The Two Kingdoms
A. Two Vignettes
- Tom Marzan at LFL conference “how can you be a Christian and a lawyer?”
- LFL chapter member talking to pastor about celebrating life Sunday “we preach Christ crucified, we don’t talk about social issues”.
- Both statements come from the same thought — because of our faith we need not and in fact should not be concerned with the issues of the secular world
- As Lutherans we know that because of our faith we are really citizens of two kingdoms — the kingdom of the right, the holy Christian church and the kingdom of the left, the world
a. God rules both kingdoms, but differently
b. We live in both kingdoms, but are governed by how God rules each
c. This has profound implications for how we live our lives in each kingdom and how the church, primarily an instrument of the right hand kingdom interacts and physically exists in left hand kingdom
B. What are we going to talk about?
- The theology of the doctrine of the two kingdoms with a historical perspective of how the church has treated this issue
a. The uniquely Lutheran perspective contrasted to others
- The specific application of this theology to life issues and how it impacts both pastor and lay member
a. Life issues facing our people
b. Addressing life issues and the life of the church
c. Pastors living in both kingdoms
d. Laity living in both kingdoms
- Practical implications on the relationship of the church to the state in light of the two kingdoms
a. What the church’s and pastors can and cannot do
b. Individual Christians as political participants in the kingdom of the left
II. Historical perspective.
- Early Church to Constantine
1. No conflicts, minority status
2. Effect on the left – persecution – Pliny “Whatever may be the principle of their conduct, their inflexible obstinacy appeared deserving of punishment.”
- Post Constantine to Reformation – confusion and mixing of the kingdoms
- Post Reformation to Now – confusion and mixing of the kingdoms
1. Roman Catholic – up to Vatican II Right controlled Left in Catholic Countries by power over rulers, only one kingdom– now no clear doctrine.
2. Calvinist – the right is to shape and influence the world – to create a society where the Christ is central to all of human existence and human institutions. Transformation of Left to make it the same as the right. Calvin’s
3. Anabaptists (Mennonites) – total separation
III. Lutheran theology and two kingdoms
A. The Kingdom of the Right – The Church Militant
1. Exclusive group –the body of believers on earth
2. Governed by God’s grace – the Gospel
a. It is spiritual
b. It is governed by what is true
c. Role is to proclaim the Gospel, forgive sins, comforts its people, equip the saints for good works
d. Sacraments administered
e. People brought to faith and sustained in it
f. Its primary instrument is the Word of God
g. Administered by the Holy Spirit
3. Primary purpose is to proclaim the Gospel
B. The Kingdom of the Left – the World
1. Not exclusive – every living person is in it
2. Governed by rules, coercion, force, logic – the Law
a. It is material: property, money, power
b. Truth can be relative to the preservation of secular power and order
c. Role is preserve order by restraining and punishing the wicked and rewarding the good
d. Administered by the secular authorities as instruments of God – even pagan authorities
c. Its primary instrument is the sword, i.e. coercion
3. Primary purpose is to keep order in a sinful and violent world
- The Kingdoms interact with each other, but cannot be mixed or confused.
1. Proper interaction
a. Left hand kingdom creates a peaceful social order in which the Gospel can be proclaimed and spread –
b. Right hand kingdom preaches to the Left[CFS1]
2. Kingdom confusion.
a. Left on Right (Force the world to faith)
i) Material cannot affect spiritual
ii) Faith cannot be created or preserved by force[CFS2]
b. Right on Left (Rule the world by the Gospel)
i) Order cannot be created or preserved by grace[CFS3]
ii) Examples
III. Life issues in the church
A. Why is this analysis important to us re life issues
1. Back to the beginning – we live in both kingdoms and issues of human life are dealt with in both
B. In the right hand kingdom
1. Pastors as leaders of their people
2. Our people are touched by abortion and euthanasia in their daily lives
a. Examples – unplanned pregnancies, medical advice at end of life.
b. Need to know how God’s law applies so that they can know what is sin (2nd use) and resist it (3rd use)
c. Need to know that there is forgiveness for any sin committed against human life – spiritual healing
C. In the Left Hand Kingdom
1. Participatory Democracy – The search for the common good through open debate of public policy and enacting it as law
2. Public policy and obeying God
3. Is Abortion an election issue?
- Does the doctrine of the Two Kingdoms preclude addressing life issues in preaching and teaching?
a.
b. Recent resolutions and CTCR statements
IV Church and State.
- Catch 22 – On the one hand, when people of faith speak out about moral issues in public, they are accused of attempting to force their religion upon others; but when they speak of moral issues in church, they are accused of engaging in politics. (Alliance Defense Fund)
- What can a Pastor Do/Not Do
1. In his individual capacity anything a private citizen can do.
2. In his official capacity cannot do anything that a religious organization is prohibited from doing.
- What can a religious organization Do/Not Do
1. IRC 501C(3) – exempt from taxation – gifts deductible by donor.
a. May not “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
2. Electioneering prohibited
a. Direct contributions
b. In kind contributions
c. Independent expenditures
3. Neutral involvement in process ok
a. Registration, voters guides, candidates as speakers (all invited), use of church property for fee, advertising in church bulletins at standard cost
4. Issue advocacy in not electioneering
a. Open discussion of legislation
b. Expenditure of “insubstantial amounts” annually ( 5% – 20%)
5. Penalties
a. Loss of status
b. Excise tax on both organization and management which could be 100% of political expenditure