It was supposed to be an ordinary evening at our favorite restaurant.

My wife and I ordered our food and as usual began chatting with the manager. Over the years he had become a friend to us. We often talked to him about Jesus and regularly invited him to church and our home. He had at times reached out to us for prayer and considered us his family. We truly loved this man.

Then suddenly, everything took an unexpected turn! He bolted from the table, rushed into his office and closed the door behind him. We were left stunned—until we saw why.

Two well-armed Border Patrol officers strode through the front door, scanning the room with unmistakable purpose. They were looking for him. Erica and I watched as they checked the bathrooms, moved through the dining area, and headed straight for the office.

Moments later, they found him hiding in a back room.

We later learned that he was on a federal detention list—allegedly for illegal entry into the United States and for federal crimes. In that heart-wrenching moment, we were thrust into the painful space between love and law, compassion and justice.

All my life, I have had deep respect for law enforcement and still do. Yet here was someone we cared about deeply, now in the hands of authorities simply doing their sworn duty.

How do Christians respond when these two realities collide?

For many believers, this tension is not abstract. It is raw, personal, and heartbreaking. Of course, the media doesn’t help---and neither do some pulpits. Each has their own bias, and the effect can be polarizing.

But students of God’s word, don’t have to be manipulated into disrespecting law enforcement or demeaning unlawful residents. We don’t have to have one-sided empathy!

The Two Kingdoms

This experience reminded me of Martin Luther’s well-known teaching on the two kingdoms. In his 1523 treatise, Temporal Authority: To What Extent It Should Be Obeyed, Luther explained that God rules the world through two distinct, yet complementary, governments:

The Spiritual Kingdom (the church), governed by the gospel of grace, mercy, and faith. Its purpose is to proclaim the good news, produce righteous people through the Holy Spirit, and demonstrate God’s love to a broken world.
The Temporal Kingdom (civil government), governed by law, reason, and the “sword” of authority. Its role is to restrain evil, punish wrongdoing, protect the innocent, and preserve outward peace and order in a fallen society.

Luther built his understanding on key passages like Romans 13:1–7, 1 Peter 2:13–14, and Matthew 5:38–41. He stressed that both kingdoms are ordained by God and are essential for society as we wait for Christ’s return.

Without the Spiritual Kingdom people would lose out on salvation and the heart converting power of the Holy Spirit. Without the restraint of the Temporal Kingdom, evil would quickly overrun society causing suffering for law-abiding citizens in every nation.

Luther vividly illustrated this danger particularly for the Spiritual Kingdom:

“Hence a man who would venture to govern an entire country or the world with the gospel would be like a shepherd who should put together in one-fold wolves, lions, eagles, and sheep, and let them mingle freely with one another, saying, ‘Help yourselves, and be good and peaceful toward one another. The fold is open, there is plenty of food. You need have no fear of dogs and clubs.’ The sheep would doubtless keep the peace and allow themselves to be fed and governed peacefully, but they would not live long, nor would one beast survive another.”

Though Luther was against church and state co-mingling, he believed there was great necessity in them co-existing: the temporal restrains chaos so that the spiritual can flourish in proclaiming the gospel of grace.

In that restaurant, these two kingdoms became very real to us—our respect for officers upholding the law (Temporal Kingdom) and our Christian calling to show unconditional love to our friend (Spiritual Kingdom).

Church Without Borders

Interestingly the Preamble of the US Constitution, requires that The Temporal Kingdom, look after the interests and wellbeing of its citizens, this is good and lawful, but notice the Spiritual kingdom knows no such limitations (2 Timothy 2:9).

Ellen White beautifully described the global reach of the Spiritual Kingdom:

“The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world” (Acts of the Apostles p. 9, see also Matthew 24:14, Revelation 14:6).

But the role of the Spiritual kingdom is also philanthropic.

When the Apostle Peter met a lame man just outside “the temple gate called beautiful,” the Bible says he extended his “right hand” and helped him up (Acts 3:2,7, Galatians 2:10). The right side is the side of grace. (Luke 1:11-17, Heb 1:3).

It didn’t matter whether the man was rich or poor, black or white, legal or illegal, citizen or foreigner, criminal or cop. God’s people are to proclaim the gospel of Jesus everywhere as they extend a helping hand to everyone!

Foreigners

Interestingly, the Hebrew word “Foreigner” (ger) in passages like Leviticus 19:33-34 refers to someone living within the community with recognized standing, subject to its laws and obligations. In other words, a legal resident. Even ancient Israel’s entry into Egypt occurred through lawful invitation by governing authorities (Genesis 45-47).

While Christians cannot endorse unlawful residency in any country, they are called to treat every person with dignity and compassion, extending the “right hand” of grace to all, regardless of status.

Christian Activism

This may include helping them obtain legal representation, accompanying them through legal proceedings, offering humanitarian assistance, and educating them about their rights (Deuteronomy 10:18–19, Luke 3:11, 1 John 3:17-18).

No matter what the media or even some pulpits might tell us, these two actions can be right at the same time. Christians can support just laws and those who enforce them (Temporal Kingdom), while also ministering in Christ’s name to those who may have broken those laws (Spiritual Kingdom).

