Heidelcast Heidelminicast: The Theonomy of the Christian Left: Refugees and the Two-Fold Kingdom
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Mar 18, 2026 A historical tour of Christianity's merger with empire and the loss of establishment status in the West. A contrast between right‑wing moral enforcement and left‑wing state‑redemptive aims. A deep dive into Westminster distinctions among moral, ceremonial, and judicial law. A discussion of natural law, the twofold kingdom, and implications for refugee policy.
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Constantinian Legacy Shapes Christian Political Expectations
- Christianity's long entanglement with state power produced a default Constantinian model where Christians expect the state to enforce religion.
- Scott Clark traces this from 4th-century imperial involvement through centuries of establishmentarian privilege until recent secularization after WWII.
Both Political Wings Seek Theocratic State Power
- Both Christian right and left seek state enforcement of their visions: the right for personal morality, the left for corporate redemptive policies.
- Clark identifies this as state messianism where the state is asked to act like the church.
Left Uses Mosaic Sojourner Laws To Argue For Refugees
- The Christian left grounds refugee resettlement policy in Old Testament laws protecting the sojourner and applies them to the U.S.
- Clark notes advocates invoke Israelite commandments directly, effectively importing Mosaic obligations into secular policy.
