{"id":4944,"date":"2020-11-03T01:10:19","date_gmt":"2020-11-03T01:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learn.elca.org\/jle\/?p=4944"},"modified":"2020-11-03T01:10:19","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T01:10:19","slug":"for-congregational-discussion-lutheran-theology-and-the-relationship-between-church-and-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learn.elca.org\/jle\/for-congregational-discussion-lutheran-theology-and-the-relationship-between-church-and-state\/","title":{"rendered":"For Congregational Discussion: Lutheran Theology and the Relationship between Church and State"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
[1] The Journal of Lutheran Ethics hopes to provide reading material to stimulate thinking and conversation among academics, clergy, and laity. To this end, this section of JLE encourages constructive discussion within congregations about the topics discussed in JLE.\u00a0 Consider using this section in formal adult education classes or in informal small group discussions.\u00a0 The quotes below are followed by questions that encourage readers to think about their own experiences and their own views on this topic and to share these views while listening to others.\u00a0 After reading this issue, readers also might want to refer to the October\/November Issue on Dialogue for tips on creating constructive dialogue practices.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Quotes to Consider and Discuss:<\/strong><\/p>\n

[2} “The Church forms disciples who are also citizens.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Participation in civic life is a concrete expression of neighbor love, and the Church has an important role to play in forming Christians who understand this expression in their call to follow Jesus.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Amy Reumann.\u00a0 Can you remember a time when you felt that your experience in church (in adult education class, in Sunday School, or in a sermon for example) called you to participate in civic life in a concrete and specific way?\u00a0 What was that experience like?\u00a0 What did you do?<\/p>\n

[3]\u00a0<\/strong>“Rulers, Luther writes, “declare that whoever rebukes them is seditious, rebels against the authority ordained by God, and defames their honor.”<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0John Stumme as quoted by Amy Reumann.\u00a0 Have you ever been rebuked by someone who held less authority than you? What did that experience feel like and what did you learn from it?<\/p>\n

[4] Lutherans have strong social teachings about the need for humility in discourse rather than an ethic of triumphalism . . . . Lutherans believe that public policy advocacy built on an understanding of works righteousness undercuts our community of the church and our national unity. .\u00a0<\/strong>Amy Reumann.\u00a0 What do you think is the difference in a works righteous understanding of advocacy and a view of advocacy built on serving Christ as a response to grace?<\/p>\n

[5] “For Luther, the state and politics can preserve the world but cannot save one’s soul.”<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Yang.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Do you ever feel that a single political action will either save or damn the world?\u00a0 Talk about that experience and that feeling.<\/p>\n

[6] “However, Luther understood the importance of the external condition of life from a\u00a0<\/strong>realistic perspective. Politics should not be underestimated. For most people, the aggravation of the condition of life destroys life itself. Therefore, it is important for public power to administer efficiently the production of goods necessary for supporting people’s lives and to create peace by just distribution of products.”<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Yang.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>While Luther, Yang, and Reumann all agree that political action cannot save the nation or one’s soul, they also all agree that political action is a necessary way to help serve one’s neighbor.\u00a0 Explain one time that you felt you were able to help a neighbor by using tools available from the government.<\/p>\n

[7]\u00a0“The increasing hatred of the public coming from the expansive influence of politics that has party-spirit and divides a whole nation, and possibly a whole planet, is today’s power of sin that poses a threat to the preservation of the world. Luther’s interpretation of the love commandment from the perspective of the moderation of feelings of hatred and hostility will give the church the godly words needed for the sustainable prosperity of humankind.”\u00a0<\/strong>Yang.\u00a0 Think about an experience in your church community that helped you feel love or helped you hear the love commandment in a way that moderated a feeling of hatred or hostility.\u00a0 How can your church continue to preach love sustainably?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[1] The Journal of Lutheran Ethics hopes to provide reading material to stimulate thinking and conversation among academics, clergy, and laity. To this end, this section of JLE encourages constructive discussion within congregations about the topics discussed in JLE.\u00a0 Consider using this section in formal adult education classes or in informal small group discussions.\u00a0 The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,33,48],"tags":[142],"class_list":["post-4944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian-living","category-government-civil","category-politics","tag-congregational-discussion-guide"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFor Congregational Discussion: Lutheran Theology and the Relationship between Church and State - Journal of Lutheran Ethics<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.elca.org\/jle\/for-congregational-discussion-lutheran-theology-and-the-relationship-between-church-and-state\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"For Congregational Discussion: Lutheran Theology and the Relationship between Church and State - Journal of Lutheran Ethics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[1] The Journal of Lutheran Ethics hopes to provide reading material to stimulate thinking and conversation among academics, clergy, and laity. 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