Category: From The Mailbag

From The Mailbag … How Has Jacobinism Infected The Reformed World?

Dear Pastor

What is Jacobin Reformed theology and what are Jacobin Reformed clergy?

Billy F

Hello Billy

Thanks for writing. First, we should note that most clergy today in the Reformed world are Jacobin. There are, of course, greater and lesser degrees of this Jacobinism to be found in our Reformed clergy but the tendency is ubiquitous. More about that after a definition;

A.) A Jacobin Reformed clergy embraces (often, quite w/o knowing it) the principles of Jacobinism. Jacobinism was a radical political group during the French Revolution known for advocating egalitarian democracy and engaging in extreme measures. During the French Revolution those extreme measures included the Reign of Terror, but in our context today extreme measures for Jacobin Reformed clergy means hunting down via inquisition type means men who do not agree with their Jacobin egalitarianism often with the purpose of defrocking and/or destroying by means of cancel culture clergy and/or members that are NOT Jacobin. Most frequently this happens by means of violation of the 9th commandment because very few men are guilty of what the 6th commandment violations they are being charged.

The term today has come to represent left-wing radicalism in the pulpit and ruling centers of what is unfortunately thought of as “Conservative” “Reformed” denomination. This kind of revolutionary politics is evidenced in the Church in its embrace of Alienism, egalitarianism, the Post-War (actually Enlightenment) consensus and the conviction that Democracy is God’s plan for social order arrangement.

We see it with the denial in denominations like the PCA, RPCNA, CRC, ARP, and CREC of the reality of race. More than a few clergy from these denominations have said things like, “there is no such thing as race,” or, “race is only about melanin levels,” or, “race is a social construct.” To hold to such views is a window into egalitarian convictions, and so represents Jacobin convictions. Another piece of evidence of how the majority expression of Reformed clergy are adopting Jacobin egalitarian convictions is the rise of female leadership in the Reformed Church. Michael Foster has recently exposed all the other Jacobin congregations in the PCA with his outing of congregations in the PCA that are operating with Defacto female elders. The irony is pretty thick here as Foster himself is likewise Jacobin given his expressed hatred of the anti-Jacobin belief system of Kinism. Foster’s exposure of Jacobin PCA congregations while being Jacobin himself demonstrates that there are different degrees of Jacobinism existing in the Reformed denominations.

Doug Wilson of the CREC is another high profile example of Jacobinism in denominations that are thought of as “Conservative,” and “Reformed.” Wilson has denied the reality of race while still embracing the reality of “ethnicity,” despite the fact that one can’t get to ethnicity without first traveling through race as ethnicity is a subset of race. Insisting that ethnicities exist but races don’t is like saying that Terriers and Retrievers exist but differing dog breeds don’t.

But Michael Foster and Doug Wilson should be understood to be the less excessive norms of today’s Jacobinism. There are many other clergy who are even more extreme in their Jacobinism today. Clergy like Ben Glaser, Rich Lusk, Andy Webb, Andrew Sandlin, Peter Leithart, Al Mohler, Uri Brito, Jeff Durbin, James White, etc. are all further examples of clergy who have been infected with one degree or another of Jacobinism.

The answer to this of course is a return to Biblical Christianity with all the implications of the doctrine of the Trinity (the One & the Many) for this discussion.

Please pray for the Reformed Church in America that God might either grant it reformation and renewal or failing that God might close its doors and raise up new ecclesiastical organizations which will not fall into the trap of Jacobinism.

From The Mailbox; Pastor, Should I keep Attending This Church?

A email in my inbox this morning from someone in a church that has a Pastor who sells himself as “there is no one more conservative than me,” and yet has his children in government schools, has explicitly said more than once that he is against Christian Nationalism, has made it clear that he opposes “anti-Semitism” (that really isn’t anti-Semitism) and whose church now is noticeably increasing in mixed race marriages with the minority wives don’t even speak English. The Pastor also said during the covid era that those who resisted the Gov’t. on its covid requirements were sinning against God.

This chap is now asking me if he should continue to attend this “best church there is in his area.”

I do realize that this whole line of inquiry could be merely some kind of trap in order to try and discredit me.

Here is my response to his query;

Hello Mr. Z,

Thank you for writing me.

