I would like to follow up on my two previous posts found here and here with a few additional comments.
Political engagement is messy, and so welcome to planet earth. When actual political controversies are going on, they are . . . well, controversies. It takes backbone to get in there and fight. When you do that, people don’t like it.
When the controversies are over, one side won and memorials are built in honor of the victors. Sometimes the victors deserve the memorials and sometimes they don’t, but they always get them.
Now downstream, the Lord taught us that those most prone to appeal to the tombs of the prophets are the very same people who would have murdered those very prophets if given the opportunity. Reformers are always troublemakers, making trouble in the present. And those most prone to say things like “never again” about the previous generation’s outrages are those most likely to institute the processes and procedures to land us in the same outrage again, or something very much like it. Think of the eugenics movement in the first part of the twentieth century, and all the horror that came from that. And then think of the most visible representative of that movement today — Planned Parenthood — and think also about which president speaks at their ghoulish events, calling down the blessing of God on them.
C.S. Lewis once commented that it was Owen Barfield who taught him to view the present as a “period.” At some point in the future, say, two hundred years from now, Christians will look back on our era, and they will say . . . what? They probably won’t be using the expression lamesauce then, but what they say will be some kind of synonym.
We live in an era when the third use of the law is almost entirely neglected, even by Reformed thinkers. So our descendents will consequently see an era characterized by superficiality, faux authenticity, economic ignorance, bloodguilt, narcissism, lust, and feelgood, affirmative action voting.
Now, having said this, please note that I am not urging everyone to vote Republican. I am simply observing what we may not do. We may not support a wicked throne, as evaluated by biblical law.
And as measured by biblical criteria, Obama is a wicked ruler. Abortion is my case in point, but there are numerous other issues that would make the same point. But even if this were the only issue, it would be sufficient. Manasseh supported causing infants to pass through the fire, and I don’t really care if he supported tight money or loose money at the Fed.
So if some Tishbite were invited out of the wilderness to speak at the next National Prayer Breakfast, it wouldn’t be pretty. And anyone who can’t see that doesn’t belong in the ministry.
On a somewhat related note… ;) Mr. Wilson I remember you’ve said that you appreciated but denounced some of the tenets of Reconstructionism/Theonomy when it comes to political engagements. I heard a lecture by you where you said we can’t just bring down “gun barrel justice” on people, and you’ve seemed to imply on several occasions that that is what the Reconstructionists were trying to do. But both Rushdoony and Bahnsen deny in print they were trying to do this. Rushdoony in Roots of Inflation said, “Political solutions just make things worse” and Bahnsen said in By This Standard that… Read more »
Once again, pushing on this issue shows the unwillingness of Christian leaders, including yourself, to apply the same standards to Republicans. Are you saying that GOP candidates don’t meet the threshold of an evil throne because they supported fewer abortions than Obama? I know there is no perfect candidate, everyone is a sinner–those are red herring arguments used to justify voting for people who advocate evil policies. But in all the recent Presidential elections the GOPer has committed to continuing abortion, and you’ve dutifully lined up behind him along with most of the American church. So evidently the standard of… Read more »
Slam!
Mitch Turner, you seem to be unaware of Wilson’s opposition to both Romney and Obama in the 2012 election.
I think it’s precisely that you’re telling us what we may not do that’s problematic. May we also not eat meat in Lent?
Also, as measured by biblical Law, Bush was an evil ruler, and both McCain and Romney would have been. If, on Pr. Wilson’s interpretation of the situation, I may not vote for Obama, may I also not vote for McCain or Romney? Am I morally obligated *not* to vote?
Doug, yes, Margaret Sanger was a racist, and several people who signed the Declaration of Independence owned slaves, and I’m inclined to cut slack to all of them as being products of their times. But there was more to Margaret Sanger than her racism, just as there was more to Thomas Jefferson than the fact that he owned slaves. Planned Parenthood probably prevents more abortions than it facilitates by providing information about birth control that keeps a lot of unwanted babies from being conceived in the first place. And by the way, if you want to reduce the number of… Read more »
Andrew Roggow, I am very familiar with Wilson’s lukewarm opposition to Romney. http://dougwilson.wpengine.com/s7-engaging-the-culture/final-election-round-up.html#more-93250 He has indeed pointed out problems with all the recent GOP candidates. But he has either then endorsed them or made a wishy-washy statement of how his vote didn’t matter anyway since he was in conservative Idaho. He has certainly not gotten anywhere near the statements he is making about Obama, that being blind enough to vote for Obama disqualifies one for the ministry. Nor has he done anything to encourage people to stand on principle and vote for a candidate who promises to defend life, period,… Read more »
So was it a sin to vote for Obama? And what if you were an 18 year old swept up during the whole “HOPE” idea, you voted for Obama and you got into ministry between here and there but now you know better?
Ah…well we must look at Hitler, Himmler, and Goebbels as products of their time too…what a wonderful world this will be.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/08/23/new-audio-surfaces-of-obama-defending-infanticide-in-illinois/
Mitch, Thanks for pressing this point. Let me respond on a simple level, and perhaps defer what I take to be your more serious point for a separate blog post. I grant that I treat Christians who support Republicans differently than I treat Christians who support Democrats. This is because, when it comes to the basic issues, there are many, many bad Republicans. There are no good Democrats. On a practical level, I didn’t vote for or support Romney. I voted for McCain because of the energy that I thought Palin would bring to the pro-life issue — which is… Read more »
Seth — good questions. The problem with the “general equity” theonomy is that with that definition, almost all of Christendom has been theonomic, until the insane r2k nuts appeared quite recently. The Reformed all were. I would present evidence (though it would be too much of a digression to do so here) that the Lutherans were. The czars certainly were. King Alfred was. Popery was, albeit mingled with the poison of “tradition” as interpreted by the See. The whole rub of theonomy was the jot-and-tittle thesis. Take that away, and we’re all in violent agreement.
