Encyclopedia of American Loons

Phillip Kayser, who leads the Dominion Covenant Church in Omaha and is associated with something called Biblical Blueprints, is an alleged libertarian and Ron Paul supporter. He is also a theocrat who wants to impose Biblical death penalties on gay people and adulterers. Strange how Ron Paul tended to attract these people (not really; see below); Paul’s 2012 campaign said they “welcome Rev. Kayser’s endorsement and the enlightening statements he makes on how Ron Paul’s approach to government is consistent with Christian beliefs.”

In laying out his vision for society, Kayser emphasizes that “Whereas Hebrews 2:2 gives a blanket endorsement of all Old Testament penology as justice, the rest of the New Testament gives specifics. It teaches that homosexuals who come out of the closet are ‘worthy of death’ (Rom. 1:32). It teaches that juvenile delinquents who abuse their parents can in certain circumstances ‘be put to death’ (Mt. 15:3-9) and that rejection of this provision was to ‘transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition’.” He assures us, however, that justice would be dispersed fairly and equitably in his ideal society: “The civil government could not round them up. Only those who were prosecuted by citizens could be punished, and the punishment could take a number of forms, including death. This would have a tendency of driving homosexuals back into their closets.” Apparently adultery requires the death penalty, too, and having sex with a woman who is menstruating should potentially also qualify, according to Kayser. Apparently giving equal rights to gay people is “a whole lot worse” than the crimes of King George that led to the American Revolution, and should accordingly be opposed with violence if necessary by true Christians™.

The reason Kayser supports Paul is of course that Paul has promised to give the states the freedom to establish theocratic governments and reject the Constitution at will, which is precisely what Kayser is hoping for. At the “Freedom 2015: National Religious Liberties Conference” (attended by the GOP presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee and Bobby Jindal), Kayser also admitted that it may be unrealistic to expect the national imposition of Biblical law at present, but still maintained that it could be achieved at state and local levels. He also stated his support for Kim Davis, calling her “a hero” and claiming that “Magistrates must follow Christ in their interposition,” not secular law (because religious freedom, duh!). In the pamphlet he distributed at the conference he advocated capital punishment not only for gays and adulterers, but also for blasphemers, Sabbath-breakers, apostates and witches. “Christians should advocate the full implementation of all God’s civil penalties in every age… Every Old Testament statue continues on the books, and without those statutes, we could not have a consistent ethnical standard.” Even “pagan” nations are obliged to follow biblical law, he writes, as “God held gentile kings accountable to these civil laws.” The government should also execute murderers (including abortion providers), and those guilty of kidnapping, rape, prostitution and bestiality.

Kayser’s work is promoted on the Theonomy Resources website, which is run by Stephen Halbrook.

Diagnosis: His rabid bloodthirst is pretty impressive for someone living in the 21th century. As with so many radical fundamentalists, Kayser seems to run on pure hate; his impact is probably relatively limited, but several GOP presidential candidates have at least been willing to lend him an ear.