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EXAMINING CONTESTED REFORMED THEOLOGY BELIEFS
Part II: Examining The Covenant Theology And Reconstructionism Of SOME Reformed Theologians
(2 Timothy 3:16-4:5; Romans 7:4, 6 with Galatians 3:24-25; Revelation 19-20)
  1. Introduction
    1. Some believers are being increasingly exposed to "Covenant Theology" and an offshoot of it in "Reconstructionism" [alias "Dominion Theology"] that calls them to take control of governments.
    2. With such teaching often comes a heavy emphasis on the Mosaic Law, and, as in Reconstructionism or Dominion Theology as some call it, there is a strong push for Christians to be under the Mosaic Law.
    3. We examine these products of some in "Reformed Theology" in light of Scripture teaching as follows:
  2. Examining The Covenant Theology And Reconstructionism Of SOME Reformed Theologians.
    1. "Reformed Theology" is a Protestant system of belief framed predominantly by John Calvin that contains a strong view of God's predestination of history, Augustus H. Strong, Systematic Theology, p. 45-46.
    2. Then, "Covenant Theology" grew out of "Reformed Theology," and we describe it as follows:
      1. Johannes Cocceius, a reformed theologian of the 17th century, was concerned about the rift between strict predestinarian Calvinists and Arminians. He tried to take theology back to the Bible by setting forth views to soften Calvinism's view of people being predestined to believe the Gospel to promote a divine guidance of men unto faith in Christ, Ryrie, Dispensationalism Today, p. 180-181.
      2. He thus claimed God set up a "covenant of works" for Adam to keep to have life, and, when he sinned, that God set up a second covenant, a "covenant of grace" to save men through Christ, Ibid., p. 177-178. Some later Covenant Theologians add a third "covenant of redemption" where, in eternity past, the Father allegedly gave the Son to be Head and Redeemer of the elect, and the Son willingly took the place of the elect the Father gave to Him by becoming their Substitutionary atonement, Ibid., p. 178.
      3. Though Covenant Theology at first might appear to be Biblical, no Scripture passage teaches it, and this forces one to read the New Testament back into the Old with artificial typology, Ibid., p, 190.
      4. Some Covenant theologians have at times spoken of "salvation by the Mosaic law," Ibid., p. 189f.
    3. Reconstructionism, or "Dominion Theology," has grown out of Covenant Theology by building on the "slips" of Covenant Theology re: the Law and Christians: it teaches the Law minus the "ceremonial laws" govern us today! They hold Christ bound Satan and his demons at His death, resurrection and ascension so the Church is now supposed to establish Christ's Kingdom on earth by dominating the nations so Jesus can return to earth, cf. Renald Showers, "An Evaluation Of Christian Reconstructionism," (April/May 1991 issue of Israel My Glory, p. 22-25; http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/ChRecon.html)
    4. Using Scripture, we discern the weakness of Covenant Theology and the Errors of Reconstructionism:
      1. Regarding Covenant Theology, 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5 commands us to preach Scripture, that Scripture is sufficient for every good word and work for the believer, and as Covenant Theology is not exegeted from Scripture, but is a theological system that rides it, it is at best a weak system with faults.
      2. As for the Mosaic Law and the Christian, Romans 7:4, 6 and Galatians 3:24-25 clearly teach the Christian is not only positionally dead to the Mosaic Law in Christ, but that he lives apart from its jurisdiction. Thus, the "slips" in Covenant Theology regarding the Christian and the Mosaic Law, or implying salvation is connected to keeping the Mosaic Law, are very erroneous.
      3. Re: Reconstructionism, (a) its belief the Christian is under any part of the Mosaic Law is countered by Rom. 7:4, 6 & Gal. 3:24-25. (b) Also, the Church is not to gain dominion of the world's nations as the Church is raptured BEFORE Christ's Second Coming: ((a)) Rev. 19:11-21; 20:1-6 predict Christ will come before His Millennial reign, and ((b)) Rev. 19:7 reveals the Church's Bema Seat occurs before His Second Coming! Reconstructionism, or Dominion Theology, thus greatly errs!
Lesson: (1) Covenant Theology is weak in not being exegeted from Scripture, and errs in its references to the Mosaic Law's value for salvation. (2) Reconstructionism, or "Dominion Theology" errs in putting the Christian under the Mosaic Law and using an errant Postmillennialism to teach the Church should try to gain dominion of the world's nations to make things good enough for Christ to return!

Application: Holding to a literal interpretation of Scripture leads us to uphold our liberty from the Law and the Premillenial Rapture, and THAT leads us NOT to CONTROL, but to DISCIPLE the nations!