This is a perplexing question that I often have to field. I usually answer it by saying; “I do not think I could attend that kind of church, though I would never fault someone who shared my worldview for attending such a church since I realize how important worship is and since I realize how difficult it is to locate other churches that would be any better.”

I also tell most people that if I attended said church I could not support it with my tithes and offerings since any money I would give to the Church would be supporting those very things to which I am adamantly opposed. So, if it were myself in your situation, if I decided to attend, I would not financially support the Church. I might instead give my tithes and offerings to families/individuals in the congregation who I saw had some real financial need. In such a way you’re not supporting the church as an Institution though you would still be supporting the needs of the church. I would also probably try to do that kind of thing anonymously.

I would also, were I you, try to speak with the Pastor about some of these matters, or failing that, I would try to pass on thoughtful articles or books or lectures or podcasts on these issues. Everybody is talking about these issues now and there is some good material out there. An older piece by Joe Sobran titled “Pensees” can be found online and would be good for your Pastor to read.

I should probably end by noting that your if your Pastor is “conservative” it is of the “Normie Conservative” type. In other words your Pastor is definitely not “conservative.” Worse yet, I do not think he is a particularly orthodox Christian.

Of course most of us are walking curios and so have contradictions all about us. As such, I realize that your Pastor could be quite good in other areas of Christian orthodoxy even if he is horrid on these you have told me about.

All of this advice is based on the assumption that you are single. If you had children my advice would be different.

I am sorry that the visible Church is so against Her stated Master. I am sorry that you are having to go through this.

As in Christ we can Never Surrender,

Pastor Bret

Top Three Defining Beliefs Of A Kinist … Of Kinism

What would you say are the top 3 defining beliefs of a “Kinist?” Could you briefly expand on each of those points for me? How specifically, or how actionably?

Scott Tungay

Hello Scott,

I think that Kinists would agree with me in saying that our top three defining beliefs are;

1.) Love for God

Specifically and actionably this means that Kinists believe that they have the privilege and responsibility to be part of Biblical churches where the God of the Bible is worshiped by means of Word and Sacrament.  Further, it means that they have their shoulders to the wheel in advancing the Kingdom of God and His Christ. The Kinist love for God means that there is no cordoning off a common realm from a grace realm wherein God is less interested in the common realm or wherein God rules the common realm in a less explicit manner. The Kinist love for God means an understanding that all of Christ is for all of life. The Kinist love for God means all that the Kinist does is sub species aeternitatis (“from the perspective of the eternal”) and as such is done for God’s pleasure.

The love for God actionably means doing what we can to make sure a Biblical Church is present so that the family can worship together and together grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The love for God actionably means helping those in the community of faith who are in need as we can. The love for God means visiting the widow and orphan in their distress.

2.) Love for their Kith and Kin

Specifically and actionably this means that Kinists seek to honor God’s command to “Honor their Father’s and Mothers,” understanding that this commandment extends to generations past and anticipates generations yet to come. In loving our Kith and Kin we thereby also demonstrate our love to God (see #1 above). Love for Kith and Kin extends outwardly in concentric circles to those most intimately connected to us in our families. This is commonly called the ordo amoris. We prioritize our immediate family first, and then from their our love extends to the extended (Trustee) family and from there to those who belong to our ethnicity/race. This prioritizing of love for Kith and Kin is explicitly required of God’s people as seen in I Timothy 5:8. Those who object to this and who insist that we must love all people equally (the same) are living in defiance of God’s explicit instructions. This special love for Kith and Kin is seen most clearly in the actions of our Savior, who, while on the cross, makes provision for his own mother.

Actionably, this means storing up an inheritance for our children and grandchildren (Proverbs 13:22 — A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children …). Actionably it means taking care of our aged relatives as we can when they are in their dotage. Actionably it means that we do what we can to make sure that our adult children don’t have to launch into their beginning years with untold debt. Actionably it means that we do what we can to train our children to be adults so when they become adults they are not starting out without skills that translate into providing for and maintaining a home. Actionably, it means that we do what we can that our children choose wisely in marriage partners and if possible don’t move hundreds or thousands of miles away. Actionably, it means training our children to think like a Christian. We train them in worldview thinking so that they understand the difference between the way the heathen think and the way a Christian thinks. We train them in their undoubted catholic Christian faith teaching them the Bible, the catechism, and the Confessions. Be trained they can think through a brick wall and will not be fooled by the zeitgeist and are equipped themselves to train their children in the same way.

