Shaping the Religious Right

(FoxNews link)

Drs. Tim and Beverly LaHaye are leading Christian voices in Washington, D.C. They present an evangelical viewpoint, yet value something very different than most evangelicals. Tim is a 33rd degree Freemason, he's on the Council for National Policy, officer of the Coalition for Religious Freedom, a Reconstructionist (believes in Dominion Theology), and a big promoter of the pre-tribulation rapture.

Many conservative Christians, like the LaHaye's, advocate theocratic principles in a quest to conquer America, convinced that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and (now) needs to return to her Christian heritage. It all seems harmless enough, but the theocratic movement is based in a belief that Old Testament laws should apply to America governance.

This highly politicized concept of dominionism is based on the Bible's text in Genesis 1:26:

• "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (KJV)

• "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'" (NIV).

Many Christians read this text and conclude that God has appointed them stewards and caretakers of Earth. Some Christians read the text and believe, "that Christians alone are Biblically mandated to occupy all secular institutions until Christ returns--and there is no consensus on when that might be." That, in a nutshell, is the idea of "dominionism."[1]

The problem comes when many of the organizations adopt Fascist philosophy in implementing their ideas. This Fascist leaning can be seen in the membership of the Council for National Policy and many of the conservative elitists.

Theocracy
Theocracy is derived from the two Greek words Qeo/j(Theos) meaning "God" and kra/tein (cratein) meaning "to rule." The Reverend Rod Parsley, a champion of theocracy, or what he calls a "christocracy," told his congregation at the World Harvest Church, located just outside Columbus, Ohio, "Theocracy means God is in control, and you are not."

The theocratic right seeks to establish dominion, or control over society in the name of God. The late Rev. D. James Kennedy, former pastor of Coral Ridge Ministries, called on his followers to exercise "godly dominion ... over every aspect ... of human society." At a "Reclaiming America for Christ" conference in February, 2005, Kennedy said:

"Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society."

Twenty-five years ago, dominionists targeted the Republican Party as the vehicle through which they could advance their agenda. At the same time, a small group of Republican strategists targeted fundamentalist, Pentecostal and charismatic churches to expand the base of the Republican Party. It is about the manipulation of people of a certain faith for political power. It is about the rise of dominionists in the U.S. federal government.

Today's hard right seeks total dominion. It's packing the courts and rigging the rules. The target is not the Democrats but democracy itself.

According to acclaimed journalist and television host Bill Moyers,

"...The country is not yet a theocracy but the Republican Party is, and they are driving American politics, using God as a a battering ram on almost every issue..." (2)

I know that Bill Moyer is a Socialist, but he's right! There are a lot of progressive alarmists who feel that the Christians are going to take over and shove Jesus down their throats. There is plenty of this writing on the Internet. I don't think this will happen, but I do want people to be aware that there is an agenda being carried forth. It all sounds quite Christian on the exterior, but we must look at the motivation of the banner carrier - even if they say they are a Christian conservative.

The following organizations were not compiled by me, and I haven't checked them out. If you financially support one of them, you may want to read their ministry mission statement for signs of Dominion Theology/Theocracy.

Theocratic Organizations
Alliance for Marriage
American Center for Law and Justice
American Family Association
American Vision - founded by Gary Demar, leading theocratic ideologue
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
Chalcedon Foundation - led by R. J. Rushdoony
Christian Action Network
Christian Business Men's Committee
Christian Coalition of America
Christian Exodus
ChristianAmerica.Com
Citizens for Excellence in Education - arm of National Association of Christian Educators
CitizenLink.Com - an arm of Focus on the Family
Coalition on Revival - Applying Biblical Principles to Every Sphere of Life and Thought
Concerned Women for America
Constitutional Law for Enlightened Citizens
Coral Ridge Ministries - led by D. James Kennedy
Council for National Policy - secret government council policy formed by Tim LaHaye
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Creation Resource Foundation
Eagle Forum
Family Policy Network
Family Research Council
Free Congress Foundation
Home School Foundation - funded by the HSLDF
Home School Legal Defense Foundation (HSLDF)
Institute for Christian Economics - led by Gary North
National Association of Christian Educators (NACE)
Joshua Generation - aimed at 11 to 19 year olds; affiliated with Patrick Henry College
National Center for Home Education - affiliated with HSLDF National Clergy Council
National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI)- funded by HSLDF
Operation Rescue
Restore America
Rutherford Institute
Traditional Values Coalition
Vision America - founded by Rick Scarborough, Baptist
Vision Forum Ministries
Wall Builders - led by David Barton
Worldview Weekend

Theocratic Educational Institutions
Patrick Henry College - for homeschooled children, partner of HSLDF Regent University - "Regent" refers to Christian rulers who will govern the nation

Theocratic Publications and Media
A Christian Manifesto - address by Francis A. Schaeffer; summary of theocratic views
A Manifesto for the Christian Church - endorsed by the major theocratic players
American Vision Home School Online Store Biblical Worldview Magazine
Citizen Magazine - published by Focus on the Family
Civilized Revolt (Formerly Virtue Magazine)
FreeBooks - from the Institute for Christian Economics
Generations - Radio Program
Home School Heartbeat (Radio program)
LifeWay Homeschool, Southern Baptist Convention - affiliated with HSLDF & NHERI
WorldView Magazine

History of Reconstructionism /Domionism
A Brief History of Christian Reconstruction - published by Public Eye in 1994