Understanding Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Church and State Relations

What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' view on the relationship between church and state?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the church and state are two distinct realms, both ordained by God but with different functions. He states, "We must hold to the distinction that we have established between the sphere and the realm of the church and the sphere and the realm of the state. They're both ordained by God. They both have their functions to perform." The confusion of these two realms has led to many problems throughout church history, whether in the Roman Catholic approach or the Erastian approach where the state controls the church.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones respond to the idea of "Christianizing" society?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically rejects the notion of "Christianizing" society, calling it "a contradiction in terms and a denial of so much plain teaching in the scripture." He explains: "You can't christianize anything. People can become christians as the result of the preaching of the church...But you cannot talk about christianizing either an individual or a community which is not christian." He cites Scripture that "the natural mind is enmity against God is not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed, can be."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe about Christ's kingdom in relation to this world?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Christ's kingdom comes gradually only in one sense - in the church, as people are saved and added to it. He rejects the idea that society as a whole will gradually become Christian. Instead, he maintains that there is "always a tension between the two kingdoms, the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world." The full manifestation of Christ's kingdom on earth will come only at His second coming, not through gradual societal transformation.

What is the primary function of the church according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

The prime task of the church, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is "to preach the gospel, preach the gospel of salvation." He states that "the business of the church, if I may so put it, is to produce christians." This includes not only evangelism but also "to build up these christians who've been converted, build them up in their most holy faith." The church must "expound and make known the whole council of God," not selecting only parts of Scripture that are comforting or devotional.

What role should individual Christians play in society according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that individual Christians should "work out these principles in detail everywhere in the whole of life." Unlike the church, which should limit itself to teaching principles, individual Christians can and should engage in politics, professions, and cultural activities to apply Christian principles. He states: "It is the business of the individual christian member of the church to work out these principles in detail everywhere in the whole of life." Christians should seek to "influence the powers that be in the country to which he belongs as much as possible in what he regards as the right direction."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones view the state's role in relation to religious teaching?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that the state should neither force people to become Christians nor force them into atheism. He states: "It is never the business of the state to compel people to have christian teaching," noting that this has been wrongly done in the past. But equally, "the state must not also try to force people to become atheists," which he suggests is happening through education systems that teach evolution and other secular perspectives without balance.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe about how moral issues should be decided in society?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones rejects the modern approach where "it is the vice of the majority that decides questions of moral." He critiques the idea that "you decide moral issues in terms of counting heads, in terms of the majority," calling this "a very false way of deciding morals." He argues that moral standards should not change "according to the whim of the mass of the people" but should be based on biblical principles because public opinion is unreliable and changes frequently.

What distinction does Dr. Lloyd-Jones make between the church's role and the minister's role in politics?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones critiques "the preacher politician" who confuses the realms of church and state. He states: "The church, as I'm going to show you, is not to enter into politics, but she is to lay down principles that should govern politics and everything else." Ministers should not be directly involved in political activism or hold political positions (he specifically criticizes spiritual lords in the House of Lords), but should teach biblical principles that apply to all areas of life including politics.