ArnojJoran wrote:
I have never studied Theonomy and don't profess to be a Theonomist, and so I may be misinformed, but I thought Theonomics was mostly concerned with crime and punishment as it concerns the last six commandments. I thought I had read that somewhere, but I confess my ignorance on this matter.
I was actually attempting to address something in Mr. Alderson's article, perhaps I read too much into Mr. Alderson's words. Usually when I encounter phrases that suggest theocracy ended with the Mosaic economy it tends to mean that the worship of false gods, idolatry, blasphemy and Sabath profaning are not matters for the Magistrate to deal with, though they are issues for the Church to preach against. If I misinterpreted his meaning I sincerely apologize, if not, perhaps my post may be appropriate in this particular forum?
Sincerely,
Jeff Rojan
While my studies of theonomy are definitely incomplete, what you stated in your previous post definitely sounded reminiscent of some of their thoughts. As Bashen stated:
An examination of the scriptural proofs offered for this second duty [enforcing the ordinances of God] makes quite clear that the Westminster divines expected the civil magistrate to rule according to the law of God (including its Old Testament stipulations), even to the point of its penal sanctions. [Theonomy, 540]
Theonomists use WCF 23:3 to support their view. Bahnsen's claim that 23:3 is theonomic is based on two grounds: 1) that the text of the Confession makes the civil magistrate responsible for enforcing the first four laws of the Ten Commandments, and 2) the scripture references cited approve capital punishment for blasphemers.
Thus, these are some of my grounds for stating you appear to be making theonomy statements.
In interpreting the WCF, we run into some difficulties IMO (23.3; 31.1 and 2). In one place we read, "the civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the word and sacraments, or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven," and in another we read that, "he hath authority … to take order that unity and peace be preserved in the church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire, that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed, and all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed, and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed" and in order to do this "he hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God." In 30.1 we see that Christ, "as King and Head of his church, hath therein appointed a government, in the hand of church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate." Here we read that independent action is envisioned only if magistrates be open enemies of the church, in which event "the ministers of Christ, of themselves, by virtue of their office, or they, with other fit persons upon delegation from their churches, may meet together in such assemblies." We see something similar in the Belgic Confession (36, Of Magistrates). Do you see the contradiction?
While there have been several attempts to rectify this, the best is probably been by the OPC. In their revision they state, (a) the government of the Church is distinct and separate from the State, (2) that civil magistrates may not interfere in the affairs of any church so long as they are not subversive of the civil order, even in controversies of doctrine and discipline, and (3) that the church officers alone have the authority to appoint synods or councils, with which the civil government may not interfere.
As Williamson states, "…when the Confession of Faith is incorrect or imperfect we believe that it otght to be changed. For, as the Cofession itself is careful to teach us, The supreme judge by which all … decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, … are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture (1.10). …When this Confession was adopted originally by various Presbyterian bodies, it was sincerely believed. Where it was found to err from Scripture it was amended. And true Presbyterians have always believed that the Confession could and ought to be amended when it can be shown to err."
[G.I. Williamson, WCF for Study Classes, p. 244-246].
