Natural Privilege & Causality
Faith is God’s gift. It is not a product of mans will or effort; and ultimate causality is reserved to God alone. Neither mans willing or running, that is, his effort, can effect Gods determination. But this gives us no ground for quietism, to say: “Well, if God does everything, then there is no need for me to do anything.” No. The Bible tells us: God ordains all things, He predestines all things, and it also tells us we are responsible, and we bear the burden of guilt for every wrong thing we do, and we are blessed for every good thing we do, even a cup of cold water given in His name is blessed.
- R. J. Rushdoony
Faith is God’s gift. It is not a product of mans will or effort; and ultimate causality is reserved to God alone. Neither mans willing or running, that is, his effort, can effect Gods determination. But this gives us no ground for quietism, to say: “Well, if God does everything, then there is no need for me to do anything.” No. The Bible tells us: God ordains all things, He predestines all things, and it also tells us we are responsible, and we bear the burden of guilt for every wrong thing we do, and we are blessed for every good thing we do, even a cup of cold water given in His name is blessed.
- 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.