Reformation Red Pill 42. Christian Political Theory: Sphere Sovereignty VS Classic Two Kingdoms w/Joe Boot & Joe Rigney
Oct 5, 2024
Joe Boot, founder of the Ezra Institute, champions Kuyperian sphere sovereignty, advocating for a structured approach to church and state relations. In contrast, Joe Rigney from New St. Andrews College defends the classic two kingdoms perspective, emphasizing natural law. They engage in a lively discussion about the distinct roles of family, church, and state under God’s law and critique the implications of civil authority in religious matters. The conversation navigates the complexities of justice, heresy, and the challenges of maintaining faith in a post-Christian society.
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Kuyper's Sphere Sovereignty Explained
- Kuyper's sphere sovereignty emphasizes distinct God-ordained jurisdictions for family, church, and state, each under Christ's authority but separate in function.
- These spheres are interrelated yet non-hierarchical, preventing overreach by one sphere over another.
Classic Two Kingdoms Overview
- Classic two kingdoms teach an internal spiritual reign of God and an external temporal realm of institutions like church and state.
- The state's laws should be based on natural law accessible to all, with flexibility in application depending on cultural context.
Radical Two Kingdoms Critique
- Radical Two Kingdoms splits reality into a common kingdom governed by nature and a redemptive kingdom governed by scripture and Christ, running parallel and non-interacting.
- This view rejects application of special revelation to civil government and denies a Christian way to govern society broadly.