THE TWO KINGDOMS
A STUDY BY
GARY RAY BRANSCOME
Even though all men are accountable to God, and thus
His subjects in the sense that they are under His authority, only believers are
citizens of His heavenly kingdom (Psalm 103:19, John 3:3-5). Therefore, God, in
effect, presides over two realms which are known in
theology as the Two Kingdoms. When I began this essay I wrongly assumed that
these two kingdoms correspond to church and state. However, that is an oversimplification which, when taken to its
logical conclusions, creates confusion and leads to a number of serious errors.
It is true that God exercises dominion over the world
in general through national governments (which are vehicles of His wrath). It
is also true that God deals with believers through church institutions (which are
vehicles of His grace). However, just as governments are often corrupt, and
rulers are often in rebellion against God; so church institutions are often
corrupt, and church leaders (and members) are often in rebellion against God.
Therefore, both the church (in its institutionalized form) and the state
correspond to God’s earthly kingdom. At the same time, the words, “the kingdom
of God is within you,” tell us that God’s heavenly kingdom does not correspond
to any visible institution but is the “body of Christ,” which consists only of
believers (Luke 17:21, 1Corinthians 12:13, 20). Furthermore, because believers
are under the authority of both church and state, it is only the church as an
institution (not individual believers) that is to be separate from the state.
That separation means, essentially, that church offices should not be political
offices, that church officials should not have the power to sentence people to
death, and that the power of government is not to be used to advance the Gospel
(2Corinthians 10:4). It also means that unless some crime has been committed
the state should never interfere with local congregations. At the same time,
every believer is free to get involved in the government, and to influence
legislation, as did Daniel and Esther. As Christians, we have just as much
right to express our beliefs politically as anyone else. And, if God places us
in a position of authority, like Daniel and Joseph we should always conduct
ourselves in a way that is above reproach.
Far from being a separate institution, those who are
saved through faith in Christ [the Body of Christ] are to exert a godly
influence wherever God has placed them (in both church and state). Believers are
to work within both the church and the state like a hand inside of a glove. We
think that we have religious freedom in this country, but if we really had
religious freedom a Christian congressman could stand up in congress and say,
“I am introducing this bill to stop abortion, because the Bible condemns
murder,” and everyone would say, “He has just as much right to his opinion as
anyone else, put it to a vote”.
THE
Since government existed before the Bible was written
its authority does not come from the Bible, but from the law that God has
written on the heart. It is that law which tells us that some behavior is good
and other behavior is evil, and it is that law that tells us that good behavior
should be praised while evil behavior should be punished (1Peter 2:14).
Moreover, in dealing with behavior that warrants punishment, rulers look to
reason to codify our natural knowledge of right and wrong and to devise such
ordinances as are necessary to achieve the purpose of government. Nevertheless,
as Christians we should never lose sight of the fact that the Ten Commandments
were given as the basis of political law, not religious law, and because they
were written in stone by the hand of God they are to be the law of every
nation, not just Israel.
THE
In contrast to the state, the church draws its
authority from the Bible alone, and uses persuasion rather than force to
accomplish its ends. While the state condemns only outward acts and requires
only outward “civic” righteousness, the church condemns all sin and endeavors
to make men truly righteous by leading them to see that outward "civic" righteousness falls far short of what God requires (Isaiah 64:6), and by leading them to admit their sin and look to Christ for forgiveness. While the
state dispenses condemnation and death, the church dispenses forgiveness and
life.
THE TWO KINGDOMS
Prior to the Lutheran Reformation, church leaders used
the power of the state to keep God's Word from the people while terrorizing
anyone that challenged their authority. Today, the atheist redefinition of
“separation of church and state” seems to have pushed things to the opposite
extreme. However, that is a delusion for Satan is still having his way. Just as
Bible-believing Christians were forced (when there was no separation of church
and state) to support an institution that taught doctrines they abhorred: today
they are forced (in the name of keeping church and state separate) to support
an educational system that teaches doctrines that they abhor. Just as
Bible-believing Christians were told (when there was no separation of church
and state) to keep their beliefs out of the political realm: today they are
told to keep their beliefs out of the political realm, in the name of keeping
church and state separate. What the world does not understand, is that even
though God intended for the state to be an institution of the law, and the
church to be an institution of the gospel, both are to do His will (Philippians
2:10).
The Biblical relationship of church and state is
better illustrated by the difference between the role of Moses and the role of
Aaron than by abstract clichés. According to God's plan, Moses was the head of
the state and the Ten Commandments were the basis of the political law, not the
religious law. In contrast, the role of Aaron had to do with calling the people
to repent and seek God’s mercy, not punishing crime. Moreover, because our
natural knowledge of right and wrong has been corrupted by sin, it is right and
proper that rulers should look to the political laws of
“In the Book of Exodus following the Ten Commandments are further laws,
sometimes collectively referred to as the Book of the Covenant. As a lawyer I
was fascinated to discover just how much of our law - torts, contracts,
property and criminal law - is obviously traceable to this section of
scripture."
[NOTE: When I speak of conforming God's Law to our time and culture, I am not talking about satanic attempts to undermine morality by legalizing sexual sin, but of such things as as execution by means other than stoning, or applying the Law to commerce, electronic fraud, liability etc.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
In contrast to our present day legal system, the Law
of Moses authorized rulers to punish those who prophesied falsely in God's
name. However, in order to understand the Biblical mindset, it is important to
notice that the punishment was for fraud, not heresy. Furthermore, those found
guilty had to be convicted on the basis of objective evidence, not doctrinal
disagreements. Nevertheless, that aspect of Biblical law tells us that even
though the government has the right to deal with religious fraud, it is not up
to the state to determine what doctrine should be taught (Deuteronomy 18:20-22,
Titus 3:10).
Another thing to consider is that under Biblical law
the emphasis was on local enforcement of the law. Each community had elders who
decided most matters, and the people were warned of the danger inherent in
giving men too much authority (1Samuel 8:7). The problems that resulted from
ignoring that warning, and from the centralization of power, should advise us
as to the wisdom of limiting the power of the state, especially in regard to
the church.
CONCLUSION
While we want to keep our churches free of state
control, we should never try to separate God from government. Even though the European State churches were sometimes corrupt and oppressive, the secular governments that hold sway today are no improvement. In fact, heresies worse
than any taught in the past, are now being taught in the public schools.
Therefore, while we do not want an establishment of religion (state church) we
do want a government that acknowledges the truth of God and Lordship of Jesus
Christ (Philippians 2:10). If you have any doubts about that, you need to ask yourself what the
world would be like if Europe had embraced the Moslem religion instead of
Christianity. If you do, I am sure that you will join with me in thanking God
for America’s Christian heritage, and in working to keep America Christian.