| This article represents part 1 in a short series of a | | | | would of necessity involve a reliance on mere human |
| brief-but-sound refutation of what Lee Iron's calls his | | | | ideas instead of God's, and that is nothing less than |
| 4-page "cheat sheet" dubbed "Some Common | | | | autonomy.Us: Untrue. The N.O.S. argument is no |
| Theonomic Arguments." The operative word here is | | | | assumption, but rather a conclusion from 1. the |
| "cheat." So I have broken down the arguments from | | | | exegetical details of numerous biblical passages (and |
| his site as Mr. Irons has stated them (prefixing his | | | | what these entail), and 2. A good and necessary |
| name to them), and then posted a response from | | | | implication from the biblical doctrine of Sola |
| me and "the Theonomic brethren," here known as | | | | Scriptura.Lee: The difficulty with this assumption is |
| "us." Some of Lee's arguments have been | | | | that it proves too much. If autonomy is narrowly |
| abbreviated for the sake of literary sanity, but I | | | | defined as the use in any sphere of ideas not |
| have made every effort to leave out nothing | | | | specifically revealed in Scripture, then we will be |
| relevant to the core argument expressed in his | | | | paralyzed by inaction, since the Scripture simply |
| article. You can find it at: Let the exchange begin.Lee: | | | | contains very little information about vast areas of |
| It is hoped that the brief responses given here will | | | | human thought and action.Us: This is another straw |
| enable the non-theonomist to hold his own in future | | | | man. No Theonomist defines autonomy this way. |
| discussions and debates when he or she encounters | | | | Theonomists are Trinitarians, which shows that they |
| those of the theonomic persuasion.Us: Hope springs | | | | believe that what Scripture IMPLIES is as much the |
| eternal.Lee: 1. The [Theonomic] 'No other standard' | | | | Word of God as what the Word says "explicitly." And |
| argument Where else can we find God's standards | | | | Lee knows this, ergo the "cheat sheet" |
| for socio-political justice, except in Scripture, | | | | reference.Moreover, if the Bible were as |
| particularly, the Mosaic civil legislation? If we reject | | | | non-comprehensive as Lee insists, God could have |
| the divinely-revealed civil law, we are left with no | | | | said it in 3 chapters. Scripture treats the ethical |
| other standard, condemned to wander in a fog of | | | | aspects of every possible human endeavor so |
| personal bias and subjective relativism.One way to | | | | thoroughly that it specifies the limits and |
| respond to this argument is to question the | | | | requirements needed to perform every human |
| assumption that Scripture is a sufficient source of | | | | activity RIGHTEOUSLY (the ethical aspects of each |
| guidance for societal and political questions.Us: This | | | | activity) -- so as to please the Lord in the doing (or in |
| response falsely assumes that "political questions" are | | | | avoiding the doing) of it.Lee: Scripture is not sufficient |
| NEVER ALSO ethical questions (like "Should Christians | | | | for the art of cologne and perfume manufacture, |
| vote against abortion laws?"). This is called the | | | | although one particular recipe is given in the Mosaic |
| "either-or fallacy" in informal logic. Since the Word of | | | | law (Exod. 30:23-25). Does that mean we should only |
| God is sufficient to answer all ethical questions and | | | | make the Levitical perfume? Are all other non-Biblical |
| has the "consent of all the parts," this makes denying | | | | scents autonomous and sinful? .... Examples such as |
| the Bible's "political or societal" sufficiency an implicit | | | | these could be multiplied.Us: This is getting silly. The |
| denial of biblical sufficiency per se. Fun for Romanists, | | | | Bible is not a perfume-makers success manual. It |
| but not a biblical option -- see Psalm 19:7ff., 2 Tim. | | | | promises, that if it is obeyed, it will make you |
| 3:16.]Lee: No doubt the Bible contains many general | | | | righteous, not well-scented. This would imply limits on |
| principles that are to be observed, but why should it | | | | including chemicals in the colognes to which some |
| be regarded as a detailed blueprint for society?Us: | | | | persons (being allergic to them) might be harmed, or |
| We'll just take a wild stab at this one. Maybe | | | | would at least require the maker to post a warning |
| because:1. Another term for "detailed blueprint for | | | | label on the bottle, and other such ethical matters |
| society" is "code of law," and the Scripture regularly | | | | related to perfume making and selling. It IS sufficient |
| self-refers as the law of the Lord (Ps. 19:7; 119), an | | | | for its intended purpose, which Lee has here |
| international law code. And law codes are necessarily | | | | ignored.Lee: It seems too obvious to point out, but |
| "detailed bluleprints for society." The Bible says "the | | | | the Bible was never intended to provide specific |
| law of the Lord is perfect." Psalm 119 elaborates on | | | | information and guidance regarding the vast majority |
