Hosea Chps 3-4: Governments and Providence

I just realized, I have no idea what I've been doing this weekend. Honestly: how many days are like this for everyone? Wait...it is coming back: North Shore. All weekend has been spent involved in some North Shore related task. Saturday morning, David, Mike and I met for about two hours discussing the things coming up in '05 for the church. It was a real "paydirt" conversation, and I'm hoping some good things come out of it. Today was...well...church again, followed by a potluck, followed by a church business meeting.

Sunday School was extremely interesting today. The text at hand was Hosea chps 4-5, and the question was whether or not the judgment and blessings of nations by God is still "in force" today.

Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel; for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or kindness, and no knowledge of God in the land; 2 there is swearing, lying, killing, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds and murder follows murder. 3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it languish, and also the beasts of the field, and the birds of the air; and even the fish of the sea are taken away. (RSV)

Is the United States, or China or Iraq or wherever subject to the same kind of situation as was Israel? Lynn-nore rightly made the deliniation between Israel as a covenanted theocracy and the U.S. as a secularist republic. Nevertheless, by the end of the hour all of us agreed that there was some kind of blessing/cursing dynamic that extends to nation-states, we just weren't able to parse out how this would work. (Mike T. actually broadened the discussion to address not only nations but also denominations, churches and individuals.) I think, for example, of Joseph or Daniel and the effect for blessing that these men had in their polythestic, pagan nations. Consider, too, the mission of Jonah.

Underneath the discussion were several knotty problems. The relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. How (or whether) one may authentically and correctly discern the hand of God in current historical events. The hermeneutical trick of translating from a B.C.E. theocracy to a C.E. republic. And, not least, if God is judging Israel primarily on the basis of the apostacy of her priests, then who are the priests today?

I couldn't help but think of this excellent book review on God's providence that appears in the February 2005 edition of the magazine, First Things. (I will include a link as soon as I figure out how to place links in the blog sidebar.) The book reviewed makes the point that one cannot understand foreign policy and the political relation of nations in our modern context without some understanding of divine providence. It is an interesting hypothesis.

It also reminded me of Martin Luther's doctrine of the two kingdoms. This doctrine has fallen into disrepute. Yale's Miroslav Volf, for example, condemns it for pacifying the oppressed and legitimizing the oppressor. Still, here's how my Gordon-Conwell prof, Dr. Gordon Isaac describes this doctrine:

"The duality between Caesar and God is not one of origin; both come from God. The two kingdoms are ordained by God for very different purposes. The things of Caesar have to do with the externals of life: taxes, laws, ordering society, in short, all that pertains to body, property and physical life. The things of God have to do with the spiritual commitments of life: the divine word, faith, and spiritual life, in short, all that pertains to the soul, the promise of God, and salvation.

Civil or secular government is meant to protect order and to punish murderers and thieves. The use of the sword is allowed for the good of all society; Christians and non-Christians alike. In good conscience Christians can serve as army officers, police officers, or as judges because they participate in the rule ordained by God. The secular government plays an important role that we are to receive with thanksgiving. Therefore, participating in government by accepting a political office is as Luther says, "the finest thank-offering, the highest service of God." As Christians we are duty bound to engage in the political process.

The spiritual government is meant to bring the kingdom of God into being. This is accomplished through the forgiveness of sin that takes place in preaching, the sacraments, and brotherly consolation. When the Holy Spirit produces faith in a human heart Christ rules in that person for the good of the church and the world. Force is not used in this kingdom; it is a divinely produced freedom that allows a sinner to confess the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior." Gordon Isaac, "Opening the Word" Contact Vol. 34 No. 3 (Fall 2004), 31.

One can't help but notice the platonic dualism between sacred and secular, and, within it, the origin of what would become a Lockian disctinction between church and state. (At least I'm pretty sure we have John Locke's On Civil Government to thank for that.)

A few other notes. Lynn-nore is really starting to show. We were standing in the grocery store the other night feeling around on her belly. Not long now before the baby will be a regular source of entertainment! Lynn-nore also learned at the potlock today that if she makes her deviled eggs with mayonnaise instead of Miracle Whip, they still vanish before one's very eyes.

Kara has begun putting sounds to letters in amazing ways. Just today, driving home from church, she pipes up, "Mommie, 'teeth' begins with a 'T'!" and, "'boat' begins with a 'B'!" She has really begun to "tune in" to Lynn-nore lately. If Mommy is doing something, Kara wants to be involved. Kara will do it. Kara will volunteer. Kara will learn how. It is quite cute. Lynn-nore attended a parent/teacher conference with Mrs. Kimmer (may she be blessed!) last week. She said Kara is doing very well, and even Mrs. Kimmer can't help but comment on how cute Kara has gotten. (I promise to post lots of photos as soon as I can figure out how that works.)