Reforming Culture or Transforming Lives

This past weekend I attended the NICHE (Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators) graduation. As over 105 home-schoolers walked across the stage, each receiving their diploma from their parents, the words of the guest speaker continued to ring in my ears. Henry Reyenga (who is actively involved in the Ill. chapter of home schooling) gave the commencement address and used a phrase that proved troubling. He implored these young students to continue the fight their parents started -- and that fight was to "Transform Culture". As each of the graduates stepped to the stage to receive their diploma, brief statements were read about the graduates from their parents. It was here that the true definition of Reyenga's term "cultural transformation" was given its legs. While parents used different words, the base definition seemed to promote transformation -- not through the gospel -- but through social agenda (ie. creationism, restoration of a biblical world view, and the reign of OT cultural law). I was stupified as I had given the speaker the benefit of the doubt (thinking he was at least advocating for a regenerational approach to transformation), but to hear from these folks (who were less careful in their choice or words) that they understood their calling to be cultural transformation through education wreaked of social post-millennialism. After talking with a few friends and reading broader on the subject, it seems that it is not just the homeschool movement that is to blame but that it, (the home school movement) sprung from the failures of Christian Schools. Our education in the Christian school had failed to bring in the kingdom, so as opposed to changing our theology (or presuppositions) we changed our method. This thinking has grown to be known as "dominion theology". It has been defined as . . .

Its most common form, Dominionism, represents one of the most extreme forms of Fundamentalist Christianity thought. Its followers, called Dominionists, are attempting to peacefully convert the laws of United States so that they match those of the Hebrew Scriptures. They intend to achieve this by using the freedom of religion in the US to train a generation of children in private Christian religious schools. Later, their graduates will be charged with the responsibility of creating a new Bible-based political, religious and social order. One of the first tasks of this order will be to eliminate religious choice and freedom. Their eventual goal is to achieve the "Kingdom of God" in which much of the world is converted to Christianity. They feel that the power of God's word will bring about this conversion. No armed force or insurrection will be needed; in fact, they believe that there will be little opposition to their plan. People will willingly accept it. All that needs to be done is to properly explain it to them.

This definition was taken from a lager article on the subject entitled Christian Reconstructionism. This movement seems to be multi-denominational and very persuasive. Love to hear your thoughts concerning its scope and the end game produced in the lives of these kids and the "God" they worship.