View source for The Relationship of the Church to the State

'''Go To [[Thoughts Concerning the Future.]]'''

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36)

One of the areas of greatest confusion in the history of the Christian Church is that of the relationship of the Church to the civil government.

The Scriptures are clear that God has instituted civil government, and that the government is to be obeyed, unless it commands us to practice behavior contrary to the eternal moral law of God or contrary to His express will for us.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:3,4)

==Man is not able to govern himself.== 
It is God who upholds the rule of men over other men. Human beings have not been created with the ability to govern themselves; they must be governed. This fact hinders the effectiveness of democratic government.

The spiritual-political environment of the earth consists of God and Satan. Gigantic spiritual forces are arrayed on the side of righteousness and also on the side of wickedness. Because man is a feeble bit of dust he cannot rule himself in the presence of the colossal spiritual powers that are contesting for his worship and allegiance.

Whenever man decides to govern himself he automatically is governed by Satan. Until a person chooses to be ruled by the Lord he is fair game for the enemy. Whoever does not gather with the Lord, scatters. There absolutely is no middle ground!

This is why the otherwise beneficial political doctrine of freedom of speech has been corrupted in America until it is the legal basis for governmental support of a figure of Christ in a urinal and of various other art forms that blaspheme God. The direct result of freedom of speech, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America, is a figure of Christ in a urinal.

To maintain that the same guarantee of freedom of speech applies to the Christian ministry is not an adequate defense. No true saint will ever accept a government policy that blasphemes the King of all kings and Lord of all Lords. Nor will the God of Heaven accept it! Ungoverned expression produces wickedness, and wickedness shall be punished with everlasting fire.

==The policy of separation of church and state.== 
The Lord Jesus did not direct us to advocate the separation of church and state. Rather He commanded us to make disciples of the nations, to teach the people of the nations His commandments until He is ready to appear and assume visible, physical control of earth's governments.

This does not suggest that the Christian churches are to be involved in the political affairs of civil government.
The history of the Catholic Church has been one of political involvement in the politics of civil government. This was true also of the early development of the Protestant Reformation. In many instances the most ungodly political maneuvering has been conducted in the name of Christ. Such maneuvering was and continues to be an abomination. Neither the Catholic Church nor any other ecclesiastical organization is the representative of Christ on earth.

Political involvement is not an acceptable relationship of the Church to civil government.
"My kingdom is not of this world."

The Pilgrim fathers came to America in order to be able to worship God according to their conscience. The later immigrants came to escape the political conditions of Europe, and other countries, and to attain an improved economic state.

To this day there are at least two sets of people in America: those who want to worship God in peace, and those who are seeking material security and freedom of speech and action and who desire release from every claim of Christianity. The two groups are in bitter conflict today.

The Constitution of the United States seeks to promote peace among its varied citizenry by removing religion from every aspect of civil government. This effort is failing because it is impossible to rule or conduct governmental-social functions, such as education, in a spiritual, moral vacuum.

Today, various aspects of the Hindu religion, although cloaked in acceptable phrases such as transcendental meditation, or therapy, are practiced at all levels of public education. Also, specific occult behaviors are openly endorsed and practiced. Humanism, also a religion, is widely sponsored by school administrators; and sometimes the philosophy of Existentialism is embraced.

The conviction of humanists and libertarians that public education must be free from religion is interpreted to mean it must be free from the Christian religion. In some instances public-school teachers appear to be horrified at the thought of a Bible being found in a child's possession in the classroom.
Given the fact that Christian children are compelled by law to attend school, and many Christian parents cannot afford private schools and must pay taxes to support public schools, it is clear we have religious persecution in the United States.

The attempt to remove the teaching of special creation from the science curriculum is not an impartial verdict of sincere scholars. It is not impartial at all but a thinly disguised anti-Christian bias. An unbiased investigation of the factual basis of evolution and the factual basis of special creation leads relentlessly to the superiority of the latter as a respectable hypothesis. The doctrine of evolution is secular dogma, not science.

The pronouncements and actions of public education officials in America regarding the problem of the beliefs and values of Christian children who are compelled by law to attend public-school classes are a sham, a disgrace to the state and federal governments. The beliefs and values of the Christian family no longer are being protected. They are being invaded by the several states in the name of the rights of children. While there is much abuse of children in America, the answer to the problem is not to take away the rights of Christian parents to raise their children in the ways of the Lord.

The Bible has been outlawed in the public schools of America. The constitutional separation of church and state is not working to the benefit of all citizens. It is not working because people are spiritual creatures and they have been created to worship God. If they do not worship the true God of Heaven through Christ, they will find another God. To teach otherwise is to ignore reality.

