Should religion and public praying be in public schools? Should the government make laws that limit what can be taught in churches? Should church pulpits be used to promote political agendas? Should the government be promoting Christianity? Just what are the roles of church and state?

Before the fall into sin, there was only one kingdom in this world, in which God ruled in love and man responded in love. With the fall into sin, however, love was no longer reciprocal. Man's love turned to hate, and he was firmly opposed to God. If there was to be any order in this new world of hostility, something had to change.

It began in God's inexhaustible love. In order to reestablish reciprocal love, He forged a plan to save recalcitrant mankind from its self-inflicted chaos and doom. He announced to the first sinners that He would send a Savior, Who would crush the power of Satan (Genesis 3:15). Embedded in the words of this Gospel was God's power unto salvation (Romans 1:16). The message was the means by which He would restore His kingdom, His gracious rule in the heart. By grace, He would turn hearts of stone (hate) into hearts of flesh (faith/love) (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Where this kingdom takes hold, man's love for God is restored through faith. Love becomes reciprocal.

However, it does not take hold in everyone. Beginning with Cain, the majority rejected God's love. Driven by hate, they became Satan's tools. Throughout time, he has used them in his fierce attempt to destroy the spiritual kingdom. Lies, persecution, and murder have been his tools. Unhindered, the wicked might have succeeded.

To prevent this, God has established another kingdom, a "secular kingdom." In this kingdom, He appoints authorities to maintain law and order (Romans 13). Using the threat of punishment, each authority "is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." (Romans 13:4) Thus, the coarse outbursts of sin are kept in check. Even wicked rulers have to maintain law and order in their nations.

This secular kingdom is God's tool. By hindering the hostility of the heathen, this kingdom makes it easier for the Gospel to be spread and for the redeemed to live "a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:2-4)

So it is that there are two kingdoms, the spiritual and the secular. The spiritual kingdom is ruled by the inner working of the gracious words of Scripture. The secular kingdom is ruled by outward working of force and intimidation. Throughout history, we see that when the authorities in one kingdom try to interfere with those in the other, the results are catastrophic. When the state uses its tools to coerce the people to adopt a religion, the people may do so outwardly, but not from the heart. The sword of the government cannot change hearts.

Neither can the Gospel of salvation stop the evil behavior of those still wandering in the darkness of unbelief, for "natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (2 Corinthians 2:14) Instead of faith and love, they continue in their hatred toward Christ and His spiritual kingdom.

How foolish it is for secular leaders to meddle with the work of the church. Likewise, it is foolish for the spiritual leaders to extend their ministry into the work of the state. Bible study and prayer do not belong in the curriculum of public (government) schools. The government should not try to control what is taught in churches. The two kingdoms are distinct in their roles and methods. It is God's will that each contains its service within its realm: the spiritual kingdom creating love by means of the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17); the secular kingdom controlling hate by means of the sword of the flesh (Romans 13:4).

May the Lord bless both kingdoms, so that they function according to His will.

John Pfeiffer is retired from the pastoral and teaching ministry. He is a former president of Immanuel Lutheran College.