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The Confessional County: Realizing the Kingdom through Local Christendom
Military strategist presents a biblical way to get out from God's judgment and proactively build the second Christendom at the county level. Here is a new case for the old practice of social confessionalism and deliberate Christian settlements.
Conservative Christians are beginning to admit we lost the culture war. Once a nation digresses from committing public sin to shamelessly celebrating it, God has given our culture over to a collective depraved mind. Strategic withdrawal, once considered alarmist and separatist, is now on the table.
For the future of our families and Christian faith in America, many believe it is time to form our own communities. But Simmons recommends a different approach. Rather than communities, he presents a plan to build small civilization--"Local Christendom." To do this, Simmons presents the lost doctrine of social confessionalism. He pulls from the biblical examples as well as the Scottish Covenanters, the Huguenots, and the early American settlements. All-of-society, through representative heads, confesses and covenants to the reigning King Jesus.
The Confessional Country suggests some Christians move to rural counties to establish Local Christendom. According to the US Census Bureau, 97 percent of the country's land mass is rural and yet only 19 percent live there. This presents a strategic opportunity for an oblique attack. God recognizes smaller societies as distinct and can bless them if they confess Christ comprehensively , even if while under a cursed nation. The confessional county is well suited to make the "nations" jealous and realize the Kingdom in other counties, our state, and nation.
Conservative Christians are beginning to admit we lost the culture war. Once a nation digresses from committing public sin to shamelessly celebrating it, God has given our culture over to a collective depraved mind. Strategic withdrawal, once considered alarmist and separatist, is now on the table.
For the future of our families and Christian faith in America, many believe it is time to form our own communities. But Simmons recommends a different approach. Rather than communities, he presents a plan to build small civilization--"Local Christendom." To do this, Simmons presents the lost doctrine of social confessionalism. He pulls from the biblical examples as well as the Scottish Covenanters, the Huguenots, and the early American settlements. All-of-society, through representative heads, confesses and covenants to the reigning King Jesus.
The Confessional Country suggests some Christians move to rural counties to establish Local Christendom. According to the US Census Bureau, 97 percent of the country's land mass is rural and yet only 19 percent live there. This presents a strategic opportunity for an oblique attack. God recognizes smaller societies as distinct and can bless them if they confess Christ comprehensively , even if while under a cursed nation. The confessional county is well suited to make the "nations" jealous and realize the Kingdom in other counties, our state, and nation.
254 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2021
14 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Raymond L. Simmons
1 book3 followersLt. Col. (Ret.) Raymond Simmons graduated from Texas Tech University before becoming a pilot in the Air Force. As a staff officer, he led the planning for USSTRATCOM’s Strategic Deterrence Campaign Plan. He also served as international relations advisor to Admiral Haney.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 26, 2022
Fantastic book! Simmons expounds upon the fact that the culture war as we know it has been lost. How do we get it back? Simmons puts forth that we do not. Though still supportive for those who want to reform, he believes the most effective way to start is building. From this mindset, he puts forth a strategic plan for moving to a county that meets certain criteria with the goal in mind to make it a Christian county.
Simmons argues that a Christian county is the means in which we will get out from under the land curses God has put on America. He points to COVID-19, celebration of sodomy, murdering of the unborn, and child sex changes to prove the point that America is under a land curse. Simmons goes on to say that once societal confession has happened and only when that happens, can a county get out from the land curse that is on America today.
This book opened my eyes to the what the Huguenots, pilgrims, and Scottish Covenanters did and how this was the norm for centuries. It’s time that Christians built!
Simmons argues that a Christian county is the means in which we will get out from under the land curses God has put on America. He points to COVID-19, celebration of sodomy, murdering of the unborn, and child sex changes to prove the point that America is under a land curse. Simmons goes on to say that once societal confession has happened and only when that happens, can a county get out from the land curse that is on America today.
This book opened my eyes to the what the Huguenots, pilgrims, and Scottish Covenanters did and how this was the norm for centuries. It’s time that Christians built!
