The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum The Doctrine of the Atonement

John Calvin's Two Kingdom theology, also known as the Two Kingdoms Doctrine, holds that God rules over two distinct kingdoms or realms: the spiritual kingdom, which is the domain of the church, and the secular kingdom, which is the domain of the state. According to Calvin, these two kingdoms are both ordained by God and have their own distinct spheres of authority and responsibility. The church is responsible for matters of faith and the salvation of souls, while the state is responsible for matters of civil order and justice. However, Calvin also believed that the two kingdoms are interconnected and that the church has a role to play in the secular kingdom by providing moral guidance and support to the state.

David VanDrunen's radical two kingdom theology, on the other hand, takes a more extreme approach to the separation of church and state. VanDrunen argues that God rules over two completely separate and independent kingdoms, one spiritual and one secular, and that these two kingdoms have no necessary connection or overlap. According to VanDrunen, the church has no role to play in the secular kingdom, and the state has no responsibility to promote or enforce any particular religious beliefs or practices. In this view, the church's sole focus should be on preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments, while the state's sole focus should be on maintaining civil order and justice.

One of the key differences between Calvin's Two Kingdom theology and VanDrunen's radical two kingdom theology is the degree of separation between the church and the state. While both views hold that there are two distinct kingdoms, Calvin's view emphasizes the interconnectedness and cooperation between the two kingdoms, while VanDrunen's view emphasizes the complete separation and independence of the two kingdoms.

Another key difference is the role of the church in the secular kingdom. Calvin believed that the church had a role to play in providing moral guidance and support to the state, while VanDrunen believes that the church has no role to play in the secular kingdom at all.

Finally, VanDrunen's radical two kingdom theology also emphasizes the idea that the secular kingdom operates under natural law, rather than divine law. In this view, the state's laws and policies should be based on human reason and natural law principles, rather than on any specific religious beliefs or practices.