An Escondido Escapade: Christian Nationalism, Christopher Gordon, and Douglas Wilson

 

These are my thoughts in light of this debate/discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsrThQp3KHA 

I also have a video reply here:  https://x.com/ptomer/status/1821251772499009687

An Escondido Escapade: Christian Nationalism, Wolfe, Gordon, & Wilson

1.     This isn’t about postmill or amil or premill as much as it is what is reality in front of us, and is civil government/magistrates under God’s authority.

a.     If it is, then should Christians seek the power of the sword of the magistrate to be used to punish evil and promote good, Rom. 13., 1 Pet. 2:13-17, etc.

b.    Gordon seems to mostly say we must submit to God’s providence, implying that to try and bring reform to the civil realm is to pry into the secret will of God, to refuse to suffer for righteousness’ sake, etc.

c.     Would he apply this standard to reform in the Church and its leadership/ministers? At one point he said something like he already has godly rule and reign – in the Church. That’s laughable presently.

d.    If he wants to say the “true church” is healthy and pure, that’s fine and well, but the visible church and those filling the office of minister/Elder presently, are greatly wicked and corrupt.

e.     Gordon also thought Wilson, etc., were saying that governments that do not thoroughly obey God, kiss the Son, and promote righteousness are not true governments at all. This is false.

f.       We acknowledge real governors, even if they are wicked ones, just as we acknowledge real ministers, even if they are compromised/false.

g.     They must be brought under church discipline, and if persist in sin, the keys exercised of excommunicating them, in the church.

h.    Likewise, the sword of justice given to the magistrate must be wielded against those who greatly abuse it from within government.

i.       The lesser magistrates should be the first to do so, but when they fail, those being governed must seek reform, by voting, yes, but also running for office, exposing the rot and compromise, forming local governments where possible/feasible within our government system.

j.       When rulers become utter despots, they are no true rulers at all, and must be resisted to serve God righteously, even as Pharaoh put Israel to hard slavery and God sent Moses to Pharaoh to set His people free to serve Him in His land, flowing with milk and honey.

2.     Wilson would do better to grant that reform must come in home, church, and state governments, that they all feed off of/benefit one another.

a.     The Protestant Reformation was a transformation of home, church, and state. It wasn’t merely a few doctrinal points or heart religion changed.

b.    The Home has the rod of correction, the State the sword of justice, and the Church the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven. You can be “booted” out of your home, your state/nation, and your church. These are each realms.

c.     Being disciplined as a teenager or young adult by your parents kicking you out of the house after years of rebellion doesn’t mean you cease to be a citizen of the United States, or even the Kingdom of Heaven.

d.    But, if the punishment by the parents is just, it likely means you’ve been living a criminal life, and an ungodly life, and thus the sword of justice and keys of the kingdom/church discipline would be in use as well.

e.     Bottom-up reform is great, and Wilson says Stephen Wolfe acknowledges there will in some measure need to be consent of the governed to move government in a more righteous direction.

f.       But when the State/Government does promote Christianity in various ways, and justly punishes those who oppose it, that helps facilitate reform in the churches and homes, teaching and training one another in the Word of God and beyond, to stimulate revival.

g.     Israel in bondage in Egypt, given their flesh and blood circumstances under the fist of Pharaoh, could not worship and serve the Lord as He demanded, with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

h.    Only being delivered from that real, political, civil evil, could godly worship in the home and church come.

i.       Perhaps we aren’t that bad off, yet, in our nation, but we are worse off than we were, and it may not be long before we get there.

j.       Should we simply take that as God’s judgment and providence and fold, letting the wicked take the high places of earthly government?

k.     That is wickedness, and we should never allow for that, but strive for reform in home, church, and yes, especially the tyrannous state today.

l.       Gordon speaks like a Christian Stoic, just learning to embrace God’s secret will. Really he is the one prying into it, by questioning whether seeking better earthly rulers is resisting God’s secret/decretive will.

m.  We do not know, but we do know we are to push for righteousness in every sphere of life. As a Kuyperian sphere sovereignty guy, you would think Gordon would understand this.

