The Difficulty of Distinguishing the Kingdoms
Michael Brown
in Books, Gospel, In the News Today
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9 Comments
One of the toughest things for American evangelicals to do is to distinguish between the city of God and the city of man. There seems to be this natural tendency for many people to think of America as a new type of Israel, as if we were in a national covenant with God similar to geo-political Israel in the Sinaitic covenant. There also seems to be this idea, latent in the American evangelical psyche, that America needs to be Christianized through the law.
If you thought presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee's statement about amending the Constitution "so it's in God's standards" was a good thing, then I highly recommend two books for you:
1. Mike Horton's Beyond Culture Wars
2. David VanDrunen's A Biblical Case for Natural Law
If understanding the two kingdoms is something you are struggling to grasp, then please take the time to read these very helpful books.
For the gospel,
MGB
Reader Comments (9)
Two bookends for me: Horton's BCWs was what kicked off my Reformed conversion lo those many years ago, and DVDs recent monograph (as more a companion to Hart's "A Secular Faith") bring it to more nuanced levels. Must read stuff, for sure.
Zrim
The great thing about BCW is that it will only cost you about 2 or 3 bucks on Amazon and yet, for the American Christian, it is more priceless than Augustine's City of God.
Mike,
I just commented at DRD about how BCW was the best investment I ever made! BCW is a highly nostaglic book for me as it was my first step to the Reformed tradition out of broad Evangelicalsim. "Personally seminal" is an understatement. I could have sworn Horton was reared in the church I was converted into: pegging everything that beguiled me and countering it with Reformation was sppoky at worst, seminal at best. The guy hasn't let me down for 15 years!
Zrim
Two very helpful works indeed.
Me thinks we need to link you over at the Outhouse.
Which reminds me, on your "hit the links" page, you list the Confessional Outhouse as Steve Zrimec's blog. Now, I know he's the most noteworthy contributor - but how about a little love for the rest of us? How about a "et al" or something? ;)
Keep up the good work!
Rick,
I would be honored to have Pilgrim People linked to the CO.
My apologies for the faux pas. How about, "Zrim and the Outhouse Gang"?
You have been linked sir.
You can call us whatever you like. I need to get over myself.
Rick,
I have a Q for you: How does one move from the "roll" in the Outhouse to being an Outhouse saint? Is this a significant move up the cyber chain of being?
Pastor Brown,
Sainthood on the Outhouse blogroll is simple: You need to convince Zrim that you are smarter than he is. Once he sees that you are just as 2k and liturgical as he, while being smarter than he (proving this through many posts) - then you will move to OH sainthood. We just promoted Hyde. He's thrilled.
Thanks for the clarification Rick. I guess I need to get to work. I don't want to be a roll in an outhouse! Eewww!