1. Ron Paul’s position is right, that each state should have laws against abortion, but it should not be made a federal issue. 2. All establishment-approved and certified candidates for office at a national level are functionally equivalent on abortion in this respect: none of them will lift a finger to actually end abortion. The only difference is that the R’s SAY they are against it, while the D’s SAY they are not against it. (To oversimplify, in the case of the D’s.) 3. The rhetoric of the R’s is to say they want to pack the Supreme Court (SCOTUS)… Read more »
Well said, Tim H. Sometimes it seems that the Republican party needs the legality of abortion to remain as the last distinguishing feature to justify their continued existence as a party. If/when it falls, what will they have left to entice our votes?
Let the kings of the earth kiss the Son, and give homage to Him, and may they let the little children come to Him using all the rightful authority of their office and sphere.
Doug, I respect and admire you a lot. I’d say I’ve read and genuinely learned from 90% of what you have in print… meaning…. you thought has had a GREAT influence in my life… a couple things stand out… and it needs to said… because it seems to be these last couple years… you just say some really dumb sh!t and then are unapologetic [now]… and you where you do say the good stuff you wind up apologizing (a death that dies the death of a thousand qualifications [Thabiti, DG conference etc.])… Now up until recently… Read more »
Eric the Red wrote: Doug, yes, Margaret Sanger was a racist, and several people who signed the Declaration of Independence owned slaves, and I’m inclined to cut slack to all of them as being products of their times. But there was more to Margaret Sanger than her racism, just as there was more to Thomas Jefferson than the fact that he owned slaves. There was more to Jeffrey Dahmer than his cannibalism. In Eric’s materialistic view, everyone is just a product of their times, i.e. products of time and chance acting on matter. So everyone must get a pass. Cut… Read more »
There are many, many bad Republicans. There are no good Democrats. // I read this as referring only to politicians, not to citizens who support the parties. // It is also worth noting that comparisons to race or other characteristics of men are false as a political position is a choice, not a gene.
George,
It is hard to respond appropriately to a whooping when you didn’t notice it. And as far as the delayed responses go, please keep in mind that we had presbytery earlier this week and we are smack in the middle of the Grace Agenda now. I got things to do, is what I am saying. And on my bad Republicans/Democrats comment, I was talking about options on the ballot, and not about the general electorate. Sorry about causing confusion there.
George reminds me of that little church on the outskirts of our little town. The Remnant Church. All four of them holding hands, singing the right kind of songs with the right kind of doctrine. Waiting, for the return of the Resurrected Jesus to tell them how right they have been.
Ben Bowman, wouldn’t the answer be the same as in any situation where you made a foolish choice and realize you were wrong? Repent and strive not to do it again?
Saying a past action someone may have committed in ignorance is a sin is not suggesting the person ought to be executed, or even excommunicated. It’s saying it was a sin.
J. I am the exact opposite of what you say. Actually never been to a church like that… Sounds scary… The further irony is that you are just taking pot shots and caricatures of others I don’t agree with – BUT – that Doug has been sounding an awful lot like. Same MO. Same blinded “rationality”. Given what I have said, had you actually been engaging the content of the strings, you would see I am defending a more “liberal”, “compassionate” position. Not trying to limit the pastorate to people who can just vote… Read more »
I think some people need to lighten up regarding their comments. The tone has digressed, and there’s really no good reason for it. Most of the readers, I hope, want to live out the gospel; yet some feel the need to poke holes in some of Doug’s arguments to show that Doug is not being “consistent” in this or that area. As prolific as a writer and speaker as Doug is, coupled with the fact that he’s not divinely inspired, why do people feel the need to “call him out”? As far as I know, he hasn’t killed anyone, nor has… Read more »
Dan, I am also grateful for DW’s posts and insights. Almost to the extent of “preaching to the choir”. I tend to be more critical of those who confirm what I already believe. A certain percentage of these posts give me cause for concern. I don’t know that it is realistic to expect no skepticism. Hopefully, without, appearing presumptuous, I doubt that DW expects any less. Speaking only for myself, I appreciate the dissent. It helps me develop discernment. Thanks to all who sincerely post here. Even, maybe especially, ETR.
Kimberley, Hitler was a product of his times. I have a BA in German. He couldn’t have done what he did from a vacuum any more than Obama has done what he has from a vacuum. It is easy to wave a paintbrush over WW2 and say if Hitler had fallen off a ladder, none of the Holocaust would have happened. The anti-Semitism was firmly entrenched in German culture, especially in Bavaria. The NSDAP was just one of various Nazi parties (National Sozialtische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei or National Socialist German Workers Party). The Night of the Long Knives was a… Read more »
Doug writes: ‘I voted for McCain because of the energy that I thought Palin would bring to the pro-life issue — which is my screamer issue.’ You were suckered Doug. Palin chose to bring a Down’s pregnancy to term despite abortion being legal. Hence, banning abortion would have had no affect on her personal situation. Voting for her to energize the pro-life issues would be about as effective as voting for someone who doesn’t own guns to energize gun control issues. It’s ludicrous. The fact the over 90% of Down’s pregnancies are terminated either proves that 9 out of 10… Read more »