Elevar los niveles de producción, productividad y competitividad del sector forestal

15. Systematics and Lordship

The goal of systematics is to declare that God

The goal of systematics is to declare that God is the Lord: He is King over is the Lord: He is King over all creation.all creation. ““TheThe LORD is King for ever and ever 

LORD is King for ever and ever ”” (Ps. 10:16). (Ps. 10:16). ““Yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever Yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever ”” (Ps. 29:10); (Ps. 29:10); ““he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations underhe is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved

our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved”” (Ps. (Ps. 47:2-4). A faithful systematics declares,

47:2-4). A faithful systematics declares, ““Great is the LORD, and Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and hisgreatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth greatness is unsearchable Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations

throughout all generations”” (Ps. 145:3,13).(Ps. 145:3,13). With this in mind, let us glance briefly at the

With this in mind, let us glance briefly at the life of a churchman and life of a churchman and politician, a man verypolitician, a man very clearly superior to most churchmen and politicians. He

clearly superior to most churchmen and politicians. He is a tither and a loyal, is a tither and a loyal, hard-workinghard-working church member. He is also a

church member. He is also a Mason, and his memoirs of life on Capitol Hill indMason, and his memoirs of life on Capitol Hill indicate no mandateicate no mandate to apply Biblical TO requirements to law, politics, and

to apply Biblical TO requirements to law, politics, and much else in every manmuch else in every man’’s working life.s working life.3838 He can relate President L. B. Johnson

He can relate President L. B. Johnson’’s stories about flagrantly illegal voting with the sames stories about flagrantly illegal voting with the same relish as Johnson, and with no

relish as Johnson, and with no sense of the obscene travesties on the sense of the obscene travesties on the life of the republic.life of the republic. Moreover, he can cite the words of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, a blend of Deism and Moreover, he can cite the words of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, a blend of Deism and modern humanism, and Churchill

modern humanism, and Churchill’’s faith in man, with no apparent sense of their radicals faith in man, with no apparent sense of their radical contradiction to Biblical faith.

contradiction to Biblical faith.3939 In all of this, however, he  In all of this, however, he is like millions of other churchmenis like millions of other churchmen who feel that a very

who feel that a very ““simplesimple”” faith is satisfying to God. Of course, the clergy a faith is satisfying to God. Of course, the clergy a re even worse.re even worse. Christian scholars and clergymen, who should know better, have often objected to me,

Christian scholars and clergymen, who should know better, have often objected to me, ““WhatWhat’’ss wrong with humanism?

wrong with humanism?”” Many pride themselves on anti-systematic and smorgasbord app Many pride themselves on anti-systematic and smorgasbord app roachesroaches to religion. None of this is possible where God

to religion. None of this is possible where God is indeed God, where His lordship is conis indeed God, where His lordship is confessedfessed and applied to the totality of our lives.

and applied to the totality of our lives. The goal of any religion, faith, o

The goal of any religion, faith, or philosophy is a universal one. If it be r philosophy is a universal one. If it be true, it must be true fortrue, it must be true for all times and places. Even hedonistic, relativistic humanism calls for the same universalism. all times and places. Even hedonistic, relativistic humanism calls for the same universalism. Williams, who affirms

Williams, who affirms ““the truth of hedonistic individual relativism,the truth of hedonistic individual relativism,””4040 holds, holds, ““If maximumIf maximum individual long range satisfaction makes duty for decent peo

individual long range satisfaction makes duty for decent peo ple, it does so for rascals also. Itple, it does so for rascals also. It does so for all conscious organisms. The principle is univ

does so for all conscious organisms. The principle is univ ersal.ersal.””4141 The humanists, who have the The humanists, who have the sorriest

sorriest ““groundsgrounds”” for asserting a universal faith, are all the  for asserting a universal faith, are all the same succeeding because of same succeeding because of theirtheir consistency of faith, their insistence on their universality of principle.

consistency of faith, their insistence on their universality of principle. Churchmen are meanwhile faltering and failing because

Churchmen are meanwhile faltering and failing because of their lack of any of their lack of any universaluniversal application. By their affirmation of the triune God, the

application. By their affirmation of the triune God, the churchmen should, more than churchmen should, more than anyoneanyone else, insist on the catholicity and universality of C

else, insist on the catholicity and universality of C hristian faith and Biblical law. Very early,hristian faith and Biblical law. Very early, 38

38

 William

 William ““FishbaitFishbait”” Miller, with Frances Spatz Leighton: Miller, with Frances Spatz Leighton: Fishbait  Fishbait :: The Memoirs of a The Memoirs of a Congressional Doorkeeper.

Congressional Doorkeeper. (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1977). pp. 25, 251(Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1977). pp. 25, 251 ,, 411,414f., etc. 411,414f., etc. 39 39  Ibid.  Ibid.,, pp. 387f., 397. pp. 387f., 397. 40 40  Gardner Williams:

 Gardner Williams: Humanistic Ethics. Humanistic Ethics. (New York, N.Y.: Philosophical Library, 1951). p. 41.(New York, N.Y.: Philosophical Library, 1951). p. 41. 41

41  Ibid.

however, it was precisely this factor which was aban

however, it was precisely this factor which was aban doned. Pierre Boyle (1647-1706), first adoned. Pierre Boyle (1647-1706), first a Protestant and then a Catholic, b

Protestant and then a Catholic, but in essence a Cartesian, actually held that ut in essence a Cartesian, actually held that there is no necessarythere is no necessary connection between religion and

connection between religion and morality, a belief that brought him, in his dmorality, a belief that brought him, in his day, much hostility.ay, much hostility.  Now, more are ready to believe that atheists are not moved to a new ethical premise by their  Now, more are ready to believe that atheists are not moved to a new ethical premise by their

unbelief. Churchmen too often reject the idea of necessary connections between ideas and action, unbelief. Churchmen too often reject the idea of necessary connections between ideas and action, faith and life, and principles and things.

faith and life, and principles and things. To reject or underrate such a

To reject or underrate such a necessary connection is to deny Godnecessary connection is to deny God, implicitly or explicitly, and to, implicitly or explicitly, and to affirm a universe of chance connections.

affirm a universe of chance connections. In a Darwinian world, of course, it In a Darwinian world, of course, it follows thatfollows that connections are either products of chan

connections are either products of chance or are man-made. If man-made, ce or are man-made. If man-made, then systematics isthen systematics is anthropology. No divine decree is then permitted, because God then becomes the inescapable anthropology. No divine decree is then permitted, because God then becomes the inescapable Lord and God, not man.

