Luther's Two Kingdoms!

Reflection: Martin Luther wrote extensively on a doctrine which has been called “the two kingdoms doctrine”.  In this teaching, he describes the “spiritual kingdom” and the “secular kingdom”.  The church has authority in the spiritual realm to announce forgiveness of sins and take care of souls cf. Matthew 16.  And the state has the power and authority to enforce the law of the land, as this power and authority has been given to them by God.  This is why Christians should pay taxes, be engaged citizens, and pray for those who govern them that they might govern in God’s wisdom. 

This is not to say we put our trust in the government for advancing God’s kingdom.  If anything the government can protect our religious freedoms, as we have seen in our country more or less, though some would argue that this is decreasing.  But the two kingdoms doctrine helps us in all kinds of decision making.  It also fits in with the Lutheran dialectic of law/gospel.  The law kills, but the Gospel brings to life. 

The Ten Commandments are the basis for most of our laws in society, and also still applicable to Christians.  Yet, in a deeper and more fundamental way, we are not under the law but grace.  Grace has to do with mercy and forgiveness, and not getting what we deserve through the free gift of Jesus’ death on the cross and subsequent resurrection.  Therefore by the law we abide by the ten commandments which are by and large the basis for the laws in our land. But by grace we are accountable to a much higher standard in the spiritual kingdom.  Jesus refers to this when he says, “I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.” 

This is where on the “Sermon of the Mount”, Jesus gives further meaning to the commandments when for instance he says, “You have heard it said, ‘Do not kill!’ Well I say that anyone who calls their brother ‘a fool’ is guilty of murder.”  Jesus goes into the deeper intent of the Law, which is summed up as Paul states in Romans to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  We know what we like and dislike and how we like to be treated, so it should not be so hard as to love others in the same way we would want to be loved. 

As we live out our lives may we be good citizens and honor our governing authorities.  Of course there are rare cases where the government asks us to do something that is against God’s will, and in those cases we will have to pray for discernment of whether we need to obey God rather than man.  But in most cases like keeping the speed limit and paying taxes, we are to obey our governing authorities as they have been instituted by God to keep civic order in society. 

Where do you struggle with this doctrine? I would be interested to hear from you on this!

Psalm 44:9-16

9 But now you have rejected and humbled us;

    you no longer go out with our armies.

10 You made us retreat before the enemy,

    and our adversaries have plundered us.

11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep

    and have scattered us among the nations.

12 You sold your people for a pittance,

    gaining nothing from their sale.

13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,

    the scorn and derision of those around us.

14 You have made us a byword among the nations;

    the peoples shake their heads at us.

15 I live in disgrace all day long,

    and my face is covered with shame

16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,

    because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

Job 8

Bildad

8 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

2 “How long will you say such things?

    Your words are a blustering wind.

3 Does God pervert justice?

    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

4 When your children sinned against him,

    he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.

5 But if you will seek God earnestly

    and plead with the Almighty,

6 if you are pure and upright,

    even now he will rouse himself on your behalf

    and restore you to your prosperous state.

7 Your beginnings will seem humble,

    so prosperous will your future be.

8 “Ask the former generation

    and find out what their ancestors learned,

9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,

    and our days on earth are but a shadow.

10 Will they not instruct you and tell you?

    Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?

11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?

    Can reeds thrive without water?

12 While still growing and uncut,

    they wither more quickly than grass.

13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God;

    so perishes the hope of the godless.

14 What they trust in is fragile;

    what they rely on is a spider’s web.

15 They lean on the web, but it gives way;

    they cling to it, but it does not hold.

16 They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,

    spreading its shoots over the garden;

17 it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks

    and looks for a place among the stones.

18 But when it is torn from its spot,

    that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’

19 Surely its life withers away,

    and from the soil other plants grow.

20 “Surely God does not reject one who is blameless

    or strengthen the hands of evildoers.

21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter

    and your lips with shouts of joy.

22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame,

    and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”

Romans 13

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love Fulfills the Law

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The Day Is Near

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

I am the Lord your God. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. Hosea 13:4 (NIV)

And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3

Forgive us for making money, military, human ingenuity, medical advancements, politics, and church membership our “saviors.” Forgive us for placing advertisements, television shows, and the cultural dream at the “center” of our lives. Help us turn to you, our only Savior, and lead us to life in Jesus. Amen.