Wholly Citizens - by Joel D Biermann (Paperback)

About the Book

Wholly Citizens addresses the relation between the church and the world in light of the Reformation teaching of the two realms - expecially as presented by Luther. Joel Biermann argues that, on the one hand, most interpreters of Luther misappropriate Luther by seeing him as a supporter of a wall of separation. On the other hand, those clamoring for the preservation of the rights of Christians and the church are also out of step with a right understanding of the two realms. Instead, the corporate church and individuals are responsible for the world, and each must speak directly about and to the world in meaningful ways--

Book Synopsis

Wholly Citizens addresses the relation between the church and the world in light of the Reformation teaching of the two realmsespecially as presented by Luther. Rather than exploring again the usual texts of Luther from the 1520s, this book begins with a careful reading of Luthers Commentary on Psalm 81 (1531), and then considers subsequent interpreters of Luther, both faithful and otherwise, and the dubious legacy they have left the church. The book argues that both the corporate church as well as individual believers are responsible for the world, and that each must speak directly about and to the world in meaningful ways. The final section of the book addresses the concrete situation facing believers in the early 21st century in light of faithful Reformation teaching about the two realms. Following this path leads to conclusions not entirely expected, including the forthright rejection of a wall of separation between church and state, and also a rebuke of the familiar clamor for the preservation of the rights of Christians and the church. Heedless of the status quo, Wholly Citizens offers an engaging and bracing picture of Christian life in todays worlda picture framed in theological truth.