Pastor Jerry Rockwell /SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

Mark 12:17 (KJV), “And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.”

Introduction: The verse above in the context of when the Pharisees and Herodians came to Jesus with the goal to “catch him in his words.” Historically, these two groups did not get along with each other. The Pharisees were a religious party and the Herodians were a political party. They did not like Jesus and had a deep desire to get rid of Him, and if they could find something he could say against the Roman Government, they would have another ally to get rid of Him. They questioned Jesus about paying taxes (“give tribute to Caesar”). Jesus’ answer was not what they were looking for. He asked them for a coin and pointed out that the inscription on the coin was of Caesar. Then He made the statement in Mark 12:17 (KJV), “And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

The New Testament has some things to say about this as well. It says in Romans 13:1–7 (KJV),

“1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 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: 4 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. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

This is a statement that God has established human government. This goes back to the period after the flood. God made a covenant with Noah following the flood that significantly changed how man lived and related to God. God’s former requirements on man are reinstituted and emphasized in Genesis 9:1 (KJV), “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” This is the same thing God said to Adam in Genesis 1:22. In addition, after creating man God told him his responsibility to the creation in Genesis 1:28, “. . .and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” We don’t usually apply this to other men, but they were creatures who would move around on the land. In other words, Adam was to be the ruler of the earth. We know how he failed, and God provided a man who would accomplish this responsibility in Jesus Christ, who will “. . .rule them with a rod of iron” (Rev. 12:5; 19:15). This, we know, will take place in the Millennium (Rev. 20). Because of Adam’s failure, God made a different system for man and was self-rule which is man being in control of the government. After the flood, several things changed. The animal kingdom was now afraid of man (Gen. 9:2) and became a source of food for man because, before the flood, every living creature was “herbivorous” (Gen. 9:3). God told Noah in Genesis 9:5–6 (KJV), “5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. The last part of this passage indicates that man will make decisions about another man’s behavior and execute judgment. We call that “human government.” The “higher powers” in Romans 13:1, is the government, which involves people making decisions of regulating and governing. The word “power” has a connotation of the “power of authority” and God has “ordained” the powers of government. It is no accident that we live peaceful lives because the government is responsible for governing the populace. God “ordained” it.

         This discussion is to establish God’s perspective on government and the church. When discussing “Separation of Church and State,” we discuss the Church and the Government and the relationship between the two. There is much to discuss, and this lesson will not cover everything. One writer gives a definition of “Separation of Church and State.” He says, “The separation of Church and State, as defined in the Constitution and as believed by Baptists, is that the government can never pass any laws, or make any regulations. . .that make any one church the standard church of the land.”[1] This statement is an accurate assessment of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, which says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (Italics added). This came about with great debate and even opposition.

