handout

1. FIEC Leaders Conference 2017 david.shaw@fiec.org.uk
Jonathan Leeman’s Political Church in outline
1. Two authorities,twoages,twomandates.
Two mandates
- “The state ischarged withrenderingjudgment,apurpose enunciatedmostclearlyinGenesis9:5-6
and Romans13:1-7.” (375)
- “The local church ischarged withdeclaringChrist’sabsolute,legitimate,comprehensive and
authorisingrule overthe nationsandtheirleaders,pointingthe waytojustificationandjustice,
affirmingwhoandwhatbelongstohiskingdom, andexemplifyingthe justandrighteouskingdom
life.”(375)
Two ages
- “The state possessesthe powerof temporal coercion.”(374)
- “The church possessesthe power of eschatological declaration.”(375)
Two authorities
- “The local church andits membersrepresentGod’srule accordingtoa ‘deputymodel’of
authorisation.Christhasdeputisedittowearhisname andspeakon his behalf ona limitedrange of
matters.”(374)
- “The state representsGod’srule accordingtoa delegate model.Christhasdelegatedameasure of
hisauthorityto governmentstofulfil asetof specificpurposesaccordingtohisstandards.Butits
decisionandactionstonot bearhisreputationascloselyasdoesthe church.” (374)
2. One king,one judge,one justice
“Christis the Kingof kings.He promisestojudge all governmentsandtheirpeoples.Everyperson,institution
and conceptionof justice iseitherforhimor againsthim.There isno suchthingas religiousneutrality,even
inthe publicsquare.”(375)
3. A church’stwofoldjurisdiction.
“The local church’sjurisdiction extendsinone respecttoitsownmembersandinanotherrespecttothe
nations.Itdisciplesthe formerandevangelisesthe latter,usingthe wordsof KingJesusforbothactivities.
SpeakingGod’swordfromthe pulpitandon the streetistherefore political speech.The keysof the kingdom,
put intouse throughbaptismandthe Lord’s Supper,shouldkeepthe line betweenthesetwolayersof
jurisdictionclear.”(375)

2. FIEC Leaders Conference 2017 david.shaw@fiec.org.uk
4. (The church is) A model of true politics
“The life of the churchshould,little bylittle,increasinglypicture atrue politicsanda true worship. Inits
confessionsandcorporate life together,the churchshouldofferacontrastsocietyor counter-culture of
righteousness,justice andlove…The local churchiswhere the nationsjointogetheras‘one new man’”(375)
5. Evangelismaspolitical engagement
6. Political engagementandrepresentingJesusasa delegate
7. Political engagementandrepresentingJesusasa deputy
8. Employingajoint/several distinction
9. The needforcautionin deputising one’spoliticalviews
a. “Doesthe issue atstake fall withinthe government’s authorisationtorenderjustice?
b. Doesthe law or practice inquestionexplicitlycontradictthe rule of Christ(e.g.anti-
conversionlaws)
c. Is the matterclear inScripture or an implicationof animplication?”(382)
10. A church’sprimarydeputisedmessage togovernment
a. The government’sauthoritycomesfromGod
b. The government’sauthorityistemporary
c. The governmentmustprotectthe survival of God’speople,the church
d. The occupants of governmentwill be judgedforafailure onanyof these points,aswell as
for anyidolatrousexcessesandinjustices.
“To expandonthe third point”…(383)
Churchesshould pray forand workforgovernment
Churchesareand are not a political threat
Religious tolerance
Political success equalfaithfulness
No such thing asa neutrallegitimisation forgovernment,justiceorreligious freedom.