Separation of Church and State: A Biblical Perspective

Devotional

Day 1: The Individual's Role in Society

The New Testament emphasizes the individual's relationship with governing authorities, urging Christians to respect and obey them without merging spiritual and political realms. This perspective is rooted in the understanding that while Christians are called to be good citizens, their ultimate allegiance is to God. The passages in Romans 13, 1 Timothy 2, and 1 Peter 2 highlight the importance of maintaining this balance, ensuring that one's faith does not become entangled with political power. This separation is crucial for preserving the integrity of the Gospel and avoiding the pitfalls of a church-state union. [04:34]

Romans 13:1-2 (ESV): "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate respect and obedience to governing authorities while maintaining your ultimate allegiance to God today?

Day 2: The Church as a Spiritual Entity

The New Testament presents the church as a spiritual entity that transcends national and political boundaries. Unlike the Old Testament nation of Israel, which was both a religious and political entity, the New Testament church is composed of individuals from all nations. This spiritual nature is emphasized by Jesus' teachings, which call for a community that is not bound by earthly affiliations. The church's mission is to spread the Gospel and embody the love of Christ, regardless of political contexts. [17:01]

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

Reflection: How can you contribute to building a spiritual community that transcends political and national boundaries in your local church?

Day 3: Jesus' Teachings on Kingdom and Authority

Jesus' teachings highlight the separation of spiritual and political realms, emphasizing that His kingdom is not of this world. He urged believers to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's, illustrating the distinct roles of earthly and divine authority. This teaching calls Christians to live in the world but not be of it, maintaining a clear distinction between their spiritual commitments and political responsibilities. [23:03]

John 18:36 (ESV): "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.'"

Reflection: What are some practical ways you can live out the principle of being in the world but not of it in your daily life?

Day 4: The Dangers of Church-State Union

The practical consequences of merging church and state include tyranny and the compromise of the Gospel's purity. History has shown that such unions often lead to the church losing its spiritual integrity and becoming entangled in political power struggles. To avoid hypocrisy and maintain the purity of the Gospel, the church must remain distinct from the state. This separation allows the church to focus on its mission of spreading the Gospel and serving as a beacon of hope and love in the world. [35:26]

Matthew 23:12 (ESV): "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Reflection: How can you ensure that your involvement in political matters does not compromise your commitment to the Gospel's purity and integrity?

Day 5: The Impracticality of a State Church

In a world with multiple denominations, the concept of a state church is impractical and contrary to New Testament teachings. The New Testament calls for a spiritual community that transcends political affiliations, emphasizing unity in Christ rather than uniformity in political or denominational identity. This diversity within the body of Christ is a strength, allowing for a richer expression of faith and a broader reach in spreading the Gospel. [42:57]

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."

Reflection: How can you celebrate and embrace the diversity within the body of Christ while maintaining unity in your local church community?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of Romans 13:1-7, we delve into the complex relationship between the church and the state, a topic that has significantly influenced Christian history. This relationship has been a source of contention and even conflict, as seen since the time of Constantine, who merged the Roman Empire with the Christian church. This historical backdrop is crucial for understanding the development of both the Roman Catholic Church and Protestantism.

The New Testament, however, does not support the union of church and state. The passages we examined, including Romans 13, 1 Timothy 2, and 1 Peter 2, focus solely on the individual's relationship with the state, urging Christians to respect and obey governing authorities. There is no biblical basis for a church-state union, as seen in the New Testament. This absence is significant, especially when contrasted with the Old Testament, where the nation of Israel was both a religious and political entity.

The historical attempts to justify a church-state union often rely on Old Testament references, as seen in documents like the Westminster Confession of Faith. However, the New Testament presents a different paradigm. The church is now a spiritual entity, composed of individuals from all nations, transcending national boundaries and political affiliations. This spiritual nature is emphasized by Jesus' teachings, such as "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's," and His declaration that His kingdom is not of this world.

The practical implications of confusing church and state are evident in history. Such unions have led to tyranny, as seen in the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages, and have compromised the purity of the Gospel. The church must remain distinct from the state to preserve its spiritual integrity and avoid hypocrisy. In our current context, with multiple denominations, the idea of a state church is not only impractical but also contrary to the New Testament's teachings.

