Christian Right Turning Left

January 18, 2008 | Isara

[Isara]

For those of you who are political junkies here, you must have been noticing something really odd around here lately. A bunch of good FReepers have turned into illogical Huckabee supporters. No matter how hard we try to talk some sense into them that Huckabee is not a conservative, they still argue that he is one, just like President Reagan. Some may lie to themselves; others may lie to us about what they really believe.

I encountered an honest Huckabee supporter a few days ago. His worldview is quite disturbing. He feels he is being ignored by the "secular Republican elites" and considers them to be the enemy. His target number one is the Republican Party establishment. Even though Huckabee is a "pinko" (his word, not mine), he is 'one of us, evangelicals.' His goal is to take control of the Republican Party first, then the media and academia.

This sounds like a movement to me, not just one person. But from which group? Then I recalled a post I read a month ago about some kind of radical Christian group. After searching, I found it in a post back in December. It is the Christian Reconstructionist movement. Apparently, one of the group leaders, Dr. Steven Hotze had a Huckabee fundraiser at his Houston home in December.

From the Heritage Foundation magazine, Policy Review, a decade ago, two associates of the Rev. Jerry Falwell wrote an article which criticized Christian Reconstructionism, the influential movement led by theologian Rousas John (R.J.) Rushdoony, for advocating positions that even they as committed fundamentalists found "scary." (Walter Olson, November 1998)

Here are some of the descriptions of Reconstructionism from Political Research Associates.

Generally, Reconstructionism seeks to replace democracy with a theocratic elite that would govern by imposing their interpretation of "Biblical Law." Reconstructionism would eliminate not only democracy but many of its manifestations, such as labor unions, civil rights laws, and public schools. Women would be generally relegated to hearth and home. Insufficiently Christian men would be denied citizenship, perhaps executed. So severe is this theocracy that it would extend capital punishment beyond such crimes as kidnapping, rape, and murder to include, among other things, blasphemy, heresy, adultery, and homosexuality.

Here is the excerpt from the Houston Press (scroll down to the bottom of the page) about Dr. Hotze:

Hotze was able to better articulate his views in 1986, when he was one of dozens of ministers, professionals and laypersons who signed the Coalition on Revival's Manifesto for the Christian Church. The coalition claims on its Web site to be a national network of religious leaders aligned in a mission "to help the Church rebuild civilization on the principles of the Bible so God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven." They want all aspects of life -- government, science and education -- to adhere to fundamental biblical beliefs.

Here is the excerpt from Cato, titled "Follow Huckabee’s Money":

I read in Robert Novak’s column this morning that Mike Huckabee held a fundraiser earlier this week at the Houston home of Dr. Steven Hotze. As Novak notes, Hotze is “a leader in the highly conservative Christian Reconstruction movement.”

Christian Reconstructionists, for those unfamiliar with the term, are Religious Right radicals who believe that America, and the rest of the world besides, should be governed in accordance with strict Biblical law. And yes, that includes stoning adulterers. Here’s a snippet from “A Manifesto for the Christian Church,” a 1986 document from an outfit called the Coalition on Revival that was signed by, among others, Steven Hotze:

We affirm that the Bible is not only God’s statements to us regarding religion, salvation, eternity, and righteousness, but also the final measurement and depository of certain fundamental facts of reality and basic principles that God wants all mankind to know in the sphere of law, government, economics, business, education, arts and communication, medicine, psychology, and science. All theories and practices of these spheres of life are only true, right, and realistic to the degree that they agree with the Bible.

Who else in this group endorses Huckabee? From web searching, I found this from OneNewsNow.com on January 2, 2008.

Huckabee nets endorsement from prominent black conservatives

In 2002, when running for reelection, Huckabee garnered 47 percent of the black vote in Arkansas. Now, as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination, it appears he is being rewarded for his track record with the African-American community. A group of more than 50 black conservative leaders, including some veteran Republican Party activists and state lawmakers, has announced its support for Huckabee.

One of those backers is Dean Nelson, an ordained Baptist minister who heads the Network of Politically Active Christians. According to Nelson, many conservative black leaders decided to rally around Huckabee in September following his performance in the Republican presidential debate at Morgan State University.

I followed the link for Network of Politically Active Christians. It took me right into Wellington Boone Ministries web site. Wait a minute! I saw this name before while searching for Coalition on Revival. Here it is.

The slick, bi-monthly magazine's editorial advisory board includes the Rev. Jack Hayford, senior pastor of the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California, and the Rev. Wellington Boone of the Manna Christian Fellowship Churches in Richmond, Virginia. Both men are politically active. Hayford's church is heavily involved with the Christian Coalition of California. And Sara Hardman, head of the Californian Christian Coalition, considers Hayford her pastor. Boone is an editor and columnist for Crosswinds magazine, the publication of the Christian Reconstructionist-oriented Coalition On Revival.
Source: Political Research Associates

A number of Promise Keepers leaders have ties to extreme Reconstruction and Dominionist movements including the controversial Coalition on Revival. They include "Bishop" Wellington Boone, John Perkins, E.V. Hill, and Joseph Garlington. The Coalition on Revival was founded in 1984 by Jay Grimstead. The group sees its mission as "building a Christian Society" which is eager to "have God's will done on earth." The Coalition remains an elite network of local pastors who have joined "together around the large dream of Christianizing their own city and state... to form themselves into the 10 committees for Law, Government, Economics, Education, Medicine/Family, The Media, The Arts, etc."
Source: American Atheist

By the way, I couldn't find anything about Crosswinds magazine online.

