Church and State

  Volumes have been written on the subject of “Separation of Church and State.” Though the words “separation,” “church” and “state” do not appear in the first amendment of our constitution, this is its most common description. The obvious intent of the authors of the amendment was to prevent our government from authorizing a state church or legislating the way in which people worshipped, or promoted the worship of God.

 Many Americans would defend the provision of the first amendment though perhaps few understand it. Would you like to see prayer back in the classroom? “Certainly,” some would argue; “prayer in the classroom has nothing to do with church and state.” How about if the teacher were Muslim and the prayers were offered to Allah? This scenario has many Christians arguing from both sides of the fence.

 We Christians believe that both church and state are institutions ordained of God, and that both serve His sovereign purpose. The authority of state, among other things, is used of God to maintain law and order in a predominately unchristian community. The church exists as the agency through which Christians are to glorify God through evangelism, edification and worship. God never intended for the two to become one.

 Believers have an obligation to the state as its citizens, and to the Church, as citizens of Heaven. When we are faced with the dilemma of conflicting allegiance, our resolve must be to obey God rather than man. We are motivated to abstain from crime and sin, first, because we want to please Christ, not because we fear the punishment of the state.

 As Christian citizens, we are obligated to represent our Lord to our country. Though the two are never to be one, no where in the Scripture is a Christian commanded to refrain from civil responsibility. We should keep the government out of church, and church out of government, but Christianity must be a vital part of each. If believers refuse to be involved in government, all government will be ungodly, and this is not the will of God. Get involved! Vote!