3.) Love of place

Specifically and actionably this means putting down roots. In our mobile and cosmopolitan times this is perhaps the most difficult to accomplish but it still should be our goal. We should see ourselves as belonging to a place as it belongs to us. This implies doing what we can to build community. The idea of community and place cannot be divorced from one another. This means knowing other families generationally as those families share our same place. This means, as possible, buying locally and supporting local businesses. 

From the Mailbag … Roger and Bret Continue Their Discussion On Kinism & Christendom

Pastor,

Thank you (and all) for your detailed responses. It warms my heart to know that there are real people, your friends, that are in community with each other and ready to risk it all to fight. It is especially helpful to know where to send money for support in the fight. I am sure that supporting a firearms group like the NRA or the one you mentioned will go a long way.

Note that I asked you about fighting for kinism, but you said fighting for Christendom in the title of your reply. Are these synonyms? What would you say to a Christian family that leaves a church where the pastor is more devoted to kinism than Christendom, if they are not synonyms?

Hello Roger,

Yes … they are synonyms.

One cannot contend for Christendom without contending for Kinism. Especially in our current context in the West where Christendom is being attacked via the means of attacking the family structure. Christianity is a faith that presupposes the family unit. Kinism is merely an extension of that presupposition carried out to each continuing concentric circle that ripples out from the family unit.

Since I hold that there is no such thing as Christendom (or Christianity for that matter) that has subtracted the centrality of family such as is found everywhere in Scripture, and since Kinism is merely another way of stating the doctrine of the Creator Creature distinction (an essential and primary truth without which the Christian faith cannot exist as the Christian faith) I would say to such a hypothetical family leaving such a hypothetical church having such a hypothetical pastor that they should rethink their understanding of Biblical Christianity.

Besides … this is surely a vastly hypothetical question since I am full of doubt that any Pastor exists who is more devoted to Kinism than Christendom. Indeed, since the WOKE assault that now servers as the point of the spear attacking Christianity, and Christendom it is simply the case that most Pastors are asleep at the switch.

Since Christianity has as an essential aspect to its reality what Kinism is championing your question is like asking “what if the Pastor at the Church is more devoted to the incarnation or to the penal substitutionary doctrine of the Atonement than to Christendom.” You see the implicit contradiction here don’t you? You have presented what is called a “false dichotomy.” How can a Pastor be faulted for being more devoted to a cardinal doctrine of Christianity without which Christianity can not be Christianity than he is to Christianity itself?

As to time spent on this one doctrinal aspect of Christianity Luther is reputed to have said;

“If I profess, with the loudest voice and the clearest exposition, every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christianity. Where the battle rages the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle-field besides is mere flight and disgrace to him if he flinches at that one point.”

Guess where that one point is now Roger? That one point is the point that Kinism is engaged in. If the Church loses here Christendom goes into declension (something R2K desires very much) and it is back to the catacombs while living in Dark chaos and old night. Indeed, it is not too much to say that the enemy will have been successful in a short term victory.

In Athanasius’ time the issue that was being attacked was the deity of Jesus Christ. In Augustine’s day the issue that was being attacked was whether or not man had Libertarian free will. In Luther’s day the issue was both Justification by faith alone and the what was the epistemological ground for the Church — Scripture or Tradition. Today the issue is also twofold

1.) Creator-Creature distinction and the means of attack is by attack the doctrines of Scripture that have been shorthanded to be called “Kinism.” (Which is merely Christianity 101).

2.) Theonomy or Autonomy. (These two issues are implied in one another just as the two issues at the time of the Reformation were implied in each other.)

Of course, as has been more than hinted at in the original response, most Christians seem not to have the capacity to understand the implications and consequences of this issue. Just as Athanasius, Augustine, Luther were the minority voices at their time so Kinists are the minority voices today.

But as Rushdoony said …

“History has never been dominated by majorities, but only by dedicated minorities who stand unconditionally on their faith.”

R.J. Rushdoony

Blessings Roger as you consider all this,

Bret

p.s. — FWIW The NRA is counter-productive to securing the 2nd amendment. If you want to secure the 2nd amendment don’t send your money there.

p.p.s.  – If you really want to dig into this I can offer a few books that may help turn some lights on. Let me know.

From The Mailbag; Pastor, How Should I Fight In This War For Christendom?

