Two kinds of authority - a bible study

Word from the Center
Written By Samuel Schuldheisz

This brief Bible study is designed to provide a firm biblical and confessional setting for Lutherans to learn and study how God uses His two-fold authority both in the church and the world for our good. It is a foundation upon which pastors and people can build as they grow in the knowledge and blessings of God’s Word.

In this life, Christians are ambidextrous. On the one hand, our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). And on the other hand, Jesus sends us into the world (John 17) for the sake of our neighbor. God has established two kinds of authority–the spiritual and the temporal –for our good and the good of all people.

    1. According to Col. 1:15-20 who has authority over spiritual affairs? Who has established authority over temporal affairs (Rom. 13:1)?

    2. Although there are two kingdoms, there is one only King, the Triune God. According to Matt. 28:16-20 and 1 Peter 2:14, what are the two kinds of authority God has established? And specifically, where does God exercise His spiritual and temporal authority?

    3. Why did God create government? What are the distinct purposes, goals and means God uses in the temporal authorities for the good of all people? See Rom. 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17.

    4. Scripture clearly commands Christians to obey the governing authorities (1 Peter 2:13-17). But who are the temporal authorities called to obey? See John 19:1-11. How do Jesus’ words to Pilate shape our understanding of God’s authority in the civil realm?

    5. Does this mean Christian obedience to the state is absolute? When are Christians called to disobey the civil authorities God has placed over us? Read Acts 5:27-32. When are we not?

    6. How is God’s authority in the Church distinct from His authority in the civil realm?  See John 20:19-23; 1 Cor. 4:1ff. Where is the source of the Church’s authority? See John 5:30-47.

    7. What is the primary task of the Church? Read Luke 5:24; 24:36-49 and 1 Cor. 1:18-2:5; 11:23-26. And what are the distinct purposes, goals and means God uses in His Church to accomplish His good and gracious will?

    8. Read Matt. 22:1-14. What does it mean to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s? What belongs to Caesar? What belongs to God? How does Jesus’ teaching among the Pharisees help us understand the two kingdoms?

    9. What happens when either institution interferes with the other’s God-given responsibilities? Why is this dangerous for church and State? How is a confusion of the two kingdoms at root a failure to distinguish Law and Gospel?

    10. Scripture clarifies the relationship between church and state. Although God uses His authority for distinct purposes in both institutions, how are they dependent? Read 1 Tim. 2:1-3 and Mat. 5:13-16. What happens when each realm of authority carries out its divinely given purpose? How are these two kinds of authority gifts of God?

    11. In this life, Christians are ambidextrous. On the one hand, what does 1 Peter 2:1-12 and Rom. 8:1-11 teach us about our vocation His church? On the other hand, what does Scripture teach us about our vocation as citizens? Read Rom. 13:5-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14. In what ways can Christians be salt and a light in their vocations? How do we serve our neighbor by upholding God’s authority in the civil realm?

    12. What do the Lutheran Confessions and Small Catechism teach us about God’s two kinds of authority? For a brief overview, see the Table of Duties in the Small Catechism. Also read Augsburg Confession articles V, VII, VIII, XIV, XVI, XXVIII and the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope.

    13. In his famous treatise, “On Christian Liberty,” Luther once said that, “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all subject to none; the Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”How does this apply to our Christian lives in both kingdoms? How do we apply God’s two-fold work of freedom and love in our daily lives in both kingdoms?

For Further Reading and Study:

  • Lutheran Service Book, p. 313 lists numerous prayers for matters of the civil realm.

  • The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals. Gene E. Veith, Concordia Publishing House.

  • The Anonymous God: The Church Confronts Civil Religion and American Society. Edited by David L. Adams and Ken Schurb, Concordia Publishing House.

  • The Temporal Authorities to What Extent They Should be Obeyed and Whether Soldiers Too Can be Saved. Martin Luther. Luther’s Works, volume 45. Concordia Publishing House.

  • “Render unto Caesar . . . and into God: A Lutheran View of Church and State,” LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations.

God’s Left-Hand Rule

  • Scripture: Rom. 3:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17

  • Catechism: Fourth Commandment, First Article, Fourth Petition

  • Purpose: civil justice/order

  • Goal: curb evil; an orderly, just society not Christianize

  • Means: Reason/natural law

  • Civil righteousness (before man)

  • Law

  • Lesser of two evils

  • Rewards good / punishes evil

  • Active in vocation

  • Temporal authority (God’s gift)

  • The fisted sword of steel

God’s Right-Hand Rule

  • Scripture: Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:13-14

  • Catechism: Second and Third Articles, Means of Grace, Lord’s Prayer

  • Purpose: forgive sin

  • Goal: salvation through preaching sin and grace

  • Means: Word/Sacraments

  • Spiritual Righteousness (before God)

  • Law and Gospel

  • Calls sin, sin

  • Works: not merit, fruit of faith

  • Passive recipients

  • Spiritual authority (God’s gift)

  • The oral sword of the Spirit

The Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Milton, Wa. This article was originally published by and is reprinted here with the permission of The Lutheran Witness.

