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TOWARD A CONSERVATIVE LUTHERAN SOCIAL ETHIC By Rev. Dr. John B. King Introduction Why do conservative Lutherans lack a coherent response to political evil? Why do they struggle to confront legalized abortion, let alone subtler evils like socialism, monetary inflation, and gun control?1 Over many years of conversation and study, I have come to the conclusion that conservative Lutherans lack a coherent social ethic for two main reasons: 1) an intense fear of using God’s law and 2) an interpretation of two-kingdom theory that introduces an epistemological dualism of nature and grace. Apart from God’s law, however, there is no standard for Christian ethics. Moreover, even if the law is affirmed, the dualism of nature and grace precludes the application of special revelation to the state. Thus, a Lutheran social ethic becomes impossible since the two factors combine
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