The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Towards a Theology of the State

Sorry to have to voice my disagreement here but I simply cannot let this slide. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/evilgrin.gif" alt="" />

For Genesis 9:6 to be bound jurisdictionally, as you have suggested above, i.e., it cannot be taken to have been applicable to Cain's murder of Abel, one has to presume that such a law against bloodshed did not exist pre-Noah. However, I did attempt to show in one of my other replies to you that a law prohibiting murder and which had corporal punishment attached to it did in fact exist, else the context of Cain's lament would be senseless. What I perceive here is the same, or at least a similar error, which those embracing the contemporary NTC theology make. They desire to create substantive demarcation lines that result in a radical discontinuity between the old "covenant" (testament) and the new "covenant" (testament). Theonomist/Reconstructionists, on the other extreme, commit a similar error but in such a way that the result is an unwarranted continuity, particularly in relation to the law.

May I suggest that Gen. 9:6 should be understood as an iteration of what was beforehand unwritten and most likely forgotten among men. Likewise, the Decalogue should not be seen as "jurisdictional" in that it only applied to theocratic Israel and to none previously. Again, I believe that the Decalogue was an iteration of what was already established by God among men but with a renewed and detailed exposition. In short, these things are to be seen as expressions and examples of God's "progressive revelation", which carries along the old while adding more and pertinent information for the purpose of revealing God's redemptive purpose and plan in Christ.

Lastly, I'm wondering if you are familiar with the writings of Gary North, in particular, those which deal with "biblical economics". It seems to me he got off on the wrong foot from the beginning by attempting to find in Scripture that which simply is not there, i.e., a full-orbed economic agenda. Indeed, there are principles to be found in Scripture which can and should guide one in the accumulation and use of money. And, this must be so for the Scriptures contain the will of God for every facet of life. However, the Bible is decidedly NOT a textbook on economics, nor jurisprudence, nor government policy, et al. Perhaps it is just the nature of mankind to desire to have life spelled out for them, e.g., a, b, c., such as a Manual of life whereby one can simply open the manual to the right page and follow the detailed instructions. Having such a manual then relieves one of having to make decisions based upon general principles. And, perhaps even more so, with such a "book", there is no culpability involved due to one making a wrong decision. One has a iron-clad defense, or at least so they evidently think, since all one has to do is base their actions on the old exclamation, "Hey, I was just following orders! . . . It's right there in the book." <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rolleyes2.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,