18 points of difference between Covenanters and Reconstructionism

We Covenanters are much more Uniform and Unified in our beliefs, doctrines and standards with only small variations among us on smaller points. We stress Uniformity in religion. We believe in one Confession of Faith, one form of Catechism, one Directory for all the parts of the public worship of God, and for prayer, preaching, administration of sacraments, etc., and one form of Church government, in all the Churches. Whereas the Reconstructionist movement is ALL over the place in beliefs and doctrines and permits all sorts of crazy views therein the Reconstructionist camp…

We Covenanters hold to much more Continuity between the Government as defined and exampled in the Old Testament and what is required today for all nations.

We Covenanters hold that Civil Government is by Preceptive Will of God and not by the Providential Will of God. Therefore any government must be by the Precepts of Scriptures and those that are not are disqualified.

We Covenanters hold that Magistrates are to be qualified according to the Precepts of Scriptures and that if they do not they are not by definition civil government. Therefore we cannot recognize one who is not qualified nor can we vote for any man who does not meet all the qualifications.

We Covenanters hold not just explicit application of God’s law but positive historical examples of the kings and magistrates of the old testament to also be examples for Christian kings and princes. We also hold to Implicit examples and Good and Necessary Inference in the role of Civil Magistracy.

We Covenanters hold to National Covenanting which is that we believe that a covenant must be made nationally acknowledging the Triune God, Jesus Christ as King of the nations and His Laws the Supreme laws of the land. We believe that this consist of 4 Covenants. Nation to God (Jeremiah 50:5), Magistrate to God (II Kings 11:17), Magistrate to People (Joshua 24:25, II Kings 11:17), People to God (II Chronicles 15:15),

We Covenanters hold to the Establishment Principle. Reformed Presbyterianism must be the established religion of the nation, with the Westminster Standards as the subordinate authority over the church.

We Covenanters hold to some over-lapping and co-ordination and cooperation between church and state whereas Reconstructionism hold to a strict and absolute sphere division known as Kuyperism.

We Covenanters do not hold to a strict bottom up approach of acquiring a righteous rule in the nations. We believe it can be bottom up or top down. Covenanter Samuel Simms wrote “This truth is taught two ways in the Bible; first, historically, by what we read of the influence which the personal character of the Jewish monarchs had on the moral and religious state of their subjects; and it is taught prophetically in the Book of Revelation, where we are taught that the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord Jesus Christ, chiefly through the conversion of Kings and Rulers – for it cannot be disputed that the Greek word Basileiai, denotes the “governing powers.” Suppose there were a John Knox in every pulpit of the land, what great good could be done nationally, so long as rulers resisted and thwarted all their teaching, by their unholy lives and their wicked legislation?”

We Covenanters hold that the Magistrates must be keeper of BOTH Tables of the Law as the way God has delivered it including suppression of Heresy. We also include the Second and the Fourth and would hold that a Magistrate is bound to enforce these laws even in private dwellings.

We Covenanters hold strictly to the Reformed position of the Three Divisions of the law of God (Moral, Ceremonial and Judicial) with Ceremonial abrogated and Judicial further sub-divided into General Equity and Particular Equity with the General Equity Judicials stand and the Particular Equity Judicials do not and are abrogated along with Ceremonial laws. (I know some recons hold to this as well and they are consistent here and agree with Historic Reformed theology but not all recons do).

We Covenanter hold forth that the Solemn League and Covenant is continuing to be binding not only on the three kingdoms (England, Scotland and Ireland) but also on their former colonies including the United States of America.

We Covenanters hold that Wicked Governments are not ordained of God and not to be obeyed unless as if under a lion’s paw and then only passively and they can be resisted. Nor are we to fellowship, or work with them or accept any position by them. Thus oaths to them are unlawful including the Pledge of Allegiance.

Therefore we Covenanters dissent from such governments through non-voting, no military service, no oath taking, no holding office, no jury duty or taking any position by such an entity.

We Covenanters hold that the Constitution is Blasphemous and unlawful and we refuse to recognize it in any way. It does not contain any Christian character.

We Covenanters hold that not just lesser magistrates may resist higher wicked rulers (Dutch Reformed Position) but that private persons may as well even without a lesser magistrate (Cameronian Covenanter Position)..

We Covenanters are Post Millennial by a massive decree and historically we are confessional Historicist Classical Post Millennalist.

In worship we Covenanters differ from the Modern Evangelical and modern Reformed beliefs although it would not differ from the Historic Reformed Church. So Historically these are not distinctions of us but today they are. Covenanters hold to the regulative principle of worship strictly. And are required for corporate, family and private worship.

Exclusive Psalmody (just the 150 psalms)
No Musical Instruments in Worship
No Offering Plate within the Corporate Worship Service
No Greeting one another in the middle of the Worship Service
Common Table, Common Cup and Fermented Wine at Lord Supper
Synagogue Model for the Church
Strictly No representation of the Truine God, or Symbols representing such (Lion, Dove, Old Man) or making of any symbols of any kind for religious purpose.
No Representation of Crosses either in Worship, in or on the Church or privately at home.
No Holy Days including Christmas, Easter, etc either in Church or privately at home.

When sometimes asked “what is a Covenanter”, I jokingly respond “We fight back”. So watch out. LoL

“Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.” Psalm 68:1-3

“O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Yahovah, art the most high over all the earth.” -Psalm 83:14-18

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