An Urgent Message from Mark Rushdoony
If we can continue our steady pressure of promoting and publishing our message, we can continue to equip and empower more and more Christians to embrace the full implications of their faith.
- Mark R. Rushdoony,
“The great missionary requirement of the days ahead is Christian schools and institutions. This is in part Chalcedon’s function. It must become a central area of activity for all Christians, and for their tithes, in the days ahead.”
~ R. J. Rushdoony (Institutes of Biblical Law, Vol. 2, p. 117)
Dear Friend of Chalcedon,
The prophet Isaiah spoke the Word of the Lord that, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters shall cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9), therefore, to bring the knowledge of God to the nations should be the primary function of Christian ministry. This flooding of the earth with the knowledge of God is obviously more than evangelistic preaching. It is the end result of our Lord’s final words before He ascended: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20).
Think for a moment of where we are on the timeline of this great mission. Think of the tremendous growth and expansion of Christian education via Christian schools and homeschooling. Think of how many well trained youth are rising into places of influence, productivity, and leadership in every area of life.
Yes, things may appear “dark” if you’re looking only at news headlines, but they are very “bright” if you’re looking at what’s happening within godly families!
Chalcedon desperately needs your tax-deductible support today. Click to donate.
Christian Education Is Bigger Than Christian Schools
In the above quotation by my father, he saw that the work of reconstruction needed to be focused upon Christian education, but he did not limit that to instructing children and youth. He saw a greater jurisdiction for Christian education which would result in the creation of additional Christian institutions—via the tithe—including alternative means of government, justice, charity and more:
The Christian who tithes, and sees that his tithe goes to godly causes, is engaged in true social reconstruction. By his tithe money and his activity he makes possible the development of Christian churches, schools, colleges, welfare agencies, and other necessary social functions. (Tithing and Dominion, p. 9)
Can you think of any greater emphasis right now? In fact, I believe that we are looking at a great opportunity to share Christian Reconstruction with an ever widening audience of Christians who are disillusioned with the American political system, grieved by the rapid cultural decline, and aware of the impotence of the Religious Right.
The Urgency of a Long-Term Project
If we can continue our steady pressure of promoting and publishing our message, we can continue to equip and empower more and more Christians to embrace the full implications of their faith. We can see more families commit to Christian education, and we can inspire more Christians to work to establish a truly Christian order.
This takes vision on our part. This requires our faith. More than anything, this necessitates our commitment to supporting such a mission with our tithes:
We cannot wait for taxes to be lowered. We must begin now, not merely to tithe but to begin Christian reconstruction with our tithe, to re-establish the necessary social functions as Christian action. (ibid., p.10)
My father understood something very powerful here. The time to begin is now because a long-term mission—one which requires great time and effort—can only be successful if a community understands and feels the urgency of present action. That can only come by those whom the Lord has granted understanding. That means you and me.
You and I are aware of the importance of Christian Reconstruction, therefore the responsibility is always ours to act with a sense of holy urgency.
The Doors of Opportunity Are There
The Chalcedon Foundation is dedicated fully to the cause of Christian Reconstruction, and we recognize our small but vital role in being the primary Christian agency for publishing this much-needed message. However, we can do nothing without your continual support and prayers. Without you, our mission comes to a standstill.
That’s why I’m writing you. I need your generous financial support today—especially during the summer months when giving tends to decline. Chalcedon is solely underwritten by the faithful giving of our supporters, and as president of this ministry, it is my responsibility to often present to you the vision, scope, and importance of what we’re doing. As I mentioned above, the doors of opportunity are there, but we need your support to take advantage of them.
Would you take a moment right now to prayerfully consider sending the most generous tax-deductible gift you can to Chalcedon today? Believe me, your contribution will make a difference, and I cannot overemphasize the urgency of our ongoing needs. My commitment is to continue the work my father started and to be as prudent and frugal as possible with the budget that God has entrusted us with. Your gifts are sacred, and I treat them as such.
Please help support Chalcedon today. You can do so right away at chalcedon.edu/donate. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
In His Service,
Mark R. Rushdoony
- 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.