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Archibald Alexander Hodge, son of Charles Hodge, entered into glory on this day in history, November 12, 1886. As husband, father, pastor, missionary, professor, and author - A.A. Hodge did much to contribute to the advancement of the kingdom of Christ during his 63 years on earth.
Today, we remember one strand of his thought in particular concerning how the state ought to relate to both Christ and the Church. This was an important topic to him, which he developed in several of his writings. From one recent addition to Log College Press — provided graciously by our friend Dr. Wayne Sparkman of the PCA Historical Center — we take note of Hodge’s understanding of these relations in the American context.
Hodge delivered an annual address before the Presbyterian Historical Society, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1878. This speech was soon made into a tract by the Christian Statesman, an organ of the National Reform Association, of which Hodge served as a vice-president. Titled “The State and Religion,” Hodge articulates the major theories of church-state relations, including the Roman Catholic, Erastian and what has been known as the “voluntary” theory of complete separation of church and state, described by Hodge as “the new American theory.”
Although the American form of government does not claim to install a king on the throne, according to Hodge, “We, the people” has become the new king in our country. But Hodge responds thus:
In our time another king has appeared, styled "The People," for whom absolute, irresponsible sovereignty is also claimed, who, it is assumed, can make, by prerogative, whatsoever he wills right.
We take the words of Melville originally addressed to James VI., of Scotland, and address them to this arrogant modern American sovereign, who proposes to set himself in the seat of God, "Ye are God's silly vassal. There are two kings and two kingdoms in America: there is king 'people,' the immediate head of the commonwealth, and there is Christ the king over both Church and commonwealth, whose subject the people is, and of whose kingdom the 'people' is not king nor lord, nor head, but subject only."
In short, Hodge advocated a “Reformed or Calvinistic” theory of government which sought to emphasize “a Christian State and a Free Church, founded on the recognition of the universal supremacy of King Jesus in both spheres.”
Elsewhere, he wrote these words which ring true today as never before:
In the name of your own interests I plead with you; in the name of your treasure-houses and barns, of your rich farms and cities, of your accumulations in the past and your hopes in the future, — I charge you, you never will be secure if you do not faithfully maintain all the crown-rights of Jesus the King of men. In the name of your children and their inheritance of the precious Christian civilization you in turn have received from your sires; in the name of the Christian Church, — I charge you that its sacred franchise, religious liberty, cannot be retained by men who in civil matters deny their allegiance to the King. In the name of your own soul and its salvation; in the name of the adorable Victim of that bloody and agonizing sacrifice whence you draw all your hopes of salvation; by Gethsemane and Calvary, — I charge you, citizens of the United States, afloat on your wide wild sea of politics, There is Another King, One Jesus: The Safety Of The State Can Be Secured Only In The Way Of Humble And Whole-souled Loyalty To His Person and of Obedience His Law. (Popular Lectures on Theological Themes, p. 287)
Hodge devoted his life to the service of his King in all areas, and he was deeply concerned about public desecration of the Sabbath, then under attack, as well as the education of youth by a State which claimed to be secular. In our day, marriage — another institution founded before the Fall — is also under attack, making Hodge’s words all the more relevant to 21st century readers.
We remember a prince in Israel today who served his King with “whole-souled loyalty”: A.A. Hodge.