This morning I received a comment from a reader that raised such a good question that I believed it worthy of being placed as its own post. The question came in response to the post “The Storm is Breaking.” For the answer to mailed in question I turned to my friends. God, out of sheer and pure grace has condescended to me by giving me a host of wise and Christian friends who, for the most part, share the Biblical and Christian Worldview. The answers to the question raised by Roger were so excellent I decided to run their answers to his question followed by a short synopsis of my own.

Some of these men I know better than others. Many of them I would go to war with. Many of them have had my back over the years. Many of them I have pastored …. baptized their children …. officiated their weddings. Most of them I would trust with my life. These are good and wise men and I trust you’ll consider with great profit their offerings.

You will find a variety of responses to the question with different shades of emphasis but as the question is not an easy one we should not be surprised to find different shades. However with these different shades one might conclude with Frodo Baggins;

 ‘Go not to the Elves for counsel for they will answer both no and yes.’ 

Thank you Roger for asking the question. May the Lord Christ give you wisdom and self-honesty in your arriving at an answer.

Pastor,

“Could you please be a little more specific about those who are striving for personal peace and happiness versus those willing to fight for kinism? I know about the clergy, but I have a very high position in DC, my kids are all married and have wonderful Christian families, and we live in a large home in a nice neighborhood. No one here knows I am a kinist, and because I know the clergy would not approve of my views, my wife and I just watch your church online every Sunday.

I feel convicted that I need to fight, but I also don’t want to lose everything God has blessed me with. I also don’t know what fighting would look like.”

Roger

Joel Franks offered as an answer;

If he is afraid to lose “what God has blessed him with” by standing on biblical beliefs that are contrary to the world and satanic Humanism then I really wouldn’t consider these “blessings” to begin with.
Doing what God has asked often times lands those hot water, granted he could definitely be more nuanced on his approach as the way he is saying seems like he is ready to go dull mask off in an obnoxious manner. Granted they most likely take it that way regardless of his approach.

I hope his kids are on the same page as him on this
Aaron Jagt answered;

It’s hard to give advice without knowing more. A high position in DC could mean a lot of different things. I guess generally if you’re involved in politics pretty much everyone keeps to the politically correct line to some extent, but I don’t think I’d be able to do that myself.

 Phillip Jagt (Aaron’s Brother) answered,

Throwing yourself into a fire to destroy yourself isn’t “fighting”. Being wise and use what leverage you have to influence what God has given you to influence. That is fighting. I would take the route of being an authority in something, and promoting your values to those who pay attention and want to listen. Don’t share your thoughts to those who will not listen in good faith. We are not all called to public teaching. Play the long game. Be stable.”

Didn’t Daniel face similar situations? He always, always stood firm on his faith. Even in today’s world that is something to be imitated and followed. A certain caution must go along, but one has to be willing to give up everything for Christ, even as we all do from day to day. We all face choices like this, whether it is keeping pronouns out of your corporate email, or just standing against it in the board room, we all have to face it at one time or another.
Jason M answered;

I hope what he is not saying is that what he has is of much more value than us peasants. I hope he is not saying we should do the fighting because we have less to lose.

 Jason Von Laban II answered;

It is a simple answer. The only way to strive for personal peace and fight for God is to do His will. Doing His will means following His laws.

 Mark Chambers answered,

All, that is ‘ALL’ who live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Wisdom has a place in this but not fear. At least not fear of mankind.
Isa 8:13 “It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread.

You don’t have to kick doors down, God opens doors. You only need to walk through them. But you do have to walk.

John 9:4 “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
And it’s getting darker every day
Dr. Robert M. Shivers wrote,

Well, I have a lot at stake in the world. I am well known and prominent in oil and gas technical work, I do consulting for other companies, I deal with (((financial institutions))) trying to secure funding for capital projects and in addition I have a nice house in an exclusive, respectable neighborhood in town. No one would have trouble finding my home address or office address. In other words, I’m an easily identifiable target.

Yet, I don’t use a pseudonym to post on FB and I’m prone to Luther-esque intemperate language when dealing with idiots and arrogance. One used to be able to find the comment at bottom searching for my name on google
I might have sympathy with a young man struggling to establish his career and support his family while working in a hostile environment, but men who are established need to find the courage to be outspoken and take a stand.