September 18, 2023
Let’s go with 4.5 stars. Really interesting premise. A book well worth reading and quite enjoyable as well. If you like Phillip Kayser, Rushdoony, Joe Boot and Reconstructionists in general, you will love seeing their theology applied here. I have questions with some of his exegesis but this book is practical and an important read nonetheless.
March 4, 2022
Excellent! One thing that is lacking, and it is something we recons really need to sort out, is the legitimacy or not (“not” in my view) of the Lockean form of government that we have from the federal to state and county levels. Centralized bureaucracy (along with executive and legislative branches) is simply not the prescription for the “civil magistrate,” and while we fight, their illegitimacy must be made know and abolished altogether.
For example, while attempting social confession and covenanting together, and asking God to purge the idolatry from the land, wouldn’t centralizationism (my word?) be an idolatry that must be purged as well?
This is an excellent book, but I do believe that the Next Reformation is going to be the development of a *precise* job description for the local magistracy (what I call the theocratic judiciary).
For example, while attempting social confession and covenanting together, and asking God to purge the idolatry from the land, wouldn’t centralizationism (my word?) be an idolatry that must be purged as well?
This is an excellent book, but I do believe that the Next Reformation is going to be the development of a *precise* job description for the local magistracy (what I call the theocratic judiciary).
November 10, 2022
Fantastic! The formatting problems cut off some of my favorite chapters.
October 1, 2024
Good content on the necessity of confessional counties and strategies to begin. Land curses are very real, the only way to avoid them is corporate repentance and confession of Christ as Lord and King.
May 29, 2022
Crazy. Some good crazy and some crazy crazy, but, in the words of Seal, “We’re never going to survive, unless we get a little crazy.”
November 8, 2022
Mr. Simmons brings his background as a military strategist to the Christian nationalism movement. His basic idea is to utilize a flanking movement through establishing Christian enclaves throughout the United States. This is to be done by motivating Christians to move to geographical locations where they can be a positive influence in a community. His emphasis is on smaller, rural counties although he recognizes Christians need to be present in larger cities. He is urging the church to go on the offense instead of just being reactive and defensive as the church has been for the last century and a half.
The author’s premise is that the land is under a curse because of societal sins and that until the curse is lifted, God will not bless the land or the people. However, God sees not only nations but geographical subsets. He cites Ezra and Nehemiah as an example of a smaller area being blessed although being part of a larger area ruled by the ungodly. He is appealing to the use of lesser magistrates. The curse can be removed by confessing the sins of the area; three entities need to be represented: the state, the church, and the family. Thus, local political leaders, pastors and heads of families need to be involved in the confession. Once those sins are confessed, God will lift the curse, and the area will prosper.
Simmons gives lots of practical advice in the book and in the appendices. He lists some basic themes or issues such a movement needs to consider and provides Biblical rationale for them. He gives some basic criteria for what counties should be considered and what can be done there as well as a broad timeline, almost generational. He also provides a sample confession partly based on the Scottish Solemn League and Covenant.
The book is interesting in that it shows some deep thinking and planning has gone into developing the strategy. He alludes to some areas but does not identify them where some of this is already taking place. I believe the book offers some hope for success for those wishing to implement the strategy.
The author’s premise is that the land is under a curse because of societal sins and that until the curse is lifted, God will not bless the land or the people. However, God sees not only nations but geographical subsets. He cites Ezra and Nehemiah as an example of a smaller area being blessed although being part of a larger area ruled by the ungodly. He is appealing to the use of lesser magistrates. The curse can be removed by confessing the sins of the area; three entities need to be represented: the state, the church, and the family. Thus, local political leaders, pastors and heads of families need to be involved in the confession. Once those sins are confessed, God will lift the curse, and the area will prosper.
Simmons gives lots of practical advice in the book and in the appendices. He lists some basic themes or issues such a movement needs to consider and provides Biblical rationale for them. He gives some basic criteria for what counties should be considered and what can be done there as well as a broad timeline, almost generational. He also provides a sample confession partly based on the Scottish Solemn League and Covenant.
