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"Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy
responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ -- to have
dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life
and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a
voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest. That's what Christ has commissioned us to
accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we
must never settle for anything less... Thus, Christian politics has as
its primary intent the conquest of the land -- of men, families,
institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom
of Christ." (From
The Changing of the Guard: Biblical Principles for Political
Action by George Grant, published in 1987 by
Dominion Press) Some Christians do not like democracy. As Betty Fischer, director of Kids in Ministry International and
founder and director of Kids on Fire summer camp in North Dakota,
noted in the
Jesus Camp
documentary, democracy is a problem because it "treats everyone as
equals." Therein lies the fundamental reason why Christian
Nationalists are striving to
turn America into a theocracy: the belief that (certain) Christians
should receive preferential treatment in America and control the
judicial system. What do they view as the greatest obstacles
in elevating Christians to elite, ruling status? Pluralism and
"secular humanism."
Who are these Christians that would replace
democracy with theocracy?
Firstly, this theocratic movement assumes a
variety of labels, including Christian Theocracy, Christian Reconstructionism, Christian Dominionism,
Dominion Theology and Theonomy. In general, Christian Dominionism and
Dominion Theology are overarching constructs positing the enforced
rule of God over the world, while Christian Theocracy / Christian
Reconstructionism are the concrete manifestations of the rule of God
in government and society.
The ideological founders and leaders
of the movement include(d)
Rousas John Rushdooney,
Francis A.
Schaeffer,
Gary North and
Gary DeMar (see
History links below). Many leaders among the Religious Right,
although certainly not all, have followed in their footsteps. Many
conservative Christians at large advocate theocratic principles in a
quest to conquer America, convinced that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and
(now) needs to
return to her "Christian heritage." Pseudo-historian David
Barton, through his
Wall Builders organization, has perhaps done the most to propagate
the myth of
America founded as a Christian nation. The theocratic movement is
based on historical falsehoods (for example, the erroneous claim that
most of America's founding fathers were Christians) and a belief that Old Testament laws
should apply to America governance.
How can one distinguish Christian theocrats from
the larger Religious Right? Look for certain code language and
phrases, such as "Biblical Worldview," "Christian Worldview,"
"Dominonist" and "Theonomy."
How are Christian theocrats spreading their
views? In addition to private Christian schooling, Christian
home schooling is one of the primary avenues of teaching Dominionism
and Christian
theocracy. The Christian home school movement is led by the national
Home School Legal Defense Association. Even otherwise
seemingly-respectful Christian home school organizations are actively
advocating theocratic views. For example, the
Georgia Home Education Association (GHEA) headlined Reconstructionist founder Gary Demar at their 2007 annual conference. Note the many homeschool-related entities listed below. For more information, read "Turning
Our Children Into God's Warriors."
In addition, journalist Jeff Sharlet offers an
intriguing and well-researched inside look at a secretive fundamentalist
group called
The Family, a high-level and political cadre of militant,
capitalistic, elite fundamentalists with fascist foundations who for
decades have quietly manipulated politicians and political parties and worked alongside some
of the greatest mass-murdering dictators of all time, in an effort to
effect theocracy and unregulated free market economics worldwide.
Sharlett's particular contribution to the discussion of Christian
theocracy is his documentation of the marriage of unfettered
capitalism to religious fundamentalism. In
short, the elite fundamentalists and their capitalistic gospel that Sharlet identifies set the tone and
arrange the playing field for popular expressions of fundamentalism.
Below is a partial listing of entities which espouse
Christian theocratic tenets, defined, at the minimum, as the
belief that Christians should receive preferential and privileged
treatment from the American government and in the public square, and
conservative Christian morality should be enforced by judicial law. Some would go much further by entirely revoking democracy in favor of
governing according to Old Testament Law. Finally, read
Gary DeMar's apologetic for Christian Theocracy.
Theocratic Organizations
Alliance for Marriage
American Center for Law and Justice
American Family Association
American Vision - founded by Gary Demar, leading theocratic
ideologue
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
Chalcedon Foundation - led by R. J. Rushdoony
Christian Action Network
Christian Business Men's Committee
Christian Coalition of America
Christian Exodus
ChristianAmerica.Com
Citizens for Excellence in Education - arm of National Association
of Christian Educators
CitizenLink.Com - an arm of Focus on the Family
Coalition on Revival - Applying
Biblical Principles to Every Sphere of Life and Thought
Concerned Women for America
Constitutional Law for Enlightened Citizens
Coral Ridge Ministries - led by D. James Kennedy
Council for National Policy - secret government council policy
formed by Tim LaHaye
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Creation Resource Foundation
Eagle Forum
Family Policy Network
Family Research Council
Free Congress Foundation
Home School Foundation - funded by the HSLDF
Home School Legal Defense Foundation (HSLDF)
Institute for Christian Economics - led by Gary North
National Association of Christian Educators (NACE)
Joshua Generation - aimed at 11 to 19 year olds; affiliated with
Patrick Henry College
National Center for Home Education - affiliated with HSLDF
National Clergy Council
National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI)- funded by
HSLDF
Operation Rescue
Restore America
Rutherford Institute
Traditional Values Coalition
Vision America - founded by Rick Scarborough, Baptist
Vision Forum Ministries
Wall Builders - led by David Barton
Worldview Weekend
Theocratic Educational
Institutions
Patrick Henry College - for homeschooled children, partner of
HSLDF
Regent University - "Regent" refers to Christian rulers who will
govern the nation
Theocratic Publications
and Media
A Christian Manifesto - address by Francis A. Schaeffer; summary
of theocratic views
A Manifesto for the Christian Church - endorsed by the major
theocratic players
American Vision Home School Online Store
Biblical Worldview Magazine
Citizen Magazine - published by Focus on the Family
Civilized Revolt (Formerly Virtue Magazine)
FreeBooks - from the Institute for Christian Economics
Generations - Radio Program
Home School Heartbeat (Radio program)
LifeWay Homeschool, Southern Baptist Convention - affiliated with
HSLDF & NHERI
WorldView Magazine
History of
Reconstructionism /Domionism
A Brief History of Christian Reconstruction - published by Public
Eye in 1994
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