3.     At one point Gordon says “I don’t see how the public square is ours to take back in light of Belgic Confession 13”.

a.     Article 13: “We believe that the same God, after he had created all things, did not forsake them, or give them up to fortune or chance, but that he rules and governs them according to his holy will, so that nothing happens in this world without his appointment: nevertheless, God neither is the author of, nor can be charged with, the sins which are committed. For his power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible, that he orders and executes his work in the most excellent and just manner, even then, when devils and wicked men act unjustly. And, as to what he doth surpassing human understanding, we will not curiously inquire into, farther than our capacity will admit of; but with the greatest humility and reverence adore the righteous judgments of God, which are hid from us, contenting ourselves that we are disciples of Christ, to learn only those things which he has revealed to us in his Word, without transgressing these limits. This doctrine affords us unspeakable consolation, since we are taught thereby that nothing can befall us by chance, but by the direction of our most gracious and heavenly Father; who watches over us with a paternal care, keeping all creatures so under his power, that not a hair of our head (for they are all numbered), nor a sparrow, can fall to the ground, without the will of our Father, in whom we do entirely trust; being persuaded, that he so restrains the devil and all our enemies, that without his will and permission, they cannot hurt us. And therefore we reject that damnable error of the Epicureans, who say that God regards nothing, but leaves all things to chance.”

b.    By this logic, a thief breaking your door down is just part of God’s providence, and so you might need to question if resisting him and shooting him is part of God’s secret will or not. This is utter nonsense!

c.     Whether or not the Lord will enable us to stop that robber from taking our stuff or harming our family, and likewise whether or not we will be able to stop the dangerous mass immigration replacing our Heritage American people and its culture and society, is unknown by us.

d.    What is known, is that we should strive to stop this evil, each in our own callings, and in proportion as we are able with other responsibilities in home and church, work, etc.

4.     Gordon is really critiquing is an uncharitable view of Postmillennialism.

a.     He even says Chiliasm in the early church was a precursor to Postmillennialism, rather than Pre-millennialism!

b.    He calls himself an optimistic Amillennialist. So do I. But I disown his brand, and am closer probably to Doug Wilson and those like him.

c.      Gordon seems to thinks that Wilson, etc., are only promoting a theology of glory, not a theology of the cross, and so that we will not have to suffer in this life but go from one sweeping victory to the next.

d.    While some on the fringe may have that perspective, Wilson, Longshore, and others out of Moscow do not believe that at all.

e.     A realist postmillennialism is acceptable to me, in that it doesn’t deny that Christ said in this world we will have trouble, that through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven, etc.

f.       I do think there are times where the postmill guys so emphasize victory and advance, that they are imbalanced and do not emphasize the struggle enough. That is a problem, but not as big as Gordon thinks.

g.     Regardless, Gordon says its all the postmills that are causing people to “lose their minds” and put their trust in the State, rather than God, and growth in holiness via the Church. This is a false dichotomy though.

h.    Again, there are those on the fringes, Wilson acknowledges them.

i.       I agree we should recognize and speak against excess/imbalance.

j.       But Gordon verges on Anabaptism, utter passivity, not as bad as R. Scott Clark, but he has the Escondido taint on him.

k.     He seems to think natural law is the moral law, but perhaps not the first table of the law, since he doesn’t want to enforce blasphemy laws, etc.

l.       He also freaked out at Wolfe’s comments somewhere in his book about the civil magistrate punishing the heretic with the sword.

m.  It is almost as if Gordon and these guys have never read the Reformed tradition on any of these things, or just reject it wholesale.

n.    They should at least be honest that they reject it and think Calvin, Knox, etc., were all wrong. When Longshore did ask if Knox’s words “give me Scotland or I die” were legit to pray, Gordon said they were NOT.

5.     Gordon’s best remarks are when/where he differed with hardline Postmil, or at least pointed out some of its weaknesses.

a.     Personally, Gordon was helpful to me a few years back, watching him at a Ligonier Conference speaking about when the foundations are destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

b.    His message was on Psalm 11, and was excellent, and the kind of reminder that we need, and that solid postmill types will preach and teach on as well, not only pounding the drum of “victory”.

c.     When the wicked bend their bow to shoot the upright in heart, and the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalm 11 says the LORD is in His holy temple, heaven, beholding the sons of men, testing the righteous to endure through this trial, but hating the wicked and the one who loves violence. The LORD will rain coals of fire and brimstone upon them, “for the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.”

