The worldview of the Reconstructionists

Portrait of Rushdoony by John Stich.

In the last few days I’ve posted reviews of two new books on Rushdoony and Reconstructionism: by McVicar and Ingersoll. To summarise the positions of Rushdoony and Reconstructionists I have made an attempt to identify how they answer the key worldview questions:

Where are we? We are on Earth, which is a God-given place for humans to pursue dominion. 

Who are we? We are dominion men created and designed to subdue and rule on the Earth under God’s authority. We are special creations of God not evolved creatures.

What the problem?  The human desire to 'be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5), to be independent and autonomous. We fail to keep the biblical laws. The question and issue of authority is key - we have given authority over to the State. The State usurps authority from the family and the church. Men do not take up their roles of headship within the family and church.

What’s the remedy? The remedy is seen in Rushdoony’s Institutes of Biblical Law. There is a need to go back to the Bible which speaks to every area of life and to the biblical laws. The remedy doesn’t come through legislation or politics (by which is meant civil government), but with a biblical social order beginning with the family (and male headship). Each of the God-ordained institutions of family, church and state are to function, without encroaching on each other, under the authority of God. This requires a minimal state and limited government. 

Where are we going? Christians through the church should continue to expand and build the kingdom of God and then Jesus will return.

Please do let me know in the comments if I’ve misrepresented them in anyway or the above could be improved.

An extract from Moyers interview with Rushdoony from 1988: