Theonomy in Christian Ethics

This book started as a quiet masters thesis in fulfillment of a Master of Theology degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1973. First published in 1977, this volume unexpectedly shook the theological establishment in its call for a return to God's law as the only perfect standard of righteousness for civil ethics. Twenty-five years later it continues to challenge the church to unashamedly embrace the "Word of God, contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New testament as the only rule of faith and life."

God's law is the only perfect ethical standard for any society. Dr. J. Gresham Machen urged that "a new and more powerful proclamation of that law is perhaps the most pressing need of the hour. . .A low view of laws always brings legalism in religion; a high view of law makes a man a seeker after grace. Pray God that the high view may prevail."

Every ethical decision assumes some final authority or standard, and that will either be self-law ("autonomy") or God's law ("theonomy"). Dr. Cornelius Van Til concluded that "There is no alternative but that of theonomy and autonomy." While unbelievers consider themselves the ultimate authority in determining moral right or wrong, believers acknowledge that God alone has that position and prerogative.

Christian involvement in politics calls for recognition of God's transcendent, absolute, revealed law as a standard by which to judge all social codes and political policies. Those who do not favor taking God's law as the ultimate standard for civil morality and public justice will be forced to substitute some other criterion. The civil magistrate cannot function without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not the revealed law of God, then in some form or expression it will have to be a law of men—the standard of self-law or autonomy. Men must choose in their civil affairs to be governed by God's law, to be ruled by tyrants, or acquiesce to increasing social degeneracy.