d.    I needed to be reminded of that, and other passages like Psalm 37, which commands us to not fret because of evildoers, is something we all need to hear.

e.     But Gordon and Clark and other Radical/Modern 2 Kingdom guys need to stop fretting about righteous doers, who seek reform not only in the home and church, but also the state as well!

f.       Being pastoral to such would be to remind them of the Lord’s sovereignty, to be praying, studying the Word, raising your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, but to keep on fighting the good fight of faith as a citizen of the United States, or whatever nation you are in, to see better and godlier rulers in our homeland, for God’s glory.

g.     Calvin’s Geneva or Knox’s desire for Scotland and his writing against bloody Mary and all the rest, shows this was a political/spiritual battle.

h.    The wicked powers that be are in high places, the demons are in office, and Satan is always seeking to wrest power.

i.       In fact, Gordon challenges Wilson and Longshore on this point, where Satan tempts Christ in the wilderness with the kingdoms of the world.

j.       But Wilson/Longshore rightly point out that Christ resisted that temptation, not because He shouldn’t have authority and dominion, but because He should take it from the Devil through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension to glory, not by bowing to Satan!

k.     So to not resist evil, including and especially the government, is actually closer to bowing the knee to the devil, than resisting him imperfectly, especially when he has control of civil government.

l.       There may come a point, in God’s providence, where we are so utterly helpless and powerless and under the boot of a wicked, Satanic regime, that the only thing left for us to do is pray and plead with God to supernaturally deliver us. But in God’s kindness, we are not there yet.

m.  This does not mean we do not pray the Lord’s prayer, or that we are saying we trust in chariots or horses. King David wrote that, not trusting in chariots or horses, but using them to drive out the wicked just as he was commanded by God, saying, in Ps. 144:1, “Blessed be the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”

n.    Sure, not everyone is called to be a David, a King, a magistrate, but how about we desire that God would raise up David like Kings in civil government, to rule and reign for God’s glory and the people’s good?

o.    Gordon says the Dominion Mandate/Cultural Mandate was fulfilled by Christ for us, and I think refers to Christ as High Priest and we as a Kingdom of priests. Amen, but that is not all.

p.    In Christ, we are all prophets, priests, and kings, and that is expressed variously in home, church, and state, according to our stations/callings.

6.     Basic theological distinctions are being muddied by Gordon.

a.     To trust in/believe the Lord will be faithful to His promises, and use the means He has ordained to bring about the discipling of the nations -- and I grant this means God has His elect from/out of peoples from every tribe, tongue, and nation, and not that every last person in each nation shall be saved in the end – is not to make the means an idol!

b.    I believe strongly in covenant nurture of my children, that God will save them/regenerate them, likely at an early age, as I parent by God’s promises, raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

c.     That is trusting in God and the work of Christ and His powerful Spirit, to do what He has promised according to His promises, which includes not mere passive faith, but active obedience, faith working through love, to nurture my children, have them baptized, taught, and live a godly, manly example to my wife and children in word and deed.

d.    But so many supposedly Reformed folks today, like Gordon, pit God’s providence against His means -- whether in the home, church, or state.

e.      Sure, there can be cross providences, hard exceptions, Job like sufferings despite righteous living and faithful use of the means.

f.       But even Job, persisting in faith, was received to more than he had before. You cannot push all these blessings from the temporal/earthly realm to the eternal/heavenly realm after Christ’s return.

g.     Yet that is often what Gordon and others want to do. We are Pilgrims, wanderers, exiles, this world is not our lasting home, so therefore embrace the suffering and misery and don’t try to do too much to change it, lest you be going against God’s providential purpose for His Church. That’s the crux of the issue.

h.    Well, Stephen Wolfe is Amill, not postmill, men like C. Jay Engel are Amil, and pretty pessimistic at times at that. But they all seem to recognize that even if the Lord will not always or even often bless our labors greatly to reform governments or churches or homes, etc., it is our duty to pursue such as best we can, for God’s glory.

i.       This is, after all, seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. If these efforts fail in our lifetime, may they bear fruit in the lives and times of our children, grandchildren, etc.

j.       Christ and the Apostles, like the Prophets and people of God before them, were wise, fled from danger when necessary, and even at times by the sword cut down the wicked, not only the sword of the Spirit but the physical sword when duty and circumstance called for it.

