Sacred and secular
19/10/14 05:23
Around the time of the Protestant Reformation faithful Christians began to discuss what has become known as the doctrine of two kingdoms. Lutherans and Calvinists developed a theological theory that God rules the world through secular governments. This is the worldly kingdom and faithful people are bound by the rules and laws of this world. Christians, however, are also a part of a new kingdom - a heavily kingdom to which they are called by grace. Martin Luther and his followers were especially inspired by the book of Romans, in which Paul makes the distinction between flesh/body and soul/spirit.
The doctrine of two kingdoms was further supported by Jesus answer to the Pharisees reported in Mark and Matthew when asked about paying taxes. Jesus asked to be shown the money used to pay the tax and, noting that the coin had Caesar’s image on it said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
But there is a problem with dismissing Jesus’ answer so easily. There is no record that Jesus ascribed to a doctrine of two kingdoms. Certainly the Pharisees didn’t think that way. Concepts of secular vs religious simply weren’t a part of their thinking. Neither Greek, the language of the Gospels, nor Latin, the language of the Roman authorities has a word for religious. To the Pharisees, everything belonged to God. Psalm 24 declares, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” From the perspective of faithful Jews of Jesus’ day, there was no distinction between that which was sacred and that which was not because everything was sacred. Everything belonged to God.
The interpretation of the discussion over paying taxes might come down to something that isn’t in the written record: Jesus tone of voice. Do you suppose he was dismissive of the coin? Did he take a look at it and basically say, “This isn’t what is important. Give it to Caesar and give a real offering - an offering of yourself to God.”
Sometimes when we think of Jesus and his message, we think in a sort of backwards way. Since we have defined beliefs and traditional doctrines, we assume that Jesus was about creating doctrine. But there is no evidence that this is the case. Jesus was about building relationships, not creating a systematic theology. Jesus lived his entire life within the context of his Jewish faith and background. The concept of starting a new religion grew out of changes and conflicts among the faithful hundreds of years after his death and resurrection.
All of this is to say that i’ve never been particularly moved by the doctrine of two kingdoms. I am more intrigued with the power and presence of the holy in the midst of this life we now know. I have encountered the sacred in many places that are far from religious institutions. I don’t believe that we have to wait until we die to experience the presence of God.
I have been in the home of a family as they receive the news of the sudden and traumatic death of a loved one. I have watched as their faces turn from surprise to shock and fear and grief. I have witnessed a mother collapsing onto the floor upon the news of the death of a child. But I have also watched the gathering of the community in love and support. I’ve seen the stream of food offered, hugs given, genuine care and concern outpoured as the slow process of grief and healing begins. Surely this is a holy event. Surely the grieving family doesn’t have to wait until their deaths to know that God is with them.
I have held a newborn baby and gazed into the eyes of its mother and sensed the overwhelming awe and slender of the moment. Words fail to express the experience, but there is no one, not even the most jaded of hospital employees who has witnessed hundreds of births, who isn’t moved by the sacredness of the moment.
I have stood in front of hundreds of couples as they made genuine sacred commitment to one another. Some have been able to keep their vows over decades of loving living together. Some have fallen short of the intentions of their wedding day. But There is no question in my mind about the presence of God in the process of making promises. There are moments in this life when we don’t have to wait for God to come to us.
I have no doubt that heaven has its glories, but so too does the life we are living right now. I can lean back in my little boat and look up at the moon and stars above from the surface of the lake and know that i am beholding glory. I have watched enough sunrises from enough different perspectives to know that there are no two alike - the process of Creation that was a part of the beginnings of everything continue to be a part of each day in the present.
If there are two kingdoms, the line separating them must be pretty thin, because the sacred keeps being fully present in our everyday world. From my point of view it seems as if this life is pretty sacred the way it is.
When tragedy interrupts the joy of this life it is genuine tragedy in part because what has been lost was also sacred.
I suspect that we will never fully understand all of the nuances of Jesus’ teachings. I suspect that we will never fully grasp the fullness of God’s glory. I’m pretty sure that we will find plenty of topics about which faithful people disagree and enjoy the entanglement of argument. I’ve no particular need for resolution of every mystery and answers to every question.
