Living in God’s Two Kingdoms by David VanDrunen

UPDATE: a critique of LIGTK by a trusted theologian, Keith Mathison.

This is the first book I’ve read from e-cover to e-cover on my kindle.  I did a little mental boogie dance of joy when I finished it.  Here’s to many more mental shimmies!

After reading Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture many moons ago (and being frustrated where it left the Reformed Camp), VanDrunen’s Living in God’s Two Kingdom’s: A Biblical Vision for Christianity and Culture fills in a big gap.

I wished he would have dedicated more ink to the application of RTK (Reformed Two Kingdom Theology), but I realize application (on education, politics, and vocation) of RTK pushed too far may conflict with binding one’s conscience.  With that understanding, he nicely minds his limits.  His book is also interesting from a diaconate point of view.  He says nothing new, but spells out the office of deacon in a simple, biblically-based manner.  Actually, the whole book is so wonderfully redemptive historical that you could gain much from it just by drawing out its biblical theology.  And… and… and… his clarity is second to none!  I appreciate that so much.  I think if I read this to Jacob every night, he too would understand RTK!  Definitely 5-star worthy in my simpleton opinion.

Anyway, here’s my brief amateur post on amazon.com called Two Kingdom Clarity (by the way, the other, real reviews blow mine out of the water)…

This is easily the clearest teaching on Reformed Two Kingdom Theology. VanDrunen surveys the main covenants associated with God’s rule over the common kingdom (Noahic covenant of Gen 9) and the redemptive kingdom (Abrahamic covenant). He builds his argument as redemptive history progresses from the Old to the New just as the book’s subtitle suggests. The reader is able to follow how the Bible shows God’s sovereign rule over these two distinct spheres. He sheds light on the misguided tendency to revert back to the cultural mandates given in the Garden of Eden which have already been fulfilled in Christ. The Last Adam has already completed the task of obedience as a federal head which the First Adam failed to accomplish. This has lasting and profound ramifications for today’s Christian sojourner. Key to his argument is the place of the church. The accomplished work of Christ leads to his high view of the church because to her has been given the mission to advance the redemptive kingdom and not the common kingdom. Both the common kingdom and the redemptive kingdoms have their separate purposes. VanDrunen does well to explain these differences and to shed light on the Christian’s involvement in both.

Whether you agree with Two Kingdom Theology or not, this should be the first text you read on the subject. His clarity on the matter makes this book highly accessible if you are new to the topic. Great read because it’s both introductory and definitive.