| the "perfect" law as "graciously sufficient, adequate, | | | | of human spheres of thought and action. These |
| lacking nothing, powerful, efficacious." This detailed | | | | common grace spheres belong to the natural order |
| blueprint for national and social justice takes the form | | | | and are pretty much up to us to figure out on our |
| of legal documents called Testaments (i.e. | | | | own using the common sense, reason, and scientific |
| inscripturated Covenants).2. Scripture has detailed | | | | abilities that God has given to mankind.Us: It seems |
| commands about all sorts of things, including how | | | | too obvious to point out that there are no "common |
| folks may or may not dress, and how kings must | | | | grace spheres," because reality does not come to us |
| judge. Each king of Israel was required to study the | | | | in mislabeled sections with some assembly required. |
| law of the Lord daily that he might "do justice" in his | | | | The Bible never speaks this way either, though it |
| nation.3. God commands all nations (societies) to obey | | | | does speak of matters holy, and others which are |
| him (Prov. 14:34), not merely individuals. God | | | | common. For more on this, see Carson's article, |
| commands all kings to do justice in their nations, and | | | | "Critical Thinking To Go: Dodging the Pepperoni Pizza |
| nations have to do "detailed things," like collect and | | | | Fallacy."As far as common grace spheres (the vast |
| account for taxes, and administer justice in their | | | | majority of epistemological real estate) being "pretty |
| courts. Anyone who thinks this is not a detailed | | | | much left up to us to figure out" -- how does this |
| business need only read the U.S. Internal Revenue | | | | NOT sound like an excuse for imposing one's |
| Code to become overly-convinced.4. All Christians are | | | | "autonomy"?? The original Theonomic challenge |
| "kings and priests to our God" (Rev. 1:8), and thus | | | | (N.O.S.) argument says "Reject the biblical standard |
| must study and follow the example of the good | | | | and all you have are arbitrary ones. Then you come |
| kings of Israel, insofar as their station in life and calling | | | | along saying, "Standards? We don't got to show you |
| permit it. Moreover, they must call upon others in | | | | no stinking standards! We'll just make it up as we go |
| their nation to do likewise -- including the civil | | | | and call it "common sense," "reason," or "science." |
| magistrates (as did John the Baptist, and the other | | | | Doesn't that ILLUSTRATE -- rather than refute -- the |
| prophets). For it says: "Rebuke your neighbor frankly, | | | | N.O.S. argument?Besides, natural revelation (the "light |
| do not share in his sin."5. God gave special revelation | | | | of nature") contains far less information than written |
| to Israel AS A NATION, so it would be a royal | | | | revelation. So any diminution of the comprehensive |
| priesthood and "holy nation." This is now true of the | | | | character of written revelation bodes even WORSE |
| Church, and of those nations where the saints of | | | | for any view that depends on "nature's light" for its |
| God live. 'Royal priesthood' means "priests and | | | | ethical standard -- which Lee's view in fact does.Lee: |
| kings."6. Detailed Blueprints for nations are inevitable | | | | It is not denied that the Bible contains general |
| and inescapable. Legal codes are not an option, but a | | | | principles that apply to all areas of life - the most |
| necessity, for every nation. It is never a question of | | | | important being, "Whether you eat or drink or |
| detailed blueprint vs. no detailed blueprint, only WHICH | | | | whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 |
| detailed blueprint (law code) God requires nations to | | | | Cor. 10:31). But the Scripture is not sufficient to |
| follow in order to obey Him.7. The contrary to | | | | provide practical, detailed guidance for the sphere of |
| theonomy is impossible. Notice Lee has not refuted | | | | common grace; that sphere is to be guided by "the |
| the point in question by offering an alternative, | | | | light of nature."Us: Oh, we get it now. The Bible is |
| equally detailed blueprint sufficient for social and | | | | foggy and says almost nothing. But thankfully we |
| national justice; he has simply denied that one exists | | | | have this extraordinarily comprehensive, detailed, and |
| by challenging (unsuccessfully) the only game in town | | | | crystal clear "natural revelation," so that we never |
| -- biblical law. This ignores the first principle of debate: | | | | needed the Old Testament in the first place. This is |
| You cannot beat something with nothing.Lee: After | | | | both an inversion of what the Bible actually teaches |
| all, we don't go to the Bible to find specific directions | | | | about the relationship between general and special |
| for other equally important human endeavors, such | | | | revelation, and the flagship of Dispensational thought. |
| as art and architecture, literature, the culinary arts, | | | | You say "Titanic," we say "Iceberg." A few brief |
| medicine, technology, etc.Us: Surely you jest. | | | | points:1. The Old Testament was given by God so |