Key Takeaways

1. The New Testament does not support a union between church and state. Instead, it emphasizes the individual's relationship with governing authorities, urging respect and obedience without merging spiritual and political realms. [04:34]
2. Historical attempts to justify church-state unions often rely on Old Testament references, but the New Testament presents the church as a spiritual entity, transcending national and political boundaries. [17:01]
3. Jesus' teachings highlight the separation of spiritual and political realms, emphasizing that His kingdom is not of this world and urging believers to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. [23:03]
4. The practical consequences of merging church and state include tyranny and the compromise of the Gospel's purity. The church must remain distinct to preserve its spiritual integrity and avoid hypocrisy. [35:26]
5. In a world with multiple denominations, the concept of a state church is impractical and contrary to New Testament teachings, which call for a spiritual community transcending political affiliations. [42:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to Romans 13:1-7
[01:02] - Historical Context of Church and State
[02:23] - Biblical Basis for Church-State Relations
[03:35] - New Testament Teachings on Church and State
[05:04] - The Role of the Roman Empire
[07:27] - Constantine's Influence
[08:13] - Old Testament Justifications
[11:19] - Weakness of Historical Arguments
[14:22] - The New Testament's Spiritual Paradigm
[17:01] - Israel's Unique Role in the Old Testament
[19:39] - The New Testament Church
[22:45] - Jesus' Teachings on Kingdom and Authority
[27:47] - Paul's Teachings on Spiritual Authority
[31:12] - The New Testament's Distinctive Spirit
[35:26] - Historical Consequences of Church-State Union
[42:57] - Modern Implications and Denominational Diversity

Sermon Clips

There is nothing of all that at all in the New Testament, nothing at all. I mean by that all this question of the unity of the church and the state in the case of Rome, the church dominating the state or in Erastianism the state dominating the church. I said it is just not to be found at all in the New Testament. [00:03:35]

What these passages teach is the attitude of the individual believer to the state, that is all that they deal with. There's nothing else in this passage that we're looking at at all. It is simply an exhortation to the individual Christians, members of the church at Rome and therefore individual Christians members of any church anywhere to be subject to the higher powers and to obey them for the reasons that the Apostle gives. [00:04:34]

The only biblical argument that can be put forward at all with regard to the association between the church and the state is that which is found in the Old Testament. What is being said, you see, is that the case of Israel demonstrates this and that the kings in Israel were in this relationship. [00:17:01]

The Christian church is now God's Nation. It was the physical nation of Israel; it is no longer so. It is the Christian Church. What does the Christian Church consist of? Well, the Christian Church, you see, differing from the church into the old dispensation, consists of people who have been called out on all nations and tongs and tribes, no longer confined to One Nation. [00:20:07]

Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, but unto God the things that are God's. You see, remember they came to him with a kind and they said who's is this image and superscription? He said to them, brother, they ask him should we pay tribute to Caesar or not? That was the question. [00:23:03]

The whole of the kingdom is something that has a spiritual character, and as we've got abundant teaching to show us, it is governed by its own officers. Now I read to you chapters 2 and three of Paul's first epistle to Timothy in order that you might see that contrast. [00:25:04]

The teaching of the Apostle Paul is quite explicit on this matter. Surely, as I've shown you, the teaching of Our Lord is. Let me give you other examples of Paul's teaching. The Apostle Paul teaches about the God of this world. He says if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. [00:27:47]

Our conversation, which means our citizenship, is in heaven from whence also we look for the savior. He writes as a Roman citizen, but he says our real citizenship is in heaven. Now that's Paul in the realm of the church. The citizenship is in heaven, not on Earth, though he belongs to an Earthly Kingdom. [00:29:12]

If you once adopt this teaching about the union of the two and give this power to the church, that is what it results in. But then take this further argument. I was able to point out to you or to remind you that Henry VII rarely never became a true Protestant. He died a Roman Catholic. [00:35:26]

If you do confuse the church and the state, it always results in harm being done to the gospel and its preaching. It always has that effect of detracting from the purity of the Gospel. Now this, let's speak fair in these matters. Free churchmen have fallen into this same mistake. [00:39:10]

The moment you have more than one Church, a state Church automatically goes out. If all Christians belong to One Church, well, in a very wrong way, but in a superficial manner, you can see some justification for a state church. But the moment you've got divisions into sects, denominations, different groupings, it's not only wrong, but it becomes an impertinence. [00:42:57]

Let us learn the lessons from the past. Above all, let us learn this lesson of always keeping ourselves to the Biblical teaching. Oh Lord Our God, we pray thee to look upon us in pity and mercy and compassion. We see the mistakes of others, and yet, oh Lord, we know that we are also blind to our own mistakes and errors. [00:45:10]

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