“[Jesus said,] Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” (Matthew 22:21)
Christians belong to the Kingdom of God that is "not of this world," often feeling torn between the demands of faith and of the world. How do we reconcile being a devoted citizen of Heaven while also being a responsible employee, parent, or citizen?
Martin Luther found great comfort in what he called the "Two Kingdoms" doctrine, also referred to as “God’s Two Hands.”
Scripture teaches that God rules and reigns over all Creation through two distinct ways: the “Right-Hand” and the “Left-Hand” Kingdoms.
The Right Hand Kingdom is God’s spiritual Kingdom, known as His Church. Here, God does not rule by coercion or force, He rules by grace and mercy. Jesus Christ is King and through His Gospel message of the forgiveness of sins, God brings dead sinners to life.
Those who are baptized in faith, who hear God’s Words of absolution in faith, who receive Christ’s Body and Blood in the Lord's Supper in faith … all receive the assurance of God’s forgiveness directly from God's Right Hand: Jesus Christ.
The Left Hand Kingdom is God’s temporal kingdom, made up of all the authorities in and of the world. This kingdom encompasses individual vocations, families, and governments. We can call this hand the “State.” In this kingdom, God rules through His Law, using the "sword" of civil authorities to restrain evil, maintain order, and provide for our daily needs.
This is not a secular realm opposed to God; it is still God’s Kingdom that He established. God works here, through people like you and me, to serve and bless all human life with dignity and sanctity.
We must look at these two Kingdoms of God with their proper distinctions. Confusion and chaos abound when we mix them up.
Like when the Church (Right Hand) tries to rule through coercion and force, people are hurt and driven away from Christ. Or when we expect the State (Left Hand) to produce saving faith through legislation, we place our trust in “princes” rather than in God.
God established His Church to proclaim and give faithful witness to Christ’s Gospel message. He established the State to restrain the wicked and protect the good. They must remain distinct.
As faithful Christians, we are dual citizens.
When we faithfully serve our families, friends, communities, and country, we are serving our neighbors and the pursuit of goodness and order, all under God’s Left Hand Kingdom.
When we faithfully gather to worship God in thanks and praise, we receive God’s gifts of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life under His Right Hand Kingdom.
Both hands belong to the One True God.
So, even amidst the turmoil of this dark and lost world, we trust that God is still at work, both through His Church and the State. And we trust in His promise of life to come, when all is made one in Christ.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(Published on the Devotional Page of the Alpine Avalanche Newspaper on Thurs, July 2, 2026)
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