  1. God and Government, Romans 13:1-7. The passage is stated above but it will be good to discern the points the Bible is making for the church and its relationship with the government.
  2. Every Soul is to be Subject to the Government, Romans 13:1. This is simple, every citizen of the United States, including Christians, are responsible “be subject to” or obey the laws of the government. The “powers that be” (human government) are “ordained of God.”
  3. Resisting Government is the Same as Resisting the Ordinance of God, Romans 13:2. Resisting the “power” (government) resists the ordinance of God. The consequences of resisting is they will “receive to themselves damnation.”
  4. The Government is to Deter Evil, Romans 13:3. Rulers and government are designed to keep evil from affecting the average law-abiding citizen.
  5. The Government is a Minister of God, Romans 13:4. The responsibility of the government is to is to punish evil. The evil doer should fear the power. The government will “execute wrath on him that doeth evil.”
  6. Obeying the Government Should be an Activity of the Conscience, Roman 13:5.
  7. The Government Operates on the Generosity of the People, Romans 13:6. This is usually in the form of taxes and fees.
  8. The Christian Has the Responsibility to “Render” to All, Romans 13:7. End of lesson on obeying the government and its laws.
  9. The History of Church and Government. As seen above, God established government, and man was responsible for it. The two establishments are not to control each other. They are to be “separate!” Many do not understand this. History provides ample examples of religious zealots, even Christians, who want to control the government. The study of Revelation some months past, give us an example of the marriage of church and state with Jesus sending a letter to the church at Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17). The word “Pergamos” has been given many definitions such as “citadel” (Strongs Concordance, G4010) and even “height or elevation.”[2] Others contend it has the meaning of “much marriage” with two Greek words, “pergos” and “gamos,” which means “united by marriage.”[3] (There are two words in Revelation 2;12-17 that gives some indication of what was happening, “Balaam” (vs. 14) and “Nicolaitans” (vs. 15). This would cause the student of scripture to examine how these two words are related to Pergamos. One source summarizes this and says, “Balaam had been guilty of counseling King Balak to cause Israel to sin through intermarriage with heathen women and through idol-worship (cf. Num. 22–25; 31:15–16). Intermarriage with heathen women was a problem in Pergamum, where any social contact with the world also involved the worship of idols. Usually, meat in the marketplace had been offered to idols earlier (cf. 1 Cor. 8).”[4] Many historians and Bible students consider the result to refer to the Roman Catholic Church, which dominated the world religiously and governmentally from about 500 – to 1500 a.d. God’s establishment of government was never meant to be a union between believers (currently the Church) and the government. James Altar gives an excellent summary of the event above. He says, “The marriage of church and state took place during the Pergamos period of church history, 325-500 A.D. The word Pergamos means, ‘much marriage.’ In this period, the emperor Constantine, after a spurious conversion experience, attempted to marry the ‘church’ (Christianity) with his Roman Empire and its accompanying paganism. The offspring of the marriage was a monstrosity, the Roman Catholic institution. Satan was her spiritual father, Constantine was her governmental father, and Augustine was her religious father. Augustine appealed to the Roman Government for help in eradicating the Donatists, and early Baptist group.”[5] (Emphasis by author).
  • The Earthly Kingdom versus Heavenly Kingdom, John 18:28-40. At the trials of Jesus prior to His crucifixion a discussion developed between Pilate and Jesus. Pilate asked Jesus, “Art thou the King of the Jews?” (vs. 33). Jesus’ reply was about who told him this? Was he talking about himself or did someone tell him? (vs. 34). Jesus reply was in John 18:36 (KJV), “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.” This reply is a clear indication that the “kingdom” Jesus was talking about was a spiritual kingdom and not of this world. Jesus at his first coming was not there to commandeer the secular government, He had come to bring salvation to the world, initially meant to reach the Jews but they rejected Him. This turned God’s attention to the Gentiles which was one of the responsibilities of the nation of Israel. Look at 1 Chronicles 16:1-4, 30-35. When David brought the “ark of God” to Jerusalem he dedicated it by offering “burnt offerings and peace offerings before God” (1 Chron. 16:1). He then gave every adult person of Israel “a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine” (1 Chron. 16:3). He then “appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank an praise the Lord God of Israel” (1 Chron. 16:4). Following this, he began to deliver a Psalm in 1 Chronicles 16:7-36, In that Psalm he made a statement that the Jews, historically, did not activate in their lives. They were to demonstrate to the nations that God rules their lives. It is in 1 Chronicles 16:30–35 (KJV), “30 Fear before him, all the earth: The world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: And let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. 32 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: Let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. 33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, Because he cometh to judge the earth. 34 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; For his mercy endureth for ever. 35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, That we may give thanks to thy holy name, And glory in thy praise.” This became a prophecy that referred to Jesus Christ as “King of kings” and “Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). He will eventually rule on the earth in the Millennium when God’s kingdom will be established. Jesus will rule and reign governmentally, but He will also be a light for spiritual life that many during the Millennium will reject.
  1. Man’s Authority Versus God’s Authority, Acts 5:17-29. This event demonstrates how authority (religious or secular) can attempt to control spiritual activity. The Jewish leaders, who controlled the Temple area in Jerusalem. The apostles were exercising “signs and wonders among the people” (Acts 5:12) and this displeased the Jewish leaders, the high priest and the Sadducees were “filled with indignation” (Acts 5:17). They proceeded to put them in prison (vs. 18). The “angel of the Lord” came to them in the night and opened the “prison doors” (vs. 19) and instructed them to “speak in the temple to the people all the words of life” (vs. 20) which they did. The officers were instructed to bring them before the senate, but the guards discovered they had left the prison, the doors were secure, and guards were at the prison doors (vss. 21-23). The high priest and chief priests were informed that the prisoners were in the temple teaching the people so they instructed the guards to bring them before the authorities and council (vss. 24-27). The high riest asked them in Acts 5:28 (KJV), “Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” Their response to this ultimatum is in Acts 5:29 (KJV), “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” This is an excellent example of an attempt to stop the message of Jesus Christ as Saviour. We are not subject to any authority to not proclaim the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. No religious authority, no government authority can stop us from witnessing and telling people about the eternal life which is available when they receive Jesus Christ as Saviour.

 

[1] Peter S. Ruckman, The Book of Romans (Pensacola: The Bible Believers Publishers, 2003), page 509

[2] Bible software no longer available, BibleWorks, gives the meaning as “height or elevation.” Pergamos is found in the New Testament only two times: Revelation 1:11 and 2:12.

[3]https://www.google.com/search?q=what+does+%22pergamos%22+mean&rlz=1C1CHZN_enUS1089US1089&oq=what+does+%22pergamos%22+mean&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQABiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIICAcQABgWGB4yCAgIEAAYFhgeMg0ICRAAGIYDGIAEGIoF0gEINTI1NWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[4] John F. Walvoord, “Revelation,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 936.

[5] James A. Alter and Dolton W. Robertson II, Why Baptist? (Sidney, OH, Ancient Baptist Press, 2009( pages 113-114.