No!: A Theological Response to Christian Reconstructionism

Synopsis: Sometimes theological ideas are good topics for ongoing debate. Other times the community of faith needs to come to a decision: yes or no. Christian Reconstructionism offers the Christian church a basic approach to faith different from mainstream historic Christianity. Is their approach warranted? Or is it a fundamental distortion of the gospel? The present volume seeks to set out the case that Christian Reconstructionism is not a legitimate variation of Christian doctrine but rather a serious misunderstanding of the gospel attested in Holy Scripture. First an attempt is made to look at the basic ideas of Christian Reconstructionism. Rather than focusing on names and dates the focus is on the set of ideas that characterize this view of Christianity. Second a response is given to each of the main ideas. The response makes use of traditional Protestant Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox doctrine; but it is based primarily on careful exegesis of Scripture. The ultimate question is if Christian Reconstructionism is grounded in the Bible or in a political ideology foreign to Scripture. An epilogue briefly points to a different way of seeing Christian involvement in contemporary global society. Endorsements: Historians are not well positioned to offer firm theological conclusions about debated points in theology. But speaking as a historian it is obvious that Christian Reconstruction or Dominion Theology has come to play a significant role in American life. To anyone it should be obvious that Paul McGlassons response to this theology is clear charitable forceful and biblical. McGlassons effort to make the Christian gospel the center of his rejection of Dominion Theology makes this a particularly important book. --Mark A. Noll Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History University of Notre Dame Paul McGlassons hard-hitting No! has convinced me that reconstructionism--with its mishmash of advocacy for a Christian America characterized by Christian dominion a mentality of Christian either/or with no compromise politically or culturally--has infected the political right and worst of all compromised the Christian gospel. McGlasson is fair but scathing in his biblically based evangelical and theologically well-informed critique. This book is a badly needed theological corrective. Reconstructionism? No! --William H. Willimon Professor of Christian Ministry Duke Divinity School Paul McGlassons No! is in fact a profound Yes! that affirms Jesus Christ as the center of the gospels message. The No! that he speaks is aimed at idols that we contrive to avoid the scandalous grace of Jesus Christ. McGlasson sees that it is not the Law or the nation-state or cultural prominence or even ones own faith that saves. To all of that one must say No! The One who welcomes sinners and eats with them does not make Pharisees but forgiven free and joyful saints. --Thomas W. Currie Dean Union Presbyterian Seminary Author Biography: Paul McGlasson is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Sullivan Indiana. He received his MDiv from Yale Divinity School and his PhD from Yale University in Systematic Theology. He is the author of several books including God the Redeemer Canon and Proclamation and Invitation to Dogmatic Theology. Before entering the parish ministry McGlasson taught theology for several years in college and seminary.