Be Informed

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Be Equipped

What are Christians to make of civil disobedience? The Commission on Theology and Church Relations offers some insight.

Be Encouraged

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— Hermann Sasse

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See Also
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The Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty (LCRL) is a religious liberty organization in Washington, D.C. The LCRL provides input, education, advice, advocacy, and resources in the areas of life, marriage and religious liberty and seeks to engage in discussions in Washington, D.C., to establish partnerships and resources in our nation’s Capital for the sake of our churches, schools, universities, and seminaries.

The LCRL is in D.C. to be an ENCOURAGING support to those who are already working very hard on the Hill to protect our religious Liberty, to protect and promote the sanctity of life, to guard the basic protections for traditional marriage, to promote the value of private and parochial education.

The LCRL is in D.C. to be an EDUCATING resource for our Churches, Schools, Universities, pastors, and laypeople – Why? Because Christians more and more need be prepared to engage public issues for the sake of the community and the Gospel.

The LCRL is in D.C. to be an ADVOCATE for our Churches, Schools, and Universities… Why? Because the government is encroaching more and more into the arena of the Church and its work, and Gods’ people have a role not only in sharing the Gospel, but in helping society/culture in being humane, civil, and temporally just.

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The account of the Wise Men traveling to seek out the young child Jesus is an awesome event! It should cause us to pause today and think about the nature and extent of this child’s work in the world. Jesus was laid in a manger in the small town of Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7); He was Jewish by birth. Yet from the very beginning, His life, death, and resurrection were meant to be a blessing to all people (see Luke 2:32). In today’s lesson one sees that God has ways of drawing people to Jesus from virtually everywhere. He makes His promises, grace, and blessings “findable.” In fact, our God loves to be found (see Isaiah 55:6; 65:1), especially when that means finding His grace and forgiveness in Christ. The point for us today might indeed be to keep looking for and focusing upon what really matters.

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Yes, even amidst the impatience of our age, there are some things worth the wait. We endure waiting in traffic for the joy of getting home to our loved-ones. We’ll wait in line for that “must have” gift for our children each Christmas season. We’ll endure the wait when it’s waiting for that new job offer, or waiting for a good test result from a biopsy, or waiting for that special someone to call because we are so excited just to hear their voice

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The Gift He Was; The Gift He Is

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Amuse Us Lord, or Call Us to Faith?

Fickle or faithful? Childlike or childish? That is the question in our text. Jesus confronts a crowd one day and he calls them to account. He basically says that they are missing the whole point. The work of God is not merely for one’s amusement. It is rather for our very lives here and now, as well as for our eternal salvation. He uses the example of children “childishly playing” to point out a brutal fact. Children are often not as “childlike” as we would believe, namely, joyfully trusting and obedient. All too often they are “childish,” that is, fickle, inattentive, and even mean. It’s like when we were kids. One group wanted to play a happy game, but others said it was too silly. Others wanted to play something serious, but the first group thought it was too somber or gloomy. Fickle, never satisfied, childish, unhappy, no matter what. Does that sound like someone you know?

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A charlatan sits in power. Division and cynicism have won the hearts of the people. Foes at home and abroad are cunning. The nation feels sullied. Such is the situation facing Tirian, the last king of Narnia.

In C.S. Lewis’s The Last Battle, the beloved land of the famed children’s series is under attack.  Narnia’s enemies, the Calormenes, have taken over the country. Through treachery, they have fooled loyal Narnians into believing that Aslan — Narnia’s Christ figure — is on their side. Fear and confusion prevent Narnians from coming to Tirian’s aid.

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A “Time and Place” Kind of Salvation

One of the reasons that I love the Bible and its teachings is that the message therein is so different from any other message in this world. There are many religious messages out there in our culture, but the others are all the opinions of sinful people like you and me, trying to get us to follow some path for peace or tranquility; some are even brazen enough to speak about it as “salvation.” Unfortunately, like so much of our human posturing, both philosophically and religiously, they all leave us wanting and dismayed. The same can be said for “faith” in our scientific and economic prowess. Despite all the “progress” and material things in our culture today, our lives are just as broken as ever. And no belief in our superiority or some myth about our unlimited potential can change that even a little.

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As citizens of this great nation, we use our God-given reason to elect men and women who we believe will most closely rule according to God’s will and Word. But we also know that the U.S. has maintained a perfect record of electing sinners to be presidents and senators and representatives: every single one of them.

As citizens of this great nation, we use our God-given reason to elect men and women who we believe will most closely rule according to God’s will and Word. But we also know that the U.S. has maintained a perfect record of electing sinners to be presidents and senators and representatives: every single one of them.

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Blessed Is the One Who Comes in the Name of the Lord, really?
Blessed Is the One Who Comes in the Name of the Lord, really?

19:37-40, where the Bible says,   

As [Jesus] was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

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Is it alright for Christians to be involved with politics?

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Happy New Year? No, Happy NEW WORLD!