k.     There is no honor and glory in seeking out martyrdom.

l.       Thankfully Gordon acknowledges similar to this in the discussion with Wilson/Longshore, admitting it doesn’t always lead to great gains for the Church, but also crushes the Church often.

m.  But I would be no hero if a murderous rapist were at the door of my house, and said to my family, “I will do nothing, I must see if the Lord’s will is to deliver us from this or not.” No, I would use the means I had, my guns, my fists, whatever, to stop the evil from harming my family.

n.    If despite my best efforts to not break the 6^th commandment, my family perished, I would accept that bitter and hard providence from the Lord.

o.    I’d also seek the death penalty for the murdering rapist if he got away, for the magistrate to justly punish the evildoer.

p.    Expand that out to governments in general, nations at large, and the points should be the same. We do not want wicked foreigners or wicked rulers over us destroying us and our families.

q.    We are to pray to God to deliver us from evil, and then by the means God has given us, we are to pursue the cutting down of evildoers, rather than waiting on God to do some sort of miracle to deliver us from evil.

r.      God is not demanding we pray for a miracle, but that he would bless our faithfulness and efforts to live righteously and see evil removed.

s.     A lot of this involves praying for our politicians, but in our nation where we can run for office and have a lot of influence in various ways, we should be committed to that cause as we are able/called to do so.

t.       Gordon freaked out that James White called the greatest evil today the State. I think Sproul said he was told many decades ago by Schaeffer that it was the State that was the greatest danger.

u.    If that danger and threat is so great, in our own leadership, on our own shores, with open borders and aborting and trans-ing of children, how can Christians, men in particular, not take up the battle cry to resist evil?

v.     While some may do so without trusting in God, or by fearing man rather than God, so what? We correct and rebuke that where it happens, and press on. We do not forbid the blessing of wine because it might lead to drunkenness. How much more so the blessing of fighting against evil.

w.   The fact our leaders like Gordon and others think this is resisting God’s secret will, or might be doing so, and this isn’t really the place of a Christian to labor for these ends, shows you that they will shoot us down in words, and possibly church discipline, etc., not for pursuing these righteous things in imbalanced or wicked ways, but for pursuing such reform of the civil government at all.

x.     For many even supposedly Reformed/Evangelical Pastors, to fight for such with real earnestness and Patriotism is to denounce Christ and His kingdom and reign, and so is anti-Christ and anti-Gospel.

y.     So do not be surprised if they treat you like a heretic or one greatly deceived. Find faithful churches that will minister to you, encourage you to be faithful in home, church, and state, and rebuke you when you are lax or excessive or fretting unfaithfully in any one of these spheres.

z.     Gordon mentions not dishonoring rulers, even those like Joe Biden. But Just as in the Church, when ministers show themselves over time to be wicked and corrupt, “woe” must be pronounced over them/exposed.

7.     Proverbs 25:4-5, 26, “Take away the dross from silver, And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness…. A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.”

a.     May we see that our rulers are reformed, personally, and may those wicked Wormtongues around them, those false advisors, be destroyed.

b.    May we give sound wisdom, live by it, and take righteous action.

c.     So that the throne of the King will be established in righteousness, and so we may not be so-called righteous men who falter before the wicked when the battle is upon us.

d.    We have far too many murky springs and polluted wells, even by men who in some sense, as Scripture shows, may be called righteous.

e.     May we be purer of heart, mind, and service than these, by God’s grace.

f.       And by these God-ordained means -- not neglecting or forgetting Home and Church but all coming together in righteousness – may it truly be said of Christ the King of Kings, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

g.     And as Psalm 2 shows us, the Lord laughs at the wicked rulers of the earth and will crush them because of Christ His holy King seated upon Zion, to give to Christ the nations for His inheritance, and the ends of the earth for His possession, breaking the wicked with a rod of iron, may indeed the kings of this earth be instructed to “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”

h.    May we pray the Lord’s prayer in earnest, that His kingdom come, and will be done, as in heaven so on earth. May the promise to Abraham that nations and Kings would come from his loins be realized. May the nations be ruled in righteousness, by Christ the King of Kings, through His earthly Kings that come from His seed, for His glory and our good.