The shootings in Omaha and in Colorado raise the specter of a (Thomas) Hobbesian “state of nature” wherein life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” and a war of “all against all.” With these two (or three) events clustered together it . . . Continue reading →
Twofold Kingdom
Resources for Reformed Approaches to Natural Law
I get occasional queries about theonomy, reconstructionism, and alternatives to the same. The folks at Covenant OPC (Abilene, TX ) have put together a terrific page of resources on the Reformed approach to natural law. Here’s an essay I did several years . . . Continue reading →
Christ is Lord of All But…
The question of thinking like a Christian is an important topic and one close to my heart. We discuss this very question each fall in the Historical Theology orientation course. We read and discuss a roundtable discussion published some years ago in . . . Continue reading →
Natural is Not Neutral
Russ Reeves at Tolle Blogge (another great blog name!) makes some thoughtful comments on my “Christ is Lord of All But…” post. I agree with him that it may be that we agree more than it seems, but he raises a few . . . Continue reading →
Reeves Responds to Clark
Russ Reeves of Tolle Blogge (and Providence Christian College) wrote such a thoughtful response to the “Natural is Not Neutral” post that it shoudn’t be buried in the comments.
Neo-Monasticism?
Yup. Americans don’t read history, we re-d0 it! Stephanie Simon of the LA Times writes, Communal life was supposed to have taught her to resolve conflicts. Instead, Phyllis said, she found herself obsessing about every grievance: how many nights in a row . . . Continue reading →
So What is this 2 Kingdoms Stuff About Anyway and Why Does it Matter?
David VanDrunen explained it very well and clearly during his inaugural address yesterday at WSC. In the photo to the left, Bob Strimple, whom David is succeeding as the Robert B. Strimple Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, gives a powerful . . . Continue reading →
Neo-Lib Theocracy? Just Say No
The two-kingdoms ethic rejects theocracy from the right or the left.
How the Two Kingdoms Doctrine Could Have Prevented ECT
From the beginning it was apparent that the cart driving the theological horse in the Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) negotiations (which continue!) is the pressure to form a “common front” against neo-paganism, secularism, materialism, and other forms of fallout from late . . . Continue reading →
Pastor Wright, Evangelicals, and the Two Kingdoms
Jeremiah Wright is the former pastor of Trinity UCC in Chicago. Where, in evangelical mega-church circles, 10,000 members is a medium-sized congregation, in the world of dwindling mainline churches, Trinity is a bona fide mega-church. Pastor Wright’s recent comments, however, illustrate another . . . Continue reading →
There is More Than One Way to Take the Lord's Name in Vain
In the Outhouse.
Two Kingdoms in Christianity Today
Uwe-Siemon-Netto writes, “Election 08’s ‘False Clerics and Schismatic Spirits.’” Thanks to Darryl Hart for the heads up.
Two on Christ and Culture
Sometimes pagan get it when Christian don’t Politically correct Constantinianism?
The AG Says: Calvinists No Threat
Apparently the two-kingdoms theology is making more progress than I thought. The NY Sun today quotes the Attorney General of the United States as saying: So far as focusing investigations, we investigate where the threat is coming from. The threat is coming . . . Continue reading →
May Christians Take Prozac?
That’s the question WSC student Simon Jooste considers at Creed or Chaos.
Ministers of God for Our Good
David VanDrunen on how Christians should think about the civil magistrate.
Or Maybe He Should Have Stayed Home?
The Fourth Circuit has upheld the ban of a minister from praying at city council meetings in Fredericksburg, VA. His crime? He prays in Jesus’ name. That’s a sectarian prayer. Yes, it is and it’s a good thing too.
Flash: Reformed Writer Uses Two Kingdoms
I’m working an essay on the history of covenant theology for a collection edited by Herman Selderhuis to be published by Brill in 2009. I just ran across something that I should have noticed, thought about or remembered years ago but didn’t. . . . Continue reading →
"Two Kingdoms" circa 115-50?
A notable early Christian apologist didn’t get the transformationalist memo. Ep. to Diognetus (5.1-11): For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of humanity by country, language, or custom. 2 For nowhere do they live in cities of their own, nor do . . . Continue reading →
White Horse Inn: Christianity, Politics, and the Two Kingdoms
Mike hosted an excellent roundtable discussion featuring Darryl Hart, adjunct professor at WSC and Director of Academic Programs at ISI, Dan Bryant, former Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice, and Neil McBride, a strategist for the Democratic Party. This is . . . Continue reading →