There you go again

I remember the presidential debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Carter was just making a rambling speech to answer a question when soon-to-be President Reagan just shook his head and replied, “Well, there you go again.”

I have the same reaction when reading that Dr. Bruce Prescott making wild accusations against Judge Paul Pressler. He makes assumptions that must be considered amazing. He claims a connection between SBC leadership and Christian Reconstructionism. He uses a clip from a Bill Moyers documentary and an interview with between Gary North and Judge Pressler. Here they go again. At least you think they could be more creative in their attack then trying to connect dots that just aren’t there. However, I digress. I pulled down my copy of the book, A Hill On Which to Die, and I will let Judge Pressler defend himself.

One of the more ridiculous charges that has been brought against me is that I support reconstructionism and dominion theology. Anyone who accuses me of this is willfully ignorant. I have often attempted to set the record straight, but the Baptist media have not reported my statements, and people making the charges seem determined to keep themselves ignorant of the facts. I know very little about this type of theology, but from what I’m able to piece together, dominion theology expects to bring in the kingdom of God on earth through peoples’ actions- political or otherwise. Theologians would classify this as a postmillenial position- that Christ will come again after mankind has brought in the millenium era on earth.

That is not my position. I believe the Scripture teaches that the world will get worse and worse and then Christ will physically return to earth and set up His kingdom. (This is a premillenial position.) The two positions are completely opposite. The postmillenial position says people will do it. The premillennial position says people will fail.

The only way I can possibly suggest that this foolishness began is that I allowed Dr. Gary North, a reconstructionist who holds to dominion theology, to interview me, and his interview was well-circulated. I have always allowed anyone to interview me if it is convenient. Being interviewed by someone does not mean that I agree with that person’s position. If it did, I would never have consented to the interviews I gave Bill Moyers, Fisher Humphries, Dan Martin, Toby Druin, Greg Warner, Gus Niebuhr, Bob Allen, and others.

The bankruptcy of the liberal position is shown by the liberals making such a ridiculous charge. I am not, never have been, and never will be one who holds to reconstruction or dominion theology. It is entirely contrary to my understanding of what the Bible teaches about the nature of man and the future of the world.” — pages 268-269.

Let’s not forget as Judge Pressler points out in the book, after the interview, Bill Moyers edited the clip and changed the questions he asked Judge Pressler. After reading this Dr. Prescott, all I can do is shake my head and remember Ronald Reagan’s comment:

“Well, there you go again.”