The Apostles of the Lamb were charged to make disciples of the people of the nations, to command the nations of the earth to receive their rightful King and to be baptized in water as a sign of their repentance and submission. The nation that does this shall be saved in the Day of the Lord.

In past eras, when civil governments have received Jesus as King, the large Christian organizations have stepped in and presented themselves as His representative on earth. They have competed with the civil government for the allegiance of the citizens. They have not given to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Thus confusion has prevailed.

The role of the Church is to warn the civil governments that the Kingdom of God is coming to the earth and to prepare themselves by believing, repenting of their sins, and being baptized in water. The role of the Church is also to be a pure, holy moral light so that the civil governments may know what is sin, and enact laws that punish those who sin against God. This is the true relationship between the Christian Church and the civil government.

Christian people have always been interested in social reform. The abolition of slavery in the United States was brought about in large part by Christian concern and action.

Today, numerous Christian people are outraged at the practice of aborting fetuses and are willing to take action to prevent this hideous practice, even though the steps they take may bring much suffering to them.

==The rise of Christian Reconstructionism.== 
Lately we have been witnessing what may be an unprecedented twist to the problem of the relationship of church and state.

Given the outrage of Christian people in America over the teaching of non-Christian values and demon-inspired religions to their children, the historic interest of Christians in social betterment, and the concept of their role in determining their political environment by the citizens of democratic nations, it is not surprising that those who have been convinced that they can obtain whatever they are willing to believe for have decided to bring civil government under their control. It is an attempt to create the Kingdom of God on earth apart from the coming of the Lord and His direct intervention.

Those who are entering the ranks of the Reconstructionists appear to have a strong orientation toward the political process. They have determined to act in a militant manner until the United States is governed by the moral law set forth in the Scriptures. Apparently they have discarded the pre-tribulation rapture error and also the concept of democratic government.

The Reconstructionists are in spiritual deception. Their concept of the Christian pilgrimage is incorrect. They do not understand the patient, cross-carrying walk of the true saint but believe that the Christians are to convert the present world into the Kingdom of God. They do not know God's ways. They have not been crucified with the Lord. They do not share His sufferings. They are living by religious adamic life rather than by the eternal resurrection Life of the Son of God.
The future rulers of the universe are being prepared today as they learn obedience to the Father through much affliction and patience.

As we have stated previously, whoever does not die to his self-will, choosing instead to conduct his discipleship according to his own understanding and strength, automatically comes under the influence of Satan. No human being has any strength at all compared with the spiritual titans who are maneuvering to gain the worship of human beings.

There are Christian leaders who are aspiring to be President of the United States. Some of the former presidents of the United States have been Christians. There is nothing wrong with a president being a Christian. Genuine Christian character is an asset to any line of endeavor.

But when one attempts to be a Christian president, that is, a president who attempts to use the mysteries of the Christian faith, and supernatural wisdom and power, to govern in the civil realm, he is defying Jesus' statement that His Kingdom is not of this world. The politically ambitious Christian should flee from such a role as Jesus fled from those who would make Him a king before His time.

A Christian President of the United States would be faced with conflicts in the civil realm that are impossible to resolve, and that the Lord would not resolve for him since he would be out of Divine order. Also, he would be required to compromise his convictions in order to gain a large enough base of support. All kinds of religious people would be willing to support him in order to gain their own desires, not in order to glorify the Lord Jesus.

If a Christian becomes President of the United States, and attempts to govern by means of the mysteries of the faith, and supernatural wisdom and power, the result will not be of God but of Satan. It will be confusion and totally against the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some time ago two spirits identifying themselves as the angels Michael and Gabriel approached an experienced pastor. He received them and they instructed and assisted him. He was the pastor of a large congregation of Christian believers.
Since the angels supported the pastor's erroneous doctrine concerning the pre-tribulation rapture and the immunity of the believers from Divine judgment, he did not question their claim to be Michael and Gabriel. The pastor wrote a book about his experience.

Many Christians, including myself, were rejoicing over his experience with the angels. The book was a best seller. However, during a season of prayer while ministering in another country, it became clear to us that the doctrine advanced by the angels was not completely scriptural but was supporting the current delusions. Soon afterward the pastor died.
If a Christian becomes President of the United States he will be approached by Satan masquerading as an angel of God, or as the Lord Jesus Himself. Because of the level of deception in which the Christian President already will be living he will accept the credentials of the angel. The angel will offer to give him victory in war, prosperity in the United States, unprecedented popularity, and other desires of his heart.

He may not be as fortunate as the deceived pastor. He may not die and thus escape through death the web being spun around him. He may go on to be a forerunner of Antichrist, or Antichrist himself.

[[Thoughts Concerning the Future.]]