Living in God's Two Kingdoms: A Biblical Vision for Christianity and Culture

I'm not surprised to see so many bad reviews for this book, many of which state the reason for the low rating was how much they disagree with the author! This book mounts a strong challenge and provides a worthy alternative to the established viewpoints on how Christians ought to live in and view this world.I've treated these viewpoints like fad diets in the past. From a theonomic postmillennialism heavily informed by Reconstructionism (truly, I thought, the only way one could be optimistic about the world) Burned out by that I briefly dipped my toes into emergent theology before getting comfy in a modern, Kuyperian view. Suiting up to reclaim every square inch and redeem absolutely everything under the sun.The problem with this is that it's exhausting to redeem every square inch. Have you seen the world? It contains many square inches! Plus, as I actually began to read my Bible again it just didn't square with what I read. That I was a citizen of a kingdom not of this world, that we were to render unto Caesar what was his due and that God established government authority (the Roman Empire, to take historical context into account!). Just as alarming as what was written was what was absent. No calls to take over the government and establish temporal authority, No mandate to establish certain forms of economies or certain social programs. It seemed primarily concerned with the church and how Christians conducted themselves. The more I read and researched this, the more I realized how similar Reconstructionism, Kuyperianism and Emergent Theology were to each other. Each was its own brand of selective theonomy.This research also lead me to discover 2k (or R2K for the haters) theology and it lined up very well with what I had been reading in the Bible for myself. If you attempt to make everything sacred, nothing is. It is important to keep the sacred and the secular separated as we live in both. As I continued to research 2k the more it fit, even as I struggled with quandaries I challenged myself with. In a 2k view, after all, how could a Christian oppose, say, slavery on moral and religious grounds if that was in the domain of the secular?I wish I had read this book years ago rather than piddle around reading blog posts and posing hypotheticals to myself. Rather than puzzle over those few verses that challenged me, I could have read VanDrunen's readable but comprehensive survey of 2k that uses the whole of Scripture, from the Garden to the Second Coming. VanDrunen clearly displays the establishment of the two kingdoms through the Covenants God has created. the Covenant with Adam that he failed but Christ fulfilled (and we are not second Adams ourselves, meant to work on what Christ has already perfected). The Noahic Covenant which established the secular kingdom and the common grace we all enjoy, the Covenant with Abraham that established the Church, or the secular kingdom.This call to simple, humble, ordinary living as pilgrims on the way is a wonderful alternative to the radical, restless and transformative theologies that are so dominant. It provides a profound sense of comfort and rest, but not complacency. We can rejoice in our labor and gifts, but rest in knowing it's not up to us to somehow Christianize them.As R Scott Clark has said, if you don't think the magistrate should be executing heretics, you're some form of 2k. Despite protests to the contrary, I think many who oppose 2k agree with it much more then they let on. This reading of Scripture just departs from the theonomic, emergent or Kuyperian readings they're used toMy only major complaint is the last chapter of the book, which considers the 2k perspective on education, vocation and politics. it was far too short to cover those three in the depth they deserve. Each could easily have been its own chapter, or own book. The chapter still covered the ground well enough, and even offered my favorite aside in the book, pondering if Christian Schools are usurping the Church's authority by focusing on chapel and piety when there is math and history to learn.I'd recommend this book to anyone tired of Facebook posts that uses selective verses haphazardly to promote their politics and virtue signal. We all have a natural tendency to want to wrap up our political beliefs with Scripture to prove our moral superiority while casting out the opposition as heretics. 2k theology provides a healthy antidote to using the sacred as a secular bludgeon. It's easy to see here just how fearful people are of that being taken away.

Dr. VanDrunen is clearly a brilliant mind. He has a strong grasp of the law, as evidenced by his J.D., and he knows theology very well. He brings both to bear in this introduction to the Reformed Two Kingdoms theology. Overall, I find his arguments biblical and compelling.The biggest area of issue I have is his understanding of the Mosaic Covenant. He grounds the civil kingdom in the Noahic covenant, while he grounds the salvific kingdom in the Abrahamic covenant. I doubt most of would take exception to either of those thoughts. The problem comes when he gets to the Mosaic Covenant and how it doesn't fit his understanding of two kingdom theology. It seems as though he treats it as a parenthesis in redemptive history.He has an odd understanding of the Sermon on Mount as applying only to Christians and not as a corrective to misunderstandings regarding the Ten Commandments.He also seems to paint with a broad brush when discussing neo-Calvinists and their political theology, sometimes setting up a bit of a strawman.Other than those two issues, the book is solid and a good introduction to R2K.

This writing provides a clear and straight line of thinking in a very confusing culture today. I only wish it would have addressed a few more case studies.

Intimidated Christians who feel guilty and those somewhat arrogant will find the place of their peace and modesty. Urge you to read this at least once.

How do Christians live in a culture that has a world view instead of a bibical view on topics of education, marriage, abortion, and work. Mr. VanDrunen starts a foundation in the covenants with God and his people. The covenant with Noah established a covenant with mankind that is practiced by all, a form of government, a form of education, a form of marriage. I appreciated the fact that how as Christians we must be careful not be dogmatic on issues that are not clear in the bible. Such as education. However, as parents we are ultimately responsible for our children's education. We just cannot expect others to feel the same way. Whether we homeschool or elect public education. I found it interesting in the area of politics how as christians, we push the Kingdom of redemption on those that are not receptive to the kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Redemption is the completion of the Abram's covenant thru Jesus Christ. The read is more about learning the difference of mankind's covenant thru Noah and the redemption covenant finished with Jesus. I did find it informative and realized that there is more to learn and ponder living in two different cultures that clash. What is my response and to have an educated reponse in crucial

For anyone seeking to educate themselves relative to the issues being presented by this work I judge same to be well organized, presented and most helpful to that end. Clearly the author takes a position and seeks to defend same via scriptural exegesis supplemented by reference to other supporting evidences. Thus this work is to be considered in light of those who argue in opposition to VanDrunen's positions and conclusions. But, of course, this is the purpose of judging any debate: clear articulation of the positions of the contestants (VanDrunen does so) and then resort to the Christian's final authority - the Word of God.

With the rise of theonomist movement in the United States, this book is a timely response and biblical alternative. Give it a read.

Was very much in agreement with the conclusions. Felt uneasy with some of the covenant methodology. Definitely worth a read.