a world today in rebellion against God. Such a world is an evil and unsafe place: there are penalties for living in such a realm. We have a duty under God to bring this world into captivity to Christ. If we fail to do so, the problems and penalties only increase.
Our goal is defined throughout Scripture. Revelation 11:15 reveals the end result must be the glorious proclamation of victory: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
Until then, the Lord will not allow this world to be a safe haven or an easy heaven for fallen man. We have locks on our doors because this is a fallen world, not heaven. There are thus risks in living here. More important, there are responsibilities to our Lord. Are you meeting them?
- R. J. Rushdoony
Rev. R.J. Rushdoony (1916–2001), was a leading theologian, church/state expert, and author of numerous works on the application of Biblical law to society. He started the Chalcedon Foundation in 1965. His Institutes of Biblical Law (1973) began the contemporary theonomy movement which posits the validity of Biblical law as God’s standard of obedience for all. He therefore saw God’s law as the basis of the modern Christian response to the cultural decline, one he attributed to the church’s false view of God’s law being opposed to His grace. This broad Christian response he described as “Christian Reconstruction.” He is credited with igniting the modern Christian school and homeschooling movements in the mid to late 20th century. He also traveled extensively lecturing and serving as an expert witness in numerous court cases regarding religious liberty. Many ministry and educational efforts that continue today, took their philosophical and Biblical roots from his lectures and books.