Lord and God, not man. The whole point of David

The whole point of David’’s psalms (as of all Scripture) is that God as Creator, Preserver, ands psalms (as of all Scripture) is that God as Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer, is the necessary connection between all things. David can therefore declare, Redeemer, is the necessary connection between all things. David can therefore declare, ““TheThe eyes of all wait upon thee: an

eyes of all wait upon thee: and thou givest them their meat in d thou givest them their meat in due seasondue season”” (Ps. 145:15). Our Lord (Ps. 145:15). Our Lord declares that God the Lord is the governing and necessary connection in the life and death of a declares that God the Lord is the governing and necessary connection in the life and death of a sparrow, and in man

sparrow, and in man’’s life as well, to the vers life as well, to the very number of hairs on his head y number of hairs on his head (Matt. 10:29-31).(Matt. 10:29-31). Baumer, in discussing the rise of political absolutionism in the modern

Baumer, in discussing the rise of political absolutionism in the modern age, rightly seesage, rightly sees absolutism as

absolutism as ““closely identified with the idea of sovereignty.closely identified with the idea of sovereignty.””4242 When sovereignty was When sovereignty was transferred from God to the political order, absolute power be

transferred from God to the political order, absolute power be gan to accrue also to gan to accrue also to the state. Wethe state. We can add further that universality or catholicity was a

can add further that universality or catholicity was a lso necessarily transferred to the state as anlso necessarily transferred to the state as an aspect of sovereignty. Not surprisingly, this has led to de

aspect of sovereignty. Not surprisingly, this has led to de mands for a one-world state. The feeblermands for a one-world state. The feebler concept of the medieval church, catholic and mildly absolutist, has given way to modern

concept of the medieval church, catholic and mildly absolutist, has given way to modern totalitarianism. Marxism, Fascism, and the democracies each dream of

totalitarianism. Marxism, Fascism, and the democracies each dream of a world state, catholic ora world state, catholic or universal, sovereign, and absolute. This is the

universal, sovereign, and absolute. This is the ancient dream of Babylon the ancient dream of Babylon the Great, of Babel. ItGreat, of Babel. It will not be answered or dissolved by piecemeal and non-principled opposition.

will not be answered or dissolved by piecemeal and non-principled opposition. Against the systematics of the humanistic world order, we must declare th

Against the systematics of the humanistic world order, we must declare th e systematics of ae systematics of a theology faithful to the triune God and

theology faithful to the triune God and His infallible, inerrant word. The systematics ofHis infallible, inerrant word. The systematics of humanism is in self-contradiction: it is false, destructive of itself and man, and vapid.

humanism is in self-contradiction: it is false, destructive of itself and man, and vapid. But ifBut if churchmen have no systematics, they cannot counter the reigning evil: they have disarmed churchmen have no systematics, they cannot counter the reigning evil: they have disarmed themselves.

themselves.

When Paul wrote,

When Paul wrote, ““ Necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! Necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”” (I (I Cor. 9:16), he meant indeed that his calling from God was an urgent and mandatory one, but he Cor. 9:16), he meant indeed that his calling from God was an urgent and mandatory one, but he meant far more.

meant far more. Necessity Necessity ((anankeananke,, that which must or needs be) mthat which must or needs be) means the total necessity ofeans the total necessity of God

God’’s word and His government. It is inclusive of s word and His government. It is inclusive of all reason, determination, and meaning. all reason, determination, and meaning. TheThe totality of God

totality of God’’s decree, providence, and calling placed as decree, providence, and calling placed a necessitynecessity upon Paul. Theupon Paul. The necessitynecessity isis theistic, cosmic, and personal. Today, the

theistic, cosmic, and personal. Today, the determination in necessity is essentially and oftendetermination in necessity is essentially and often exclusively personal. A thing is

exclusively personal. A thing is necessarynecessary because we deem it so. Systematic theology must because we deem it so. Systematic theology must affirm that the Lord God is the necessary cause,

affirm that the Lord God is the necessary cause, connection, will, power, and action connection, will, power, and action in all things.in all things. 42

42

 Franklin L. Baumer:

 Franklin L. Baumer: Modern European Thought  Modern European Thought :: Continuity and Change in Ideas Continuity and Change in Ideas,, 1600- 1950. 1600- 1950. (New York, N.Y.: Macmillan, 1977). p. 98.

Anything short of that is not theology but

Anything short of that is not theology but anthropology. Anything short of that anthropology. Anything short of that must abandon themust abandon the  psalmist to sing praises to man; the power and necessity are then ascribed to man. But David  psalmist to sing praises to man; the power and necessity are then ascribed to man. But David

declares, declares,

Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sin

Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sin g praises. Forg praises. For God is the King of all the

God is the King of all the earth; sing ye praises with understanding (Ps. 47:6-7).earth; sing ye praises with understanding (Ps. 47:6-7). This is the task of systematic theology: to sing praises to Go