-
So-called Jehovah’s Witnesses Cult Suppressed in Russia
This is something that would have happened in Geneva under a Reformed view of the two kingdoms, but would not happen under a Lutheran view of the two kingdoms (link to story). Of course, calling the radical view of two kingdoms theology promoted by Darryl Hart and others “Lutheran,” is perhaps unfair to modern Lutherans.…
-
Religious Pluralism and the Christian Magistrate
I like R. Scott Clark. He’s a good guy, and smart guy. I don’t know why he is so fond of what appears to be a practically Lutheran version of Two Kingdoms. It comes across pretty clearly in this post of his today (link to his post). RSC writes: If the real “problem” for the…
-
Hart on the Regulative Principle and the Transformation of Society
In a recent post at the Old Life Theological Society, Darryl Hart provides some observations on the relation of the Reformed churches to society (link). Hart provides an unusually astute observation: This is a key difference between paleo- and neo-Calvinists (not to mention other Presbyterian transformers of cutlure [sic]). In the case of old Calvinism,…
-
>Confessions and the Magistrate
>Steven Wedgeworth at Wedgewords has an interesting compilation of the Reformed confessions’ statements on the civil magistrate (link). Those Presbyterians who follow a radicalized two kingdoms approach (contrasted with the more moderate and Scriptural form taught by the Reformers) will feel themselves at odds with what amounts to the apparent majority of the Reformed consensus,…
-
Two Kingdoms, Yes – But Don’t Go Beyond the Bible
Mr. James Swan, for a very different purpose, brought the following two quotations to my attention (link to source). Both are from Martin Luther and help to demonstrate the danger of taking the two kingdoms distinction beyond the Bible: It is pure invention that pope, bishops, priests and monks are called the spiritual estate, while…
-
Homosexuality and Ethiopia
It is reported that religious leaders in Ethiopia are pushing for a constitutional ban on homosexuality (link). While it is great that a nation would condemn sin, governmental action is not enough. The church needs to be active in preaching the true Gospel of repentance and faith in Christ. While the government does have a…
-
Five Kingdoms Theology
There is a difference between the church and the state. They are two different kingdoms, with different spheres of authority. The Bible gives us information on how each sphere properly operates. They are not, however, the only two spheres of authority, contrary to the impressions that some recent advocates of so-called “Two Kingdoms” theology. There…
-
The Old Testament Law – Tripartite Analysis
To provide some background for discussion of the law of God, it is important to understand the categories involved: CategoriesThe law of God in the Old Testament is of three kinds: 1. Moral Moral law, because it reflects the character of God, is enduring and immutable. It never was and it never will be permissible…