Jesus said...

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Mathew 25:35-36).

When Luther articulated his doctrine of two kingdoms, he was not suggesting that the church remain silent when civil authorities act unjustly.

Through informed, respectful, persistent, and lawful appeal, Christians should hold authorities accountable and urge them to uphold justice. They may even work to change unjust laws and remind authorities, that as “God’s servants” they are accountable to Him (Luke 3:14, Luke 18:1-8, Romans 13:4).

Moreover, if the Temporal Kingdom produces laws that violate The Law of God, the Spiritual Kingdom must obey God’s law above the rules of men (Acts 5:29, Dan 3:17-18, Rev 14:12).

Religious Liberty

Students of Bible prophecy know that a time is coming, when public authorities will be used as they were in the days of Daniel and his three friends, to compel global disobedience to God’s Word (Daniel 3:17-18, 6:5, 2 Thessalonians 2:3).

The book of Revelation even predicts a coming religious liberty crisis in the United States (Revelation 13:11-12, Testimonies vol 5, p. 451). In such cases, Christians like Peter and John must bravely choose to “obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29, Revelation 14:12).

Not Like a Dragon

It’s important to note though, that America has not yet spoken “like a dragon." The prophetic context of Revelation 13 is clear. Not until America “...causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed," does she fit this description (verse 12).

Ellen White left no room for misinterpreting this passage.

“It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns, and that this prophecy will be fulfilled WHEN the United States shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgement of her supremacy” (The Great Controversy p. 578-579).

Although it is popular to condemn America for sins that other nations are guilty of—often to a greater degree—students of Bible prophecy should be cautious about demonizing her or those who uphold her Constitutional rights, before the time (Matthew 26:24).

The freedoms protected by the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights have long provided space for the gospel to be preached and for believers to live out their faith openly (Rev 12:16).

Guardians of Civilization

Luther was also not suggesting that the Spiritual Kingdom should be unappreciative of the “men and women in blue” and camo, who war night and day against child exploitation, rape, human trafficking, domestic violence, national security threats, terrorism, drug cartels, fentanyl trafficking, fraud, theft, and murder.

Indeed, the Spiritual Kingdom is called to pray for these public servants and give thanks to God for them. The Apostle Paul put it like this,

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

What is naive though, is thinking that endorsing a culture of insubordination that demeans and endangers those who are upholding the law, is good for society. According to Jesus, when “lawlessness” increases so does cold-heartedness (Matthew 24:12).

It is well documented that when police officers are unable to do their job, evil fills the vacuum and crimes of every shade begin to increase. Human nature is evil and without law enforcement doing their divinely appointed work, society spirals rapidly into criminality (Romans 7:18-19, Matthew 15:18-19).

Make no mistake, “Christians” who hurl curses, spit, snowballs and urine at these guardians of civilization, are not following in the footsteps of Jesus who prayed the following even when authorities were driving nails into His hands, “...Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34, EGW, The Story of Redemption p. 222).

Church and State

When Martin Luther wrote about the Two Kingdoms, he was addressing a time when the Papal Church used the “sword” of the state to enforce religious conformity. To a greater or lesser degree, a similar dynamic is occurring today, when church organizations embrace social justice as if it were “Christianity 101.”

It is not.

Social justice is a political ideology, which seeks to achieve “equity”—equality of outcome for some—through state-enforced redistribution of the resources, opportunities, and privileges of others.

It views the world as divided between “oppressed” and “oppressors” and arbitrarily assigns virtue to one identity group and villainy to the other. It is a perversion of Biblical justice which is individual, impartial and merit based (Romans 2:6, 11,12).

Sidenote: For further study on the social justice movement and its historical connections to Marxism, Catholicism, and Spiritualism, see the Fulcrum7 series titled “Is Social Justice a Trojan Horse?”

By contrast, the Good Samaritan and the early Christian church showed mercy through voluntary and indiscriminate generosity. They reached into their own pockets to help any in need and not coercively into the pockets of others (Acts 2:44, 4:34-35, Luke 10:33-37).

As a result, Jesus was glorified, and His grace was manifested through the Spiritual Kingdom. Christian compassion flows most powerfully from hearts warmed by God’s grace: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Rest of the Story

The doctrine of the two kingdoms, as articulated by Martin Luther, can be controversial—particularly because Luther himself did not always live up to his own ideals.

Yet for those emotionally caught between these two realms—especially when loved ones are rightly or wrongly entangled with civil authorities—this Biblical perspective can provide clarity, promote civility, and offer wise counsel.

One last piece to our story.

I followed Border Patrol into the back room of the manager’s office. They were cordial and graciously gave me a moment to encourage my friend.

For the past four years, my wife and I have tried—imperfectly—to reflect the grace of God’s Spiritual Kingdom to him. Now, more than ever, we must look for ways to minister to him.

Moments like these remind us just how real the tension between the two kingdoms can be. Civil authorities must carry out their responsibilities, yet the church is still called to extend grace, compassion, and hope to every soul.

May God grant us the wisdom to understand these two kingdoms—and the courage to love faithfully in the often-painful space between them.

“God shall send forth His mercy and His truth” (Psalm 57:3).

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