Editing Theonomy (section)

==Goals==
Various theonomic authors have stated such goals as "the universal development of Biblical theocratic republics,"<ref name= "chilton">{{cite book |last=Chilton |first=David |author-link= David Chilton |title=Paradise Restored: A Biblical Theology of Dominion |publisher= Dominion Press |date=1984 |isbn=0-930462-52-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6_NmAAAACAAJ |access-date= March 26, 2021 }}</ref>{{rp|223–335}} exclusion of non-Christians from voting and citizenship,<ref name= "north">{{cite book |last=North |first= Gary |author-link=Gary North (economist) |title=Political Polytheism |publisher= Institute for Christian Economics |date= 1989 |isbn=0-930464-32-X |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ApfYAAAAMAAJ |access-date= March 26, 2021}}</ref>{{rp |87}} and the application of Biblical law by the state.<ref name="bahnsen">{{cite book |last= Bahnsen |first= Greg |author-link= Greg Bahnsen |title=By This Standard: The Authority Of God's Law Today |publisher= Institute for Christian Economics |date= 1985 |isbn= 0-930464-06-0 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=jIbnzAEACAAJ |access-date= March 26, 2021}}</ref>{{rp |346–47}} Under such a system of biblical law, homosexual acts,<ref name= "demar">{{cite book |last= DeMar |first=Gary |author-link=Gary DeMar |title= Ruler of the Nations |publisher= Dominion Press |date=1987 |isbn=978-0-93046219-2 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=EDC9AAAACAAJ |access-date=March 26, 2021}}</ref>{{rp |212}} adultery, witchcraft, and blasphemy<ref name="north2">{{cite book |last= North |first= Gary |author-link= Gary North (economist) |title=Unconditional Surrender: God's Program for Victory |publisher= Institute for Christian Economics |date=1988 |isbn= 0-930464-12-5}}</ref>{{rp |118}} would be punishable by death. Propagation of idolatry or "false religions" would be illegal<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/pe179.htm |title=An Interview with Greg L. Bahnsen |access-date= 2007-12-12 |archive-date= 2020-05-14 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200514210715/http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/pe179.htm |url-status= dead }}</ref> and could also be punished by the death penalty.<ref>Rushdoony, R.J., 1973, ''[[The Institutes of Biblical Law]]'', Nutley, NJ: Craig Press, pp. 38–39.</ref><ref>Schwertley, Brian M., [http://www.reformedonline.com/uploads/1/5/0/3/15030584/webpolitical_polytheism.pdf "Political Polytheism"] {{Webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130515165305/http://www.reformedonline.com/uploads/1/5/0/3/15030584/webpolitical_polytheism.pdf |date=2013-05-15}}</ref> 

More recent theonomic writers such as Joel McDurmon, former President of [[American Vision]], have moved away from this position, stating that these death penalties are no longer binding in the new covenant.<ref>Joel McDurmon, ''The Bounds of Love'' (2016).</ref> Former pastor and theonomy critic, JD Hall, who debated McDurmon in 2015,<ref>The Theonomy Debate | Joel McDurmon vs. Jordan Hall</ref> has argued that abandoning Mosaic penologies such as the death penalty means that McDurmon and others who hold similar positions cannot be said to hold to theonomy in any meaningful way.<ref>Hall, J.D., [https://pulpitandpen.org/2016/10/21/on-joel-mcdurmons-abandonment-of-theonomy/ "On Joel McDurmon’s Abandonment of Theonomy"]</ref>

According to the theonomist [[Greg Bahnsen]], the laws of God are the standard which Christian voters and officials ought to pursue.  The civil law given to the nation of Israel, it is stated, is continuously binding, although apart from what he considers to be surrounding cultural connotations specific to this nation itself.{{r|bahnsen|}}