understandings nd By Gary Simpson deeper nd er How Luther helps today’s citizen
Series editor’s note: We continue in the yearlong study of Reformation and Luther studies themes, grateful that this month Gary Simpson off ers insights to help us prepare for exercising our citizenship in the upcoming elections. –Michael Cooper-White, president of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
People often wonder how Martin Luther can inform our citizenship in today’s world. One of his main teachings is pertinent here: his understanding of God’s two kingdoms, as it’s often called. How can Luther’s doctrine of two kingdoms help us today as citizens?
God’s two kingdoms Luther wasn’t the fi rst, nor the last, theologian to emphasize a “doctrine of the two.” Augustine, Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin each propounded a doctrine of the two.
Famously, Augustine’s was a doctrine of two cities: the City of God, manifested spiritually on earth in the church, and the Earthly City, manifested temporally in political government that is predominantly under the sway, even the dominance, of the devil and of sin. For Augustine, being a Christian ruler or citizen within the Earthly City was largely a negative, even cynical, experience with little trust that anyone but a
perfect Christian could govern, and then only to establish a minimum of coercive order to prevent all-out chaos. His theological imagination still infl uences American Christians today, especially many—not all—American Evangelicals, who are his heirs by being heirs of the Puritans. These are today’s “Christian Right.”
Over the centuries Lutherans sometimes adopted a “quietist” version of Augustine and mostly withdrew from active political engagement. But Luther’s doctrine of God’s two kingdoms represents a signifi cant revision of, even a departure from, Augustine’s doctrine of the two. Therefore, Luther’s doctrine also off ers a very diff erent imagination for our life as citizens. How is this the case?
On the basis of Scripture, Luther noted that the triune God has two kingdoms or authorities, two diff erent ways to rule the one world in which we live. It’s important to note, especially in comparison to Augustine’s teaching, that both of these kingdoms are God’s, something Luther often emphasized. In his sermons Luther referred to these two kingdoms as God’s “left hand” temporal way to govern and God’s “right hand” spiritual way to govern.
Luther’s teaching of the two kingdoms is a corollary of his understanding of the Scripture’s teaching of law and gospel, both of which contend with sin and evil, though in diff erent ways, and both of which seek to bless the world, though also in diff erent ways. Briefl y stated, God’s right hand work of gospel happens as the Spirit through word and sacrament graciously brings us into full communion with Jesus and his “righteousness, innocence and blessedness,” which become ours
“by faith alone.” Together we become the body of Christ in the world.
44 OCTOBER 2016
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