The Theocracy – Part 2
TimeWatch Editorial
October 04, 2016
As we said in part one of our Editorial “The Theocracy,” According to the Georgia Online News Service website, JOHN F. SUGG is a founder and executive editor of the Georgia Online News Service. Previously he has held senior editing and writing positions at Creative Loafing, The Miami Herald, The Atlanta Constitution, The Tampa Tribune and American Lawyer Publications. Sugg has won more than 40 awards for column writing, editorials, investigative reporting and business writing. His article on the Creative Loafing website entitled “America the theocracy” which was published on March 24, 2004, is a warning that should not have been ignored at the time of its original publication. Perhaps had a closer look been taken at that time, we might have been better prepared for the events of the present. He was incredibly specific in his caution as he says:
“Don't dismiss the dominion theologians and their movement as fringe. Christian Reconstruction "has been the driving force behind the Christian right for some time," says Daniel Levitas, an Atlanta author who follows extremist groups, many of whom, such as the racist "Christian Identity" sects, have found succor in the words of Rushdoony and his disciples. The movement holds sway over a broad spectrum of conservative religion, and its power extends throughout local and federal governments. George Bush, for example, has called Reconstructionist Marvin Olasky "compassionate conservatism's leading thinker." Olasky, according to the New York Times, was one of Bush's "original advisers" on the creation of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives — but became a critic after the agency's first director sought to rein in taxpayer-paid-for proselytizing.” John F. Sugg, “America the theocracy.” Creative Loafing website, March 25, 2004
But no one seems to have heeded the warning. Or at the very least, very few did. This has allowed for a continued development of perhaps the greatest threat to the existence of the nation exactly as has been anticipated by those who have kept their eyes on the ball.
“Reconstruction's spread is a classic case of "tentacle influence," says Bill Berkowitz, a California journalist who has reported on Reconstructionists' stealth attack on that state's politics. One of the beneficiaries of the movement was California Sen. Tom McClintock, much of whose funding and campaign strategy came from Reconstruction heavyweights. McClintock was a moving force behind the recall of Gov. Gray Davis. The senator finished third in the election to replace Davis. "I'm not saying everyone involved in conservative religious politics is a Reconstructionist," Berkowitz says. "But, obviously, their ideological footprints overlap. You could argue that Rushdoony had no political following per se. But he had believers who carried his message into the political world." John F. Sugg, “America the theocracy.” Creative Loafing website, March 25, 2004
Even the extremist language that became descriptive of the fundamental intent of the movement was overlooked or ignored. Men like Gary North were not hesitant to express their opinions which soon became a part of the intended process.
“Gary North in 1989 candidly described his mission: "The long-term goal of Christians in politics should be to gain exclusive control over the franchise. Those who refuse to submit to the eternal sanctions of God ... must be denied citizenship, just as they were in ancient Israel." Marietta's Pastor Morecraft in 1993 proclaimed that the government he wants to create has this as its primary purpose: "Terrorize evil-doers. ... Bring down the wrath of God to bear on all those who practice evil." In America's South, there's fertile ground awaiting Reconstruction's seeds. The region is deeply suspicious of the federal government, and Southerners have long had churches that defended their ideals — and prejudices. With Reconstruction, there's a special, if ugly, attraction: overt and unapologetic racism.” John F. Sugg, “America the theocracy.” Creative Loafing website, March 25, 2004
Rousas John Rushdoony the Calvinist philosopher, historian, and theologian, who is widely credited as being the father of Christian Reconstructionism, expressed some rather horrific thoughts which, again apparently went unnoticed.
“Rushdoony wrote in 1973, "All men are not created equal; the facts ... make clear that they are not equal," and "Segregation and separation is thus a basic principle of biblical law." Then, in 1970, he wrote, "The white man is being systematically indoctrinated into believing that he is guilty of enslaving and abusing the Negro." The theologian concluded that blacks actually benefited from slavery — they were introduced to Christianity. While gay marriage is now a hot button, Reconstruction would reopen old racial conflicts about who should be allowed at the altar. Rushdoony wrote in his Institutes that "The burden of [biblical] law is thus against inter-religious, inter-racial and inter-cultural marriage." Strong elements of anti-Semitism also are found in Reconstruction writings. North tells us that it is his movement's "stated goal ... to preach the Gospel of salvation in Christ to the Jews, until not a trace of the traditional practices of Judaism remains." John F. Sugg, “America the theocracy.” Creative Loafing website, March 25, 2004
The inherent racism was not simply leveled at people of color but included a Hitler like anti-Semitism.
“Even more dramatically, David Chilton, one of Reconstruction's inner circle, has written, "The god of Judaism is the devil." Rushdoony opined about what he calls the "false witness" of Germany's responsibility for the Holocaust. He dismissed the accuracy of 6 million Jews being slain, suggesting it was likely only a fraction of that number, and he shrugs off Josef Mengele's hideous human experiments as "a few sterilized women and a few castrated men." John F. Sugg, “America the theocracy.” Creative Loafing website, March 25, 2004
Then there were organizations that were brought into existence with the single purpose of pursuing the stated goals of this organization.
“The Council for National Policy was founded in 1981 as a project of John Birch Society leaders, including Marietta Congressman McDonald. Other members included Rushdoony, Gary North, Tim LaHaye (now writing science-fiction/eschatology novels), Pat Robertson, Oliver North, radical right activist Paul Weyrich (who said when the group was founded that it is "working to overturn the present power structure of this country") and Eagle Forum President Phyllis Schlafly. Another group was formed a year earlier — the Coalition on Revival — at the impetus of Christian Manifesto author Schaeffer. More public than the Council for National Policy, it shares many members.” John F. Sugg, “America the theocracy.” Creative Loafing website, March 25, 2004
No area was left without consideration. The conditioning of the membership of the evangelical churches became a goal to be accomplished. A mixture of racism, cultural insecurity and the twisting of the intent of scripture did the trick.
“With preachers such as Don Boys working the small churches, publishing houses such as DeMar's cranking out scores of titles, and the Washington-based pressure groups pushing policies as diverse as the anti-gay marriage amendment and bills that would gut social and environmental programs, Christian Reconstruction has merged far-right politics and the most anti-democratic elements of the religious movement. The University of Georgia's Larson says it has gone unnoticed by many, perhaps the majority, of Americans for a simple reason. "A hundred years ago," he says, "newspapers published the sermons preachers preached on Sunday. Everyone knew what the Baptists believed, or the Lutherans or the Presbyterians. That's no longer the case. And it has worked to the benefit of [Christian Reconstructionists] as they doggedly pursued their goal. And that goal, Rushdoony wrote in 1973, "is the developed Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem, a world order under God's law." John F. Sugg, “America the theocracy.” Creative Loafing website, March 25, 2004
So today, on the 4th day of October, 2016, they see the possibility of finally gaining control of the Congress, the Senate and the Whitehouse. There is but one power that will determine if this the beginning of the events so clearly foretold in Revelation 13 verses 11 through 17. That power would be him who is described in Daniel 2 verses 20 and 21.
Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
Daniel 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Cameron A. Bowen
