In this episode of the The Chalcedon Podcast, Andrea Schwartz and Martin Selbrede explore the biblical and cultural meaning of the Sabbath, drawing from the work of R. J. Rushdoony in Salvation and Godly Rule. They argue that modern society has abandoned the biblical view of time—linear, purposeful, and punctuated by Sabbath rest—and replaced it with “deep time,” an undifferentiated stream without meaning or goal. In Scripture, Sabbath is not just a day off but a divine ordinance tied to creation, dominion, and eschatology. It divides time into meaningful segments, giving both individuals and communities a rhythm of work and rest that reflects God’s sovereignty over time and history. A defective doctrine of Sabbath leads to a defective view of work, resulting in either slavish overwork or escapist idleness.

The conversation also connects Sabbath to broader cultural and technological issues. Historically, secular regimes (e.g., French Revolution) sought to dissolve biblical time by changing calendars and disrupting communal rest. Similarly, modern 24/7 work culture and technological obsession detach people from godly rhythms. Instead of retreating from technology, Christians should view it as a tool of dominion under God’s law, not as an idol or tyrant. The Sabbath reminds believers to trust in God’s provision, celebrate their labors, and prepare for future work. This future-oriented rest undergirds Christian hope and victory, culminating in the ultimate, eternal Sabbath. The episode ends by calling Christians to recover a full “sociology of the Sabbath” — reconnecting work, rest, dominion, and eschatology — as a foundation for cultural reformation.

On September 14, 2025, Andrea Schwartz welcomes Mark Rushdoony and Martin Selbrede for Episode 59 of the Chalcedon Podcast to announce Mark’s forthcoming, heavily documented biography of his father, R. J. Rushdoony—now at the printer and expected in Vallecito in October. Expanded from Mark’s 2015–16 “brief biography” essays, the book draws deeply on journals, letters, and personal papers to provide a reliable touchstone amid myths and internet rumors. It traces Rushdoony’s roots through Armenia—the first Christian nation—and shows how Armenian history (including Urartu’s check on Assyria) and a family line of ministry shaped his kingdom-centered vision. Mark also addresses painful family chapters candidly, not to sensationalize, but to set the record straight and explain the man’s enduring joy, resilience, and refusal to be embittered.

Selbrede underscores why biography matters: truth is lived by whole persons, not abstractions, and Christians must know the “rock from which we were hewn.” The episode highlights Rushdoony’s practical impact—courtroom testimony, congressional hearings, and pivotal roles in defending Christian education and homeschooling (e.g., Texas cases)—and explains why younger audiences are experiencing a “flight to quality” in his uncompromising application of Scripture to all of life. Listeners are encouraged to read the biography both to understand Rushdoony’s legacy and to “stand on shoulders,” carrying forward faithful scholarship and action in church, family, and society.

Episode 58 of the Chalcedon Podcast explores the biblical concept of wealth, contrasting it with modern misconceptions shaped by materialism and state power. The discussion, led by Andrea Schwartz with Mark Rushdoony and Martin Selbrede, highlights that in Scripture, wealth is not merely monetary but encompasses strength, family, responsibility, and covenantal blessing. They stress that wealth itself is not evil, but its use determines whether it becomes a blessing or a curse. Misused wealth can lead to destruction, while biblical stewardship channels resources toward God’s kingdom purposes.

A major theme centers on how the modern state manipulates wealth redistribution, fostering envy and dependence in order to expand its power. Instead of recognizing God as the true source and governor of wealth, society often demonizes the wealthy, exalts leisure over work, and erodes the family as the foundational institution of economic and cultural life. The podcast argues that biblical provisions for work, family strength, and faithful tithing create true wealth, while inflation, taxation, and eminent domain strip people of their God-given inheritance. This rootlessness feeds a culture of debt, consumption, and idol-making, whether through money, technology, or leisure.

The conversation concludes that genuine wealth must be covenantal, grounded in obedience to God and exercised in service to His kingdom. Families, children, and even wives are presented as true assets in Scripture, contrary to humanistic views that reduce them to liabilities. Work is affirmed as a divine calling, not something to escape, and the Sabbath as a safeguard against idolatry of labor. Ultimately, the Chalcedon message insists that only by recovering spiritual capital—recognizing God’s law as the foundation of economics and culture—can society rebuild lasting wealth that resists decay and advances Christ’s reign in every sphere.

Join us as we examine the foundations, core principles, criticisms, and impact of Chalcedon over the past 60 years. Has anything changed? Do we need a new vision? Christian Reconstruction may be more relevant than ever.

Since R. J. Rushdoony founded the Chalcedon Foundation in 1965, the times have changed, but that has not altered the mission and message of Christian Reconstruction. In fact, the need for it is greater than ever.

Modern culture is unraveling—law divorced from morality, education detached from truth, and entertainment replacing virtue with vice. As society embraces death and decadence, Christians are called to resist the collapse by rebuilding from the ground up: strong families, faithful churches, and education rooted in God’s Word and moral accountability.

What is the true meaning of the church, its leadership, and the function of the ecclesia in the world? Join us as we discuss the big picture of the Kingdom of God and how the church, as the people of God, fulfill God’s great mission.

The Word of God has much to say about land and property and their connection to liberty. The Bible has so much to say about land that Rushdoony included an entire section about the theology of the land in his two-volume Systematic Theology.