Luther's Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms
Luther’s insight into God's exercising a twofold reign in this world.
According to Luther, every Christian is a citizen of two realms, which serve each other but should never be "brewed and cooked together," lest the Devil has his way.
There is the infinite "Kingdom to the Right," where God has revealed himself in Christ. This is the realm of the Gospel, grace, faith, love and the equality of all. It becomes a reality in this sinful world where God's Word is proclaimed, where the sacraments are administered, and where Christ forgives the believer's sins.
This spiritual realm, the church, will never vanish but be completed gloriously in the end-time.On the other hand, there is the secular and finite "Kingdom to the Left," of which Christ has said, "My kingship is not of this world" (John 18:36). Here God will never reveal himself. But it is still his creation. The Devil is the "Left-Hand Kingdom's" bitter enemy.
In this realm natural reason is the empress, according to Luther. Reason is God's good gift to man to find his way in this world.
The "Kingdom to the Left" is the realm of the hidden God who rules the secular world through "governing authorities ... instituted by him" (Romans 13:1). They are fallible, of course, and sometimes become outright evil. But in time God intervenes and puts things right again.
In this world where man lives his biological life, there is no equality. There are superiors and subordinates, the Law requires obedience, and misdeeds are punished. But the Law is nevertheless from the hidden God.
Secular rulers may not necessarily be believers. "Better a wise Turk than a foolish Christian," Luther remarked. "It is sufficient for the Emperor to possess reason."
God's two realms are not antagonistic, however. They are to serve each other. The "Kingdom to the Right" has the task to radiate into the "Kingdom to the Left," to inform, admonish and support it by preaching the Gospel
Secular rulers, on the other hand, serve the spiritual realm by maintaining order and preventing chaos, the state from which God's creation has saved the world. In wild chaos, the Gospel cannot take its course.
Luther insisted that it is essential to make clear distinctions between the two Kingdoms.
According to Luther, every Christian is a citizen of two realms, which serve each other but should never be "brewed and cooked together," lest the Devil has his way.
There is the infinite "Kingdom to the Right," where God has revealed himself in Christ. This is the realm of the Gospel, grace, faith, love and the equality of all. It becomes a reality in this sinful world where God's Word is proclaimed, where the sacraments are administered, and where Christ forgives the believer's sins.
This spiritual realm, the church, will never vanish but be completed gloriously in the end-time.On the other hand, there is the secular and finite "Kingdom to the Left," of which Christ has said, "My kingship is not of this world" (John 18:36). Here God will never reveal himself. But it is still his creation. The Devil is the "Left-Hand Kingdom's" bitter enemy.
In this realm natural reason is the empress, according to Luther. Reason is God's good gift to man to find his way in this world.
The "Kingdom to the Left" is the realm of the hidden God who rules the secular world through "governing authorities ... instituted by him" (Romans 13:1). They are fallible, of course, and sometimes become outright evil. But in time God intervenes and puts things right again.
In this world where man lives his biological life, there is no equality. There are superiors and subordinates, the Law requires obedience, and misdeeds are punished. But the Law is nevertheless from the hidden God.
Secular rulers may not necessarily be believers. "Better a wise Turk than a foolish Christian," Luther remarked. "It is sufficient for the Emperor to possess reason."
God's two realms are not antagonistic, however. They are to serve each other. The "Kingdom to the Right" has the task to radiate into the "Kingdom to the Left," to inform, admonish and support it by preaching the Gospel
Secular rulers, on the other hand, serve the spiritual realm by maintaining order and preventing chaos, the state from which God's creation has saved the world. In wild chaos, the Gospel cannot take its course.
Luther insisted that it is essential to make clear distinctions between the two Kingdoms.
posted by Wartburg | Friday, January 27, 2006
10 Comments:
Sal,
Glad to see you have an new outlet for your intensity. Look forward to reading and commenting.
Wade
Thank You Mr. W,
Hope all is well.
Charitative Episcopacy
Sal,
These are a few very helpful paragraphs. The Reformation occurred when church and state had explicit connections. Luther, Calvin, and other Reformers sharpened their thinking on this matter.
I wonder how well Luther's view fit the modern demand for "separation between church and state." And I wonder what Luther would have said about a pluralistic culture like ours.
Ken
Pastor Ken,
I like this comment from THE CHURCH HISTORIAN (Philip Schaff),"Modern Protestant theology is much more just to ecclesiastical tradition than the Reformers could be in their hot indignation against the prevailing corruptions and against the papal tyranny of their day. The deeper study of ecclesiastical and secular history has dispelled the former ignorance on the “dark ages,” so called, and brought out the merits of the fathers, missionaries, schoolmen, and popes, in the progress of Christian civilization." If you were to put any one from 500 years ago into our sphere today I think they would be amazed concerning so many good inventions that Planet Earth has benefited from. With out Luther and April 18th, 1517 there would be no reason for your good question-We would'nt be here(U.S.A.).
That's April 18, 1521-Too much German BEER (Just kidding).
Agreed that the reformers would be amazed by inventions since their time, but I cannot imagine the Reformers agreeing with the anti-biblical concept of "separation of church and state" as it is applied today, meaning not only that the church is not the state (which is agreed) but that the state is not to be based on Christian principles.
Psalms 2:10-12
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
WCF CHAP. XXIII. - Of the Civil Magistrate. (American/PCA version)
1. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under Him, over the people, for His own glory, and the public good...
Belgic Confession
Article 36: The Civil Government
...And being called in this manner to contribute to the advancement of a society that is pleasing to God, the civil rulers have the task, subject to God's law, of removing every obstacle to the preaching of the gospel and to every aspect of divine worship...
...And the government's task is not limited to caring for and watching over the public domain but extends also to upholding the sacred ministry, with a view to removing and destroying all idolatry and false worship of the Antichrist; to promoting the kingdom of Jesus Christ; and to furthering the preaching of the gospel everywhere; to the end that God may be honored and served by everyone, as he requires in his Word...
...And on this matter we denounce the Anabaptists, other anarchists, and in general all those who want to reject the authorities and civil officers and to subvert justice by introducing common ownership of goods and corrupting the moral order that God has established among human beings.
Hey CALF,
Please enjoy this and if you want to continue with this discussion HAVE AT IT.
STEVEN A. HEIN IS A REALLY GOOD LUTHERAN MAN.Here is some of what he says concerning Luther:"For Luther, reason has the rightful task of bringing order to society and developing this life. In "earthly government," the affairs of state, reason is to be exercised in its best possible fashion for providing a stable government and promoting civil righteousness. Reason shall be "the highest law and the master of all administration of Law.""' Luther was convinced that reason in natural man plus the natural law which is written in his heart are the means by which God in his creative will holds society together. Holy Scripture and the Gospel are not to meddle in the affairs of government. In the areas of law, government and the arts, theology must bend its knee to reason and testify that it is God's creation." These things are a part of God's divine image in man from creation, so that be may rule over the earth, Reason is the majesty of this earthly life".
P.S. I wish I were in Dixie
I'm lovin this blog!
Read from London - Great job by the fish-man!
Bob Waters and I recently had a long blog-discussion about the two kingdoms. If anyone is interested, you might have to jump around our two blogs a bit, but you can start here:
http://preachrblog.blogspot.com/2006
/01/pastors-and-2-kingdom-authority
.html
However, most of the talk was on his site.
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