The book is interesting in that it shows some deep thinking and planning has gone into developing the strategy. He alludes to some areas but does not identify them where some of this is already taking place. I believe the book offers some hope for success for those wishing to implement the strategy.
July 14, 2024
Fantastic book! Simmons expounds upon the fact that the culture war as we know it has been lost. How do we get it back? Simmons puts forth that we do not. Though still supportive for those who want to reform, he believes the most effective way to start is building.
From this mindset, he puts forth a strategic plan for moving to a county that meets certain criteria with the goal in mind to make it a Christian county.
Simmons argues that a Christian county is the means in which we will get out from under the land curses God has put on America. He points to COVID-19, celebration of sodomy, murdering of the unborn, and child sex changes to prove the point that America is under a land curse. Simmons goes on to say that once societal confession has happened and only when that happens, can a county get out from the land curse that is on America today.
This book opened my eyes to the what the Huguenots, pilgrims, and Scottish Covenanters did and how this was the norm for centuries. It's time that Christians built!
From this mindset, he puts forth a strategic plan for moving to a county that meets certain criteria with the goal in mind to make it a Christian county.
Simmons argues that a Christian county is the means in which we will get out from under the land curses God has put on America. He points to COVID-19, celebration of sodomy, murdering of the unborn, and child sex changes to prove the point that America is under a land curse. Simmons goes on to say that once societal confession has happened and only when that happens, can a county get out from the land curse that is on America today.
This book opened my eyes to the what the Huguenots, pilgrims, and Scottish Covenanters did and how this was the norm for centuries. It's time that Christians built!
May 18, 2022
Good strategy guide for what needs to happen. Needs to be required reading for every Theonomist and Post-Millenialist! Gets a bit redundant at times but still a very good read.
July 23, 2022
As is the case with these heavy post-mil books, I can’t stamp my approval on everything. As also is the case with them, I gleaned a lot.
August 17, 2022
Postmil to the bone. Love it.
April 18, 2024
This is a great book, and it is very helpful for thinking through my approach to parish life.
November 20, 2025
Act local.
June 29, 2025
After listening to the author expound on a podcast his vision for counties to formally and publicly covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ, I started reading this book a couple years ago and I finally finished it. It’s very thought provoking and I’m not done processing the ideas, especially his thoughts on land curses.
November 15, 2022
Radical Implications of Eschatology
Oftentimes the statement is made, I myself have heard it, that your view of the end times does not matter. “I’m panmillennial, it’ll all pan out in the end,” is often stated with a chuckle. Here Raymond Simmons shows us that if we truly believe in postmillennial theonomy, then we should consider reviving some of the old ways of bringing that to bear in society rather than viewing it as a far-off fanciful dream. Geography and earthiness are important elements to the Christian religion and he brings that out with the land curses and blessings as well as how we can use them to glorify God and build something that honors Him in all the spheres of life. Some of the negative elements of this book involve potentially shifting away from the mantra of regeneration, not revolution that even red-hot reconstructionists like Rushdoony advocate for. If the land curses are applied to non-theonomic societies in spite of the health of the churches they contain, then the Church has been under land curses for most of its existence.
Oftentimes the statement is made, I myself have heard it, that your view of the end times does not matter. “I’m panmillennial, it’ll all pan out in the end,” is often stated with a chuckle. Here Raymond Simmons shows us that if we truly believe in postmillennial theonomy, then we should consider reviving some of the old ways of bringing that to bear in society rather than viewing it as a far-off fanciful dream. Geography and earthiness are important elements to the Christian religion and he brings that out with the land curses and blessings as well as how we can use them to glorify God and build something that honors Him in all the spheres of life. Some of the negative elements of this book involve potentially shifting away from the mantra of regeneration, not revolution that even red-hot reconstructionists like Rushdoony advocate for. If the land curses are applied to non-theonomic societies in spite of the health of the churches they contain, then the Church has been under land curses for most of its existence.
May 8, 2023
Important read
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews