Our Lutheran]churches teach that lawful civil ordinances are good works of God and that it is right for Christians to hold civil office, to sit as judges, to decide matters by the federal, state or local government and other existing laws, to award just punishments, to engage in just wars, to serve as soldiers, to make legal contracts, to hold property, to swear oaths when required by elected officials, to marry, to be given in marriage. Our Lutheran churches condemn those who forbid Christians to engage in these civil functions. They also condemn those who place the perfection of the Gospel not in the fear of God and in faith but in forsaking civil duties. The Gospel teaches an eternal righteousness of the heart, but it does not destroy the state government or the family. On the contrary, it especially requires their preservation as an ordinance of God and the exercise of love in these ordinances. Therefore Christians are necessarily bound to obey their elected officials and laws except when commanded to sin, 7 for then they ought to obey God rather than men.

One insight of the Lutheran Reformation was to understand that there are two kingdoms or realms. There is the Spiritual kingdom of which Jesus is the Head of the church. And then there is the Realm of Government. God has established governments in order that you and I could live in peace and safety. Elected officials are placed in their position in order to ultimately serve God and the people under their authority. There are also times that one may serve his or her country in the armed forces in just wars.

A third state that is not addressed in this chief article would be that of family. Marriage is not listed as one of the first twenty-one chief articles of faith. Marriage was instituted by Creator God from the very beginning as He created a male and then a female in His image and united them as husband and wife for life.

Please pray for devout and faithful rulers, good government as we do in the Lord's Prayer as we petition God to 'Give us this day our daily bread.'

--Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,