****************************************************************************

“I find it bizarre, on a Kafkaesque level, that people who live in a society where perversion is the norm, where the institution of holy marriage is mocked, where life in the womb is subject to industrial-scale genocide, and where the government enslaves future generations to permanent indebtedness, feel free to level moral critiques against orthodox Bible-believing Christians in the 19th century South, some of whom had slaves. I tell you what Mr. 21st Century American Evangelical, I had rather stand as a Southern slave-holder before the Judgement Seat of Christ than as one of the useless contemporary Christians who watched their country sink into perdition, impotent to do anything about it, and yet point the blue finger of censoriousness towards our grandparent’s grandparents.” – R M Shivers
 Matthew Davis answered;

We are not in a position for full frontal assault type warfare. Guerilla tactics are needed. Infiltrators and spies within are needed to chip away at the foundations that have been built by the enemy. Philiip has it right in his comment.

My “wise beyond her years daughter” Laurajane Steinhauser answered;

There is more than one position in warfare. We must never deny Christ and if Roger ever was outed for kinism I believe that would count as standing by his Christian principles.

That said it takes charging Generals with their bayonets out as well as spies who exist undercover to help win wars. Imo this is a heart matter. Are you keeping your cover because you love more the blessings then he who blessed you or are you keeping your cover because you can in your position do more for King Christ being in the role that is more Machiavellian in nature.

Only he can answer that truthfully.

Cody Justice answered;

If he is affluent, he should become a financier for those who are already fighting. There will be no counter revolution apart from a full purse.

If he is not affluent but knows others who are, he should direct them accordingly. Finances are crucial to secure anti-fragility.

(Here Bret inserts commentary)

Roger, there are a number of organizations that you can support in this contest. Before I recommend a few of those I would say that if you are part of a Church that is WOKE/Politically Correct you need to quit supporting that Church with your tithes and offerings because the modern visible Church is either warring against the Church invisible and the Lord Christ or they are Absent Without Leave. Very few Churches right now are engaged in this conflict. There is no sense if funding the enemy.

There are a few organizations I might recommend. First, I would recommend the Pactum Institute as headed by Dr. Adi Schlebusch. This the 21st century version of the Chalcedon Institute. (Full disclosure — I am one of the research fellows with the Pactum Institute.)

Another organization in this war that fights on a slightly different front is the Michigan Firearms Organization. These chaps are fighting for the retention of our 2nd Amendment rights. (Full disclosure — I have close personal contacts who are involved in this organization.)

Another organization is Charlotte Christ the King Reformed Church where I serve as Pastor. Like all Churches we end up having more month than money at the end of every month.

Finally, there is Iron Ink, where we always find God faithful in a host of ways including via the gifts of His people to the needs here.

If you want to find out how to support any of these organizations just let me know.

 Conrad Long answered;
I appreciate the commenters remembering our Father Daniel, and willingness to lose everything in Christ’s service and gain eternity as Daniel served in the courts of Nebuchadnezzar and later Belshezzar.

However, I think we would do well to remember Obadiah as well, who secretly served in Ahab’s administration and by his secret work saved the lives of many prophets, including Elijah if I recall correctly.

I think a critical aspect which is often neglected is that God wants us to be tactical. You must be ready to be self-sacrificing in a banzai charge if that is what is called for, but you must also be ready to be self-sacrificing by continuing to hold your position and do other important work, recon, admin, logistics, etc. Even if people call you a POG and say you’re not in the fight.

This sort of thing requires a great deal of wisdom and specific context. What is the outlook for each of your potential courses of action? Do a Christ-centered cost-benefit analysis.

 Dan Brannan answered;
The old question, “What’s a man to do?” is answered, “Everything he can, as opportunity allows.”

If he holds high position in DC, he has opportunity to influence policy-makers and policy. He is also uniquely positioned to be a whistleblower or embedded journo, arguing our position concerning inside baseball on the Hill.

But he has to accept that fighting is not optional, and everything can be taken from him.

Lester Holden answered;

___

Bret closes;

These are my friends Roger. Many of them bear the scars from this fight. Many of them have been put on National Lists by Bagel organizations, many have been harassed by the FEDS, many have experienced the attempt of cancel culture.  Many have been threatened with their livelihoods. Others I know not named here have even been imprisoned. I pray that the Lord Christ will give you wisdom in how to approach all of this honorably and as a disciple of our Liege Lord Jesus Christ.