06/01/2026
Pastor MacLaren: I was recently asked about my views on Theonomy, and whether I am a Theonomist. Here is my reply:
”Theonomy is a big topic. I remember when I was in seminary there were debates about Theonomy versus “Intrusion Ethics” as advocated by Meredith Kline. While Kline has some major insights into the structure of biblical revelation, I did not follow his ideas regarding intrusion ethics. I was very interested in theonomy and read quite a bit in the writings of Rushdoony, Gary North, and Greg Bahnsen.
I consider myself a Theonomist in the sense that I believe God‘s moral law should be enforced in every area of life. All of life needs to be subjected to the Lordship of Christ, and I'm interested in seeing the transformation of culture through Christian faith and values. I think that Christians should be involved in law, politics, education, the arts, entertainment, and every aspect of life. We should promote the lordship of Christ over each endeavor. This is an act of love for our culture and its people, but I’m not under the illusion that we will transform culture into completely Christian culture. The United States has a largely Christian foundation to it, and there are remnants of the Christian faith of course throughout the land today. I’m encouraged to see a strengthening witness of Christians within the secular pagan culture. I hope that continues.
Theonomy is very much interested in the continuing validity of the civil requirements of the Mosaic legislation. It sees these requirements as still valid in the present age unless distinctly abrogated in the New Testament. The Westminster Confession of Faith and the reformed faith in general hold that the civil law continues into the new covenant age by virtue of its "general equity." The state of Israel was abolished in 70 A.D. with the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome, so that form of government is no longer in force. National (Mosaic, Davidic) Israel was a type of the church and that needs to be taken into account when considering the application of God‘s law to civil society today. It needs to be seen through the prism of fulfillment in Jesus Christ and his death, burial, resurrection, and heavenly session.
So with the continuing validity of God's moral law, I believe that we ought to have a Sabbath observance on the Lord's day each week and that businesses should be closed unless they are necessary for health and safety. I believe that the family is the building block of the church and the community. I believe in private education rather than public education and children should be raised by their parents and not by the state. I believe in the just war theory, and the sanctity of human life, (so abortion and euthanasia are immoral). Human sexuality is determined by God at birth and not subject to change. The marriage relationship is sacred and adultery, fornication, and homosexuality are immoral. In economics I’m a capitalist but recognize the (modest) role that government has in regulating business. I think that socialism/progressivism/communism are immoral and to be rejected. I believe that every form of government is established by God (Romans 13), and that some are more or less faithful to the moral law of God as it is written on the human heart, cf. Romans 2 and 13.
I believe the American government is generally founded on Christian principles, and this accounts for the great success of our nation. When the nation drifts away from those principles, we bring on our ourselves our own destruction. I don’t see the U.S. Constitution or Declaration of Independence as being somehow inspired of God and inerrant. They are, however, perhaps exemplary of the best form of government that exists in the world today. Governments of all sorts have the power of the sword to wage war and to punish crime. I believe in capital punishment, particularly for murder, but also other crimes might be eligible as well. I think our court system would do well to adopt a principle of restitution rather than incarceration.
I disagree with the postmillennial base that much of theonomy is working from. I'm an Amillennialist and hold to a realized eschatology. The kingdom of God is present now and began with the coming of Christ. Christ reigns from heaven now over all the earth and is accomplishing his perfect will through time and space history. Rather than seeing the rise of an earthly kingdom through massive, worldwide conversions or the return of Christ to Jerusalem for 1000 years, I look to the eternal age that will come when Christ returns. That is when "victory" will occur ultimately and finally. Earthly millenniums like in post millennialism, and pre-millennialism of whatever form are pale comparisons to the eternal age that comes with the final judgment and the creation of the new heavens and the new Earth. This is where victory is declared, not in some earthly kingdom during this present fallen world.”
