In R.J. Rushdoony's fourth chapter of In His Service he lists eight points on God's law as it relates to the renewal of all things. Before we look at the eight points a presupposition must be established. The law of God is the standard, the source and the law of justice. Even secular societies know this. Therefore, in order to have justice God's law must be applied to society. Also, in order to live a righteous life God's law must be applied to our daily life. It is important to know that the very law that is to be applied also forbids application by coercion; it is by regeneration, renewal.
Rushdoony lists eight applications of God's law that is done through regeneration unto regeneration. Renewal begets renewal.... First, the government must be under God. It is not under the state and not under the church. It is not under man. Man has been corrupted by the fall and therefore can only corrupt justice. The state and the church have very limited powers under God's law. Power and authority are God's. Government must be under God.
Second, God's law works through economics, the tithe. The tithes should be encouraged and humanistic taxes abolished. (allocation list) Tithes are more efficient than unjust state allocations, subsidies and wealth transfer schemes. Rushdoony points out the economic limits placed on the church and the state; "the sanctuary receives one percent of a man's increase" and "the civil government receives only a half a shekel a year from all males twenty and over." He also goes into further details. This makes the family the basic institution in Scripture.
The family, this is the third point. Treason is an act against the family rather than the state. Everything Rushdoony writes has something in it that stresses how important the family is to God. The laws protect the family. If the courts do not protect the family they are unjust.
The next five points are more straight forward but no less important. Fourth, courts must be just. Fifth, the penalty of restitution must be restored. There is no forgiveness without restitution. Resoration + must be made of the destruction made by sin. Remember, the goal of God's law is the renewal of all things to "very good". Restitution is necessary to bring about holiness. For example:
- To be made for injury to life, limb, or property
Exodus 21:30-36; Leviticus 24:18 - To be made for theft
Exodus 22:1-4; Proverbs 6:30,31; Ezekiel 33:15 - To be made for dishonesty
Leviticus 6:2-5; Numbers 5:7; Job 20:18; Ezekiel 33:15; Luke 19:8
Sixth, the land must have it's Sabbaths. The renewal of all things also includes the earth. Seventh, Our duty is to work for righteousness sake. Riches are good and yet they are not our goal. Be content and not greedy. The LORD gives and takes according to His great plan in the regeneration of the entire creation. Eight, God's law must be enforced in us and through us.
Rushdoony reminds us again that the goal of God's law is the regeneration of all things, God's Kingdom. It is a physical and spiritual reality growing in total holiness unto the LORD. He has made his people co-heirs with Christ.
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