| Administering justice -- the duty of the civil | | | | that the fall (having marred the clarity of natural |
| magistrate -- is NOT "equally important" with pizza | | | | revelation) could have its obfuscating effects |
| baking or artfully sculpting pottery. The former is a | | | | "progressively undone" as redemptive history moved |
| holy duty, and the latter is common. This is why one | | | | forward with the growth of the canon. Lee wants |
| must be "sworn in" (take an oath of office) as the | | | | this progress REVERSED, favoring the natural |
| civil magistrate who is "God's deacon" (Rom. 13). No | | | | revelation, which is less clear and comprehensive than |
| one may properly require an oath to join the Iron | | | | the written revelation, over the more clear and |
| Chef Association. Unjust verdicts can destroy | | | | comprehensive. We call this, "making room for |
| people's lives, unlike flawed desserts. Okay, unlike | | | | autonomy."2. The case laws of the OT are regularly |
| MOST flawed desserts.Lee: The Westminster | | | | cited by Jesus and the apostles as binding under the |
| Confession acknowledges that there are areas of life | | | | new covenant, including labor laws like Deut. 25:4 (Do |
| "which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and | | | | not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain, 1 Cor. |
| Christian prudence, according to the general rules of | | | | 9, 1 Tim. 5), judicial due process requirements like |
| the Word, which are always to be observed" (WCF | | | | Deut. 18 (that every matter may be established by |
| I.6).Us: The immediate context of WCF I.6 relates | | | | the testimony of two or three witnesses, 2 Cor. |
| only to affairs "common among men," not holy | | | | 13:1), etc., etc.Lee's view cannot tolerate these |
| matters. This adiaphora clause ends in "general rules | | | | passages, which shows thereby that his is not the |
| of the Word." Even here written revelation, not the | | | | New Testament view of the OT either.Lee: Properly |
| light of nature, is the final standard. Affirming the | | | | defined, the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture |
| specific application of such general rules remains | | | | states that the Bible is "the only rule of faith and |
| consistent with the Thenomic position. Here, Lee | | | | obedience," (WLC # 3), directing us "how we may |
| pretends to offer a counterinstance to that view, | | | | glorify and enjoy" God (WSC # 2). The Scriptures |
| but does nothing of the kind.Moreover, the | | | | "principally teach what man is to believe concerning |
| Westminster divines practiced what is known as the | | | | God, and what duty God requires of man" (WSC # |
| "regulative principle of worship" in their churches. This | | | | 3). In other words, as Paul states, the primary |
| is a minimalist principle which says that in holy matters | | | | purpose of Scripture is to "make us wise unto |
| (such as oath-taking), whatever God has not | | | | salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 3:15).Us: |
| commanded (explicitly or implicitly), God forbids. And | | | | Yes, but the biblical view of salvation is more than |
| the Westminster confession affirms that all oaths -- | | | | merely justification. It necessarily includes |
| like the ones a man must take to hold either a civil or | | | | SANCTIFICATION, for "without holiness no one will |
| ecclesiastical office -- are A MATTER OF | | | | see the Lord." And since Christians will be kings in the |
| WORSHIP.Thus, WCF I.6 does not apply to the | | | | resurrection, reigining on earth, what detailed law |
| administration of justice, but to common matters | | | | code (blueprint for society) will God expect them to |
| only. God has but one, holy standard by which he will | | | | use to make righteous judgments (as Christian |
| judge men on Judgment Day, which is the same | | | | judges must do even today? Whole-life holiness |
| single standard by which He judges nations now. | | | | requires a comprehensive and detailed ethical |
| Nations do not exist in eternity, so if God will judge | | | | standard not offered by common sense, reason, |
| them at all -- and the entire body of literature | | | | science, or the light of nature. If this is not found in |
| attributed to the prophets says He does -- He must | | | | the canon (OT and NT), then where? This kinda puts |
| do so within the bounds of what we consider | | | | us back at question #1.-- To Be Continued --Carson |
| ordinary human history. Lee has left unanswered the | | | | Day has written some 1.3 gazillion aritcles and essays |
| obvious rejoinder: By what standard does God judge | | | | on all manner of diverse topics. These aim to glorify |
| nations? If not by God's law, then by whose?Lee: | | | | God and offer people real help to live wisely and well. |
| The "No other standard" argument assumes that | | | | You can visit Carson's websites at (The Omniblog, |
| special revelation in Scripture is the only | | | | where Carson blogs everything) or (Carson's Day |
| divinely-approved standard for questions pertaining to | | | | Trading Outpost). Thanks for stopping by. |
| civil government and legislation. Any other standard | | | | |