What Is Separation of Church and State?
I What Is Separation of Church and State?
Separation of church and state means that the church will not control the government and that the government will not control the church.
a) There should be no union between the church and the state.
b) The state should not control religious affairs.
c) No religion should control governmental affairs.
This does not mean that Christian’s should not respect, sustain, and obey civil government as long as it does not violate the conscience or biblical convictions. It does not mean Christians should not get involved in government. Christian reader, we should at least pray and vote.
God has ordained three institutions: Family, in Genesis 2:20-25, God planned and blessed marriage/the home. The church, in Matthew 16:18, Jesus states He will build His church. God also established civil government.
Dr. L. Duane Brown, recognized as an authority on church trends and movements, articulates the establishment of civil government,
After Adam disobeyed the commandment of God and was cast out of the Garden of Eden, children were born to Adam and Eve (Gen. 4, 5). There were no social rules to follow and much wickedness developed because every man followed his own conscience. Soon the human race was completely corrupted except for Noah and his family (Gen. 6:5-8). Following the flood, God established a covenant with Noah (Gen.9) which included civil government. Its basis was the ultimate human retribution of capital punishment (Gen.9:5-6). Nowhere in Scripture has God rescinded this principle. (Biblical Basis for Baptists pp. 41, 42 RBP)
This means that churches should submit to governmental regulations intended to protect the health and safety of the public, but the government must not interfere with the beliefs and practices of a church or its ministries.
Separation of church and state, once again, means that the church will not control the government, and the government will not control the church.
Separation of church and state means that the church will not control the government and that the government will not control the church.
a) There should be no union between the church and the state.
b) The state should not control religious affairs.
c) No religion should control governmental affairs.
This does not mean that Christian’s should not respect, sustain, and obey civil government as long as it does not violate the conscience or biblical convictions. It does not mean Christians should not get involved in government. Christian reader, we should at least pray and vote.
God has ordained three institutions: Family, in Genesis 2:20-25, God planned and blessed marriage/the home. The church, in Matthew 16:18, Jesus states He will build His church. God also established civil government.
Dr. L. Duane Brown, recognized as an authority on church trends and movements, articulates the establishment of civil government,
After Adam disobeyed the commandment of God and was cast out of the Garden of Eden, children were born to Adam and Eve (Gen. 4, 5). There were no social rules to follow and much wickedness developed because every man followed his own conscience. Soon the human race was completely corrupted except for Noah and his family (Gen. 6:5-8). Following the flood, God established a covenant with Noah (Gen.9) which included civil government. Its basis was the ultimate human retribution of capital punishment (Gen.9:5-6). Nowhere in Scripture has God rescinded this principle. (Biblical Basis for Baptists pp. 41, 42 RBP)
This means that churches should submit to governmental regulations intended to protect the health and safety of the public, but the government must not interfere with the beliefs and practices of a church or its ministries.
Separation of church and state, once again, means that the church will not control the government, and the government will not control the church.
posted by J. Wendell at 3:05 AM