Happy “Christ the King” Sunday! On this past Sunday many Christian churches around the world celebrated the reign of Jesus Christ. The last Sunday of the liturgical church year commemorates His rule every year, no matter what is happening at the moment. It reminds us that all things are moving ahead toward the final day when Christ will come again and judge the living and the dead. This coming Sunday Christians who follow a liturgical calendar then enter into a new church year. In so doing, they join all believers in celebrating the fact that Christ’s Kingdom is already now present in this world. His Kingdom is here in the midst of worldly kingdoms that are passing away.

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Soft people in the church, those who are double minded and wish to run from the truth, will tell pastors not to preach about abortion. The disconnect is real, surely in the LCMS too. These folks will tell pastors not to bring political issues into the pulpit, and far too many otherwise faithful pastors comply. But, of course, as a popular meme says, abortion is distinctly a biblical issue.

December Bulletin Insert
December Bulletin Insert

The Bulletin Insert is designed to be printed and cut in half to fit conveniently inside a Sunday worship bulletin. Each month an insert will offer insight, encouragement, and information from the LCRL on the topics of Religious Liberty, Life, Marriage, or Education.

December Bulletin Blurbs
December Bulletin Blurbs

The dates identifying the LCRL bulletin blurbs are only suggestions. Please feel free to use any and all of the bulletin blurbs as your ministry needs allow.

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TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

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Facts, Fiction, and the Media: Reading and Watching the News as a Lutheran

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Straight Talk about What Matters
Straight Talk about What Matters

Brutal facts. We all have some brutal facts to face in life, facts that must be overcome for our own well-being and freedom. Such facts might be the troubles (even the elections) of the day. They might be the obstacles we face in life, whether those are under our control or out of our control. But this Bible verse goes further, telling us about the ultimate “brutal fact” of life. Because of our sin, all people are destined to die once and after that to face judgment. That’s a sobering thought for sure. But that final fact, if faced in Christ, can change your life both then, as well as here and now.

Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips

This morning I sip coffee from one of his mugs: "Masterpiece Cakeshop: Yeah . . . that cakeshop." What cakeshop? If you don't know, you're not informed, and you're watching the wrong news. Jack has been embroiled in legal battles since 2012, when the baker declined to use his talents to create a custom cake celebrating a so-called gay marriage. Phillips, mind you, served all people, no matter what. But he did not wish to use his time and talents to commemorate that which he believed was wrong. This is what the First Amendment is all about, freedom of speech, which means the freedom from compelled speech, along with the free exercise of religion.

November Prayer Partner Thursday
November Prayer Partner Thursday

Prayer Partner Thursday provides a month-long prayer emphasis in one of the four Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty areas of emphasis: Religious Liberty, Sanctity of Life, Educational Freedom, and Marriage as an Institution (family).

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TWO KINDS OF FREEDOM - ONE’S HELPFUL; ONE’S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!

There are two kinds of freedom in the world. One is the earthly freedom that humans can achieve on our own. There are times when it seems like that freedom is secure in our hands. There are other times when it seems like it is always slipping through our fingers or beyond our reach. The other freedom is the kind of freedom that only God can make happen by His work on your behalf. Can you guess which one lasts? Can you guess which one is absolutely indispensable? Right, it’s the one where “the Son makes you free” by His life, death, and resurrection for you.

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TIME TO VOTE – SO EXERCISE YOUR GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILTY

What do these things have in common and why does it matter for us this election? The “Sinicization movement” in China towards religion, the Bishop Johanna Pohjola trial in Finland, and the so-called “Respect for Marriage Act” law in America? All these are examples of a growing, secular statism growing abroad and now—here. When people ask me, “For whom or for what should I vote this election?” Amidst all the rhetoric and rancor, my main advice is that you vote for the platform that limits government’s coercive power, and the platform that more clearly defines a more limited role of government in the lives of ALL Americans.

IN CHRIST, THE BLIND REALLY DO “SEE”
IN CHRIST, THE BLIND REALLY DO “SEE”

I’m always amazed at the healings Jesus performed during His ministry. The deaf would suddenly hear, the blind would see, and the lame would walk. There were even times when dead people were raised again to life! Many of these healings were amazing, seemingly beyond belief. One, of course, was the ultimate healing. That’s the time when Jesus took upon himself the sin of the world, suffered the eternal death we all deserved on the cross, and then rose so that we might have the promise of eternal life with Him as a gift of grace.

GUIDELINES FOR YOUR VOTE – VOTE PRINCIPLES, PLATFORMS, NOT PEOPLE
GUIDELINES FOR YOUR VOTE – VOTE PRINCIPLES, PLATFORMS, NOT PEOPLE

Is it alright for Christians to be involved with politics?

The Bible contains no specific command that either requires or forbids Christian involvement with politics. However, through the prophet Jeremiah, God teaches His people that they should, “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf” (Jer. 29:57). In other places, God teaches that Christians should obey and pray for those in positions of civil authority (Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:17; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13).

Samuel Schuldheisz
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