There is another interesting link between Huckabee and the movement. In 1998 Huckabee wrote a book, titled "Kids Who Kill: Confronting Our Culture of Violence" with George Grant, a well-known Reconstructionist who appeared with Rushdoony in the video, God’s Law and Society (Box Turtle Bulletin, January 6, 2008). Here is one of George Grant's goals.

As a "post-millennialist" school of thought, Reconstructionism holds that believers should work toward achieving God's kingdom on earth in the here and now, rather than expect its advent only after a second coming of Christ. Some are in a bit of a hurry about it, too. "World conquest," proclaims George Grant, in what by Reconstructionist standards is not an especially breathless formulation. "It is dominion we are after. Not just a voice... not just influence...not just equal time. It is dominion we are after."

I really don't know the extent of the influences of this group. The home schooling movement is also quietly led and informed by the Christian Reconstructionist movement (Political Research Associates). One thing for sure is that Huckabee is their man and they are the only direct line to God ("Vertical Politics" as Huckabee said), since their interpretation of the Bible is the right one. And they seem to think that people should be forced to live as they dictate. They see their mission as "building a Christian Society" which is eager to "have God's will done on earth" by controlling secular government.

Interesting enough, Huckabee views his presidential campaign as a "cause" that represents a threat to the Republican establishment in Washington (Chicago Tribune, January 13, 2008). Do you notice that it is the same as what the FReeper I encountered said (above). Huckabee also said, "what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards." And, yes, Rush Limbaugh, "the big sinner," is a part of "Washington beltway-Wall Street axis." The sanctity of human life issue is the reason why Huckabee is in the Republican Party, not the Democratic, even though the rest of his beliefs are in line with the Dems. People like him were chased out of the Democratic Party long time ago with its pro-abortion and anti-life stances. Some of them are independents; some are RINO's in the Republican Party. They should have founded another political party. But that would have taken too long to be in the position to have power. So, what do they do? Taking control of the Republican Party and destroying the conservative principles to create their interpretation of "Heaven on Earth."

Some Christian right turning left, indeed.

[Isara]

Meanwhile, "Christ didn’t tell us to go to the government and pass a bill to get some of these social problems dealt with. He told us to do it," Fred Thompson said.

This election is more important than ever. It is about the future of our Republican Party and the future of our country.

[Isara]

(Updated)

[Isara]

Fred, please take care of Huckabee once and for all.

[ejonesie22]

The Christian Democratic movement in Europe has a smaller American cousin here. Modern “Social Justice” via taxation and stifling rules on success soon follow. As in Europe, it can wreck a Capitalist structure. It is socailist in approach, but because it is wrapped up in the guise of doing “God’s work” it is in a palatable form for many Evangelicals. Many won’t bit but there will be enough when combined with the secular left they will have the advantage.

[uglybiker]

Mooch-o gracious!

Pullin' out the popcorn. ;-)

[Red_Devil 232]

Holy WOW!

[Dajjal]

Thanks for the info on the “Christian Reconstruction” movement.

[unspun]

A ridiculous conflation of multiple paranoia theories.

[Dreagon]

This reads like another scary conspiracy theory from a leftist.

Watch out for those evil Christians!! They’re hiding under your bed right now!!!

[unspun]

Here is the excerpt from Cato, titled "Follow Huckabee’s Money":

Shows the real ideological antipathy with these weak ruddered Cato libertarians, to this conservative Republican, who happens to be a Bible believing Christian.

[Red_Devil 232]

I like Huckabee’s pro stand on illegal immagration because “It takes the place of slavery”!/s

[polymuser]

.

Compare Presidential Candidates on Faith
http://christianity.about.com/od/religionpolitics/tp/candidatesfaith.htm

[Isara]

From the Heritage Foundation magazine, Policy Review, a decade ago, two associates of the Rev. Jerry Falwell wrote an article which criticized Christian Reconstructionism, the influential movement led by theologian Rousas John (R.J.) Rushdoony, for advocating positions that even they as committed fundamentalists found "scary." (Walter Olson, November 1998)

[unspun]

From the Heritage Foundation magazine, Policy Review, a decade ago, two associates of the Rev. Jerry Falwell wrote an article which criticized Christian Reconstructionism, the influential movement led by theologian Rousas John (R.J.) Rushdoony, for advocating positions that even they as committed fundamentalists found "scary." (Walter Olson, November 1998)

Exactly.

I've spent a whole lot of time with pro-life Christians (I've lead maybe up to three-thousand, at times) and the number whom I've witnessed advancing the ideas of Rushdoony's "Christian Reconstructionism" I can count on one hand. It is quickly observed as unscriptural, on its face.

We Bible readers know that Jesus told Pilate face-to-face that His Kingdom is not of this world. And we also know that in this world, we who live in Christ present light to the world (hence, "shing city on a hill") whatever earthly governments exist and whether they are Christ-influenced as this one was founded and remains, or not.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[unspun]

BTW (chuckle) I’ve never heard Rushdoony described as a “leftist.”

[svcw]

I just to know where all these big government Christians came from.
It used to be that they felt it was the job of the church to help and care for people NOT the government.
When did the church abdicate its responsibility?

[unspun]

BTW2, I apologize for the sobriquet I used in my first post. I just think it really is a conflation of incompatible and exaggerated philosophies.

[ejonesie22]

Otherwise known as fact. For reference check Europe's social and Economic results over the past decade. Compare to Huck’s and even you own words.

You bit a few days ago bout some of us being “Greedy” actually made me think of the Christian Democrat piece. God’s work through tax dollars...

[LordBridey]

Just more harmless and irrelevant flak for the guy over the target.