The candidates and the Two Kingdoms

Last updated on: October 14, 2016 at 10:02 am By Gene Veith

I’ve been studying the Lutheran doctrine of the Two Kingdoms, which has some interesting applications to our controversies today. Christian defenders of Donald Trump are saying that his sexual transgressions show that he isn’t a saint. But he is well-suited to the pragmatic, rough-and-tumble world of secular government, and that’s what we need in a presidential candidate.

Well, according to the doctrine of the Two Kingdoms, God’s spiritual Kingdom is ruled by the Gospel, but His earthly Kingdom is ruled by the Law. That is to say, morality does apply precisely to secular government.

UPDATE: Specifically, the first use of the Law, the civil use, which curbs external vices. Though it cannot justify or get at our internal sinfulness, it restrains the outward expression of that sinfulness. Such restraint and self-control can be practiced, to a certain extent, by all members of society, which depends on some kind of moral order.

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Vice-presidential candidates debate tonight

Last updated on: October 3, 2016 at 9:11 pm By Gene Veith

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I recently read a letter to the editor that praised both vice presidential candidates. The writer wished that they were at the head of their tickets. Consequently, he is going to vote for the least healthy presidential candidate in the hope that the vice president will have to take over.

What a terrible thing to say. At any rate, the Vice Presidential candidates, Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence, will debate tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET. Details after the jump.

Normally, I’d live-blog the event, but I’ll be on the road and talking about vocation tonight. But you feel free to comment on the debate, right here at this post. (more…)

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The purpose for work that we keep forgetting

Last updated on: September 4, 2016 at 4:36 pm By Gene Veith

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A Labor Day post at Christianity.com offers “8 Biblical Principles of Work.” The list, by seminary professor James Eckman, is thoughtful and instructive. See it after the jump.

But the list is all about serving oneself or serving God. It leaves out what Luther taught is the major purpose of all vocations: To love and serve one’s neighbors.

I see this so often: Theological reflections about vocation that forget about the neighbor. You really need to include this dimension. Otherwise, work loses its moral significance.

You start thinking about your callings as something for your personal satisfaction (so that if you are not feeling satisfied, you must not really be called, an attitude that can wreck, for example, the vocation of marriage). Or you start thinking about work as a “good work” that you are offering to God, as opposed to His gift and His instrument.

It’s love of neighbor that inspires you to do your best work for your customers. It’s love of neighbor–your family, your fellow workers–that motivates you to work even though you are exhausted. It’s love of neighbor–the good you are doing in the goods or services you are providing–that gives work its satisfaction. And it’s love and service of the neighbor that is the fruit of faith and the way that God desires us to love and serve Him. (more…)

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Scandinavian welfare state reform

Last updated on: August 25, 2016 at 5:11 pm By Gene Veith

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As I reported from my recent sojourns in Scandinavia, the vaunted “welfare state” the Nordic states are known for is much more complex than we Americans realize, with the generous government benefits co-existing with extraordinarily free economies and a culture fixated on hard work and personal responsibility. (Might all of this be due to the Lutheran doctrine of vocation?)

Nima Sanandaji, the son of Swedish immigrants, has written a book on this subject, including a treatment of recent attempts to reform some of its dysfunctions, especially in the way it has sapped the initiative of immigrants who do not share the work-and-responsibility culture. Sanandaji sums up his book in an essay excerpted and linked after the jump. (more…)

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Chance for free books

Last updated on: August 22, 2016 at 6:44 pm By Gene Veith

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Are you familiar with GoodReads, a popular site for following authors, seeing what your friends are reading, and getting ideas for books that you might like? The site has a giveaway feature, with which you can sign up for a “drawing” that can give you free books. For the month of August, my daughter’s book, Blessed: God’s Gift of Love, co-written with Christopher Mitchell, has three copies available as giveaways. (Go here for my review of that book.)

In September, our book, Family Vocations will be available. I’ll give you a link when the giveaway is set up. In the meantime, take a shot at Mary’s book. The contest is linked after the jump.

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California drops the proposed law targeting religious colleges

Last updated on: August 10, 2016 at 10:12 pm By Gene Veith

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As we blogged about, the California legislature was all set to pass a law punishing Christian colleges if they “discriminate” against anyone on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. Colleges would be unable to set behavior standards for students and would have to hire faculty members who didn’t believe in the religious position of the institution. This would effectively shut down evangelical, Catholic, Lutheran, Muslim, and other religious institutions–or force them to change their teachings.

Due to the concerted effort of California religious institutions, religious liberty protests, political pressure, and widespread criticism, the legislator who proposed the measure has dropped the discrimination measure from his bill. Colleges would still have to report to the state any expulsions for homosexual behavior and any other invocations of the religious exemption. But for now, California’s religious schools have won an important victory. (more…)

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