Authority & Rule
The authority to rule comes from God alone, and not only man must live by every word that comes from the mouth of God, but every family, every church, every school, every civil government must live by every word that cometh from the mouth of God. All things must derive their authority from God the Lord, and to restore the authority that alone can bring order to this world means that we place ourselves, our families, schools, and callings, and our civil governments under the every-word of God.
- R. J. Rushdoony
The authority to rule comes from God alone, and not only man must live by every word that comes from the mouth of God, but every family, every church, every school, every civil government must live by every word that cometh from the mouth of God. All things must derive their authority from God the Lord, and to restore the authority that alone can bring order to this world means that we place ourselves, our families, schools, and callings, and our civil governments under the every-word of God.
- 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.