Recovering the First Reformation - Toward a Proto-Protestant Narrative of Church History (XIV)
Once again we are reminded of the strange relationship
between separatist Christianity and the forces of secularisation and how the
pluralism generated by the latter leads to a more congenial environment for the
Church than the monistic sacralism of the Constantinian paradigm. Indeed in
addition to the folk of the First Reformation, even the early beleaguered Magisterial
Protestants understood that an environment of pagan or even secular opposition
is preferable than persecution at the hands of a hostile Christendom. Better a Turk than a Habsburg is a lost
sentiment but in light of today's Dominionism and its aspirations it's one we
would do well to reconsider. While I don't think the Dominionists are going to
'win' today's struggle they are nevertheless scoring 'victories' and if they
should win and attain the cultural supremacy they so badly want – the old
phrase will once more have relevance even though the context is very different.
They won't hesitate to use the power of the state to silence Christians who
oppose them and use the Bible to expose their error.