Critics of those of us committed to the Christian cultural mandate (our Christian critics included) often declare that we deny the separation of church and state. This charge is false, though usually not in the sense intended. We do not deny the separation of church and state as institutions. Each has its separate, unique calling. This is what sphere sovereignty is all about. The state is not to do the job of the church, just the church is not to do the job of the state. We’ve had examples of both historically, and they’ve been disastrous.
But while there should be a separation of church and state, there should never be a separation of the state from God. And in fact, there will never be a separation of the state from a deity of some kind. Every state, including the most atheistic state, serves some god.
The goal of biblical Christianity is to influence every area of the world by the gospel of Jesus Christ for God’s kingdom empowered by the Holy Spirit.
This includes the state. This does not mean that we wish to capture the state to impose Christianity. “Imposing” Christianity, if we can even use that language, is the job of the family and church. The Christian job of the state is to guarantee liberty for all individuals, businesses, families, and churches within the broad parameters of God’s law. This basically reduces to suppressing crimes like murder, theft, rape, fraud, kidnapping and so forth.
The goal of the state is not to make people virtuous. Rather, it is to prevent people from being as externally vicious as they might otherwise be.
This is a summary of the redemptivist view of the separation of church and state.
The understanding that the state, as well as individuals, will always serve some god is key to resolving the problems we face these days. All too many think the solution will come politically if we just get the right person or party into office. It doesn't matter who we elect if their worldview is that politics rather then Christ is the answer.
The goal of the state is not to make people virtuous? The Law of Moses tells us otherwise.
Ps 19:7-8
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
Our mission is that both rulers and citizens should obey God. If rulers exceed their bounds, and do against what should be obeyed, they should be torn asunder. I know it sounds "nice" to say we don't want to impose Christianity, but let's stop being disingenuous. We're not imposing anything, we're putting the only right and just God back on His throne and a Govt magistrate only has two options, He can either rule via God's Laws or he can rule via Satan's laws. Neutrality is a myth. The Church is complicit by being negligent for putting pagan rulers at the helm for more than 70 years. The price is 60million children sacrifices and a broken and decadent pagan culture. Christians pull out of a sphere, the enemy fills the void. Plain and simple, sphere's work both ways. Either the sphere is obedient to God or it is obedient to wicked and blasphemy made against the honor of God's majesty.
We need to stop being afraid of dominion responsibility. We are fortunate enough to live in a Republic that still (if we're not too late) offers a peaceful means to overthrow pagan rulers. They're not going to let go of their power by our "nice" behavior. Let's call it what it is, an overthrow of blasphemous and adulterous imposters. If a ruler is a murderer, adulterer, or idolater, should he not suffer according to God's law - as an offender? Where are the righteous laws? Where are the righteous magistrates? We gave it all up for the lie that man's reason is superior to God's law.
When Romans 13:10 says that "love is the fulfillment of the law," it does not mean that love has displaced the Law of God, so that love now becomes our Law. Rather, it means that we now as Christians will love to do what we ought to do, which is what the Law of God requires of us. Obedience to the Law of God will be rooted in the love of God and love of neighbor.
The people ought even to put their rulers to death for open crime, especially if their crimes are such as are likely to infect others. "For all the nation is punished if the ruler sins: because the people either follow the ruler or allow him to continue in sin and defile the land".
If the ruler is a slave of Satan, God's vengeance hangs over the nation. We've allowed our enemies to take control of all the key spheres without a single shot being fired. If we can't take it back by peaceful means, we need to take it by force. None who compel idolatry, should be allowed to reign and those who actively oppose and destroy true Christianity should be put to death (ok I'm exaggerating a bit to make a point, but only slightly).
"Thou shalt have no other Gods before me" is simplest rule and clearest guiding for the Christian in all spheres; either a preacher, teacher, politician, church member, or citizen. Nothing else is acceptable.
The challenge of Elijah is again before us: “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21).”
The understanding that the state, as well as individuals, will always serve some god is key to resolving the problems we face these days. All too many think the solution will come politically if we just get the right person or party into office. It doesn't matter who we elect if their worldview is that politics rather then Christ is the answer.
Thank you for a concise response to this critique.
Well put.
The goal of the state is not to make people virtuous? The Law of Moses tells us otherwise.
Ps 19:7-8
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
Our mission is that both rulers and citizens should obey God. If rulers exceed their bounds, and do against what should be obeyed, they should be torn asunder. I know it sounds "nice" to say we don't want to impose Christianity, but let's stop being disingenuous. We're not imposing anything, we're putting the only right and just God back on His throne and a Govt magistrate only has two options, He can either rule via God's Laws or he can rule via Satan's laws. Neutrality is a myth. The Church is complicit by being negligent for putting pagan rulers at the helm for more than 70 years. The price is 60million children sacrifices and a broken and decadent pagan culture. Christians pull out of a sphere, the enemy fills the void. Plain and simple, sphere's work both ways. Either the sphere is obedient to God or it is obedient to wicked and blasphemy made against the honor of God's majesty.
We need to stop being afraid of dominion responsibility. We are fortunate enough to live in a Republic that still (if we're not too late) offers a peaceful means to overthrow pagan rulers. They're not going to let go of their power by our "nice" behavior. Let's call it what it is, an overthrow of blasphemous and adulterous imposters. If a ruler is a murderer, adulterer, or idolater, should he not suffer according to God's law - as an offender? Where are the righteous laws? Where are the righteous magistrates? We gave it all up for the lie that man's reason is superior to God's law.
When Romans 13:10 says that "love is the fulfillment of the law," it does not mean that love has displaced the Law of God, so that love now becomes our Law. Rather, it means that we now as Christians will love to do what we ought to do, which is what the Law of God requires of us. Obedience to the Law of God will be rooted in the love of God and love of neighbor.
The people ought even to put their rulers to death for open crime, especially if their crimes are such as are likely to infect others. "For all the nation is punished if the ruler sins: because the people either follow the ruler or allow him to continue in sin and defile the land".
If the ruler is a slave of Satan, God's vengeance hangs over the nation. We've allowed our enemies to take control of all the key spheres without a single shot being fired. If we can't take it back by peaceful means, we need to take it by force. None who compel idolatry, should be allowed to reign and those who actively oppose and destroy true Christianity should be put to death (ok I'm exaggerating a bit to make a point, but only slightly).
"Thou shalt have no other Gods before me" is simplest rule and clearest guiding for the Christian in all spheres; either a preacher, teacher, politician, church member, or citizen. Nothing else is acceptable.
The challenge of Elijah is again before us: “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him” (1 Kings 18:21).”