Question
How can we relate Christianity to government? Is it satisfactory to say that church and state are separate? If they are separate, then by what basis are laws made?
Answer
Before getting to your question, let me first assert some Bible principles that are important to keep in mind. They are at the foundation of the answer I will give.
First, God is not only Creator but He has established the idea of government among men four the good of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked. See Romans 13:1-7. In this way, society is stabilized as well as possible. God not only has established government among men, but He (now through Jesus) makes judgments among nations, raising up and destroying governments based on the level of sin that is in a society. For example see Genesis 19 and Daniel 4.
Secondly, God expects a certain amount of righteousness to be found within a society, if it is to remain viable. See Genesis 15:16,18:23-33, Prov. 14:34. Whatever that level is, is determined by God Himself.
Thirdly, although God, in times past, had a special relationship with the nation of Israel where religious and national laws were one and the same, today, He has no such relationship with any particular nation for Christians can be residents of any nation in the world. See 1 Pet. 2:1-10. In other words, Jesus’ kingdom is made up of all people from every nation and is not an earthly type of kingdom that engages in physical battles with other nations. See John 18:33-37.
Now, to your question, are church (the saved assembly of people) and state separate? Yes, in the sense that there is no such thing as a “Christian” nation – God having a specially relationship with one nation. However, there may be Christians, to whatever degree they conscientiously agree, who work within government. As to the extent of their work, this differs depending on how some might understand various passages.
Also, history has shown us what happens when people try to mix church and state to such an extent where Christianity is imposed on others. Usually, Christianity becomes corrupted because it was never intended to be forced on anyone or to serve as a political constitution. See Romans 6:1-18.
Then, upon what basis should our laws be made. To some degree, our laws should reflect righteous principles that we can see revealed by God in His word. See Romans 1:18-32. When a nation turns to approving divorce, mistreatment of parent and/or children, homosexuality and sexual permissiveness, you can be assured that God is not pleased with it.
By Gary Hunt