Maybe the two kingdoms can be compared to the wedding ceremony, where two become one. Or maybe, the wedding ceremony reflects the glory of God who never saw the separation in the first place.
The doctrine of two kingdoms was further supported by Jesus answer to the Pharisees reported in Mark and Matthew when asked about paying taxes. Jesus asked to be shown the money used to pay the tax and, noting that the coin had Caesar’s image on it said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
But there is a problem with dismissing Jesus’ answer so easily. There is no record that Jesus ascribed to a doctrine of two kingdoms. Certainly the Pharisees didn’t think that way. Concepts of secular vs religious simply weren’t a part of their thinking. Neither Greek, the language of the Gospels, nor Latin, the language of the Roman authorities has a word for religious. To the Pharisees, everything belonged to God. Psalm 24 declares, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” From the perspective of faithful Jews of Jesus’ day, there was no distinction between that which was sacred and that which was not because everything was sacred. Everything belonged to God.
The interpretation of the discussion over paying taxes might come down to something that isn’t in the written record: Jesus tone of voice. Do you suppose he was dismissive of the coin? Did he take a look at it and basically say, “This isn’t what is important. Give it to Caesar and give a real offering - an offering of yourself to God.”
Sometimes when we think of Jesus and his message, we think in a sort of backwards way. Since we have defined beliefs and traditional doctrines, we assume that Jesus was about creating doctrine. But there is no evidence that this is the case. Jesus was about building relationships, not creating a systematic theology. Jesus lived his entire life within the context of his Jewish faith and background. The concept of starting a new religion grew out of changes and conflicts among the faithful hundreds of years after his death and resurrection.
All of this is to say that i’ve never been particularly moved by the doctrine of two kingdoms. I am more intrigued with the power and presence of the holy in the midst of this life we now know. I have encountered the sacred in many places that are far from religious institutions. I don’t believe that we have to wait until we die to experience the presence of God.
I have been in the home of a family as they receive the news of the sudden and traumatic death of a loved one. I have watched as their faces turn from surprise to shock and fear and grief. I have witnessed a mother collapsing onto the floor upon the news of the death of a child. But I have also watched the gathering of the community in love and support. I’ve seen the stream of food offered, hugs given, genuine care and concern outpoured as the slow process of grief and healing begins. Surely this is a holy event. Surely the grieving family doesn’t have to wait until their deaths to know that God is with them.
I have held a newborn baby and gazed into the eyes of its mother and sensed the overwhelming awe and slender of the moment. Words fail to express the experience, but there is no one, not even the most jaded of hospital employees who has witnessed hundreds of births, who isn’t moved by the sacredness of the moment.
I have stood in front of hundreds of couples as they made genuine sacred commitment to one another. Some have been able to keep their vows over decades of loving living together. Some have fallen short of the intentions of their wedding day. But There is no question in my mind about the presence of God in the process of making promises. There are moments in this life when we don’t have to wait for God to come to us.
I have no doubt that heaven has its glories, but so too does the life we are living right now. I can lean back in my little boat and look up at the moon and stars above from the surface of the lake and know that i am beholding glory. I have watched enough sunrises from enough different perspectives to know that there are no two alike - the process of Creation that was a part of the beginnings of everything continue to be a part of each day in the present.
If there are two kingdoms, the line separating them must be pretty thin, because the sacred keeps being fully present in our everyday world. From my point of view it seems as if this life is pretty sacred the way it is.
When tragedy interrupts the joy of this life it is genuine tragedy in part because what has been lost was also sacred.
I suspect that we will never fully understand all of the nuances of Jesus’ teachings. I suspect that we will never fully grasp the fullness of God’s glory. I’m pretty sure that we will find plenty of topics about which faithful people disagree and enjoy the entanglement of argument. I’ve no particular need for resolution of every mystery and answers to every question.
Maybe the two kingdoms can be compared to the wedding ceremony, where two become one. Or maybe, the wedding ceremony reflects the glory of God who never saw the separation in the first place.