God's Business in the Government

The issue of church and state is becoming a big issue, which I believe will grow louder and louder until everyone has to take a stand on it. It won’t be swept under a carpet much longer. In fact, I wager that it will become the number one issue, higher than the economy or war issues. I am looking at it from a different view than you perhaps. First, let me say, I am not for undermining Christianity or the Bible or faith or Christ, or the government of the United States. I’m sure I didn’t have to say that to you, because you know me better than that, based on my profile.

Lately I see more clearly how the 1st Amendment was written with regard to religion and government. “Congress shall make no law” for or against religion. The churches are accusing the U.S. Supreme Court of undermining the place of Congress by passing down decisions that apparently limit the freedom of religion allowed by the Constitution. A pronouncement by the U.S. Supreme Court can overthrow a particular law passed by Congress and an executive decree by the President. In the phrase of the above Amendment, the Constitution speaks to Congress and to a law specifically, not to the Supreme Court. The evangelical establishment demand an answer to their question, Does the absence of Constitutional direction toward the highest court give it the freedom to wage war against the church in place of the legislature? In other words, Does the highest court have the power to undermine the illicit religio-political aims of a Protestant papacy? I believe such a prospect is a treasonous omen of our demise to be the number one issue that the churches are questioning, and pushing to overthrow. When the separation clause is overturned, America will be no different from every other heathen nation in the world.

Then there are the phrases “separation of church and state” or “wall of separation” which were coined by Thomas Jefferson, but which are not in the Constitution. As I read the Amendment, a “non-relationship” is to effect religion and government. The two were to be neither friendly nor enemies. This was for the benefit of both ─ benefiting both includes for the benefit of religion, the church. So why is the church  bringing up this issue to the government at all? Why are they hounding the government for it? ─ There seems to be an underlying issue by the church in view here.

This is not a new situation. Thomas Jefferson had to deal with an upset clergy in his day over the hands-off position of the government. They wanted the government to recognize religion out of fear that the public would perceive the government as atheistic and antagonistic to religion, and thus encourage irreligion. Some of the Federalists genuinely didn’t want to receive the frown of God who had so graciously helped establish their nation. This may be the stance of many in the churches today, albeit it is “not according to knowledge.” (Rom. 10:2). I say that because the Bible separates church and state. Nevertheless, they want to see some evidence of religion in government history, whether federal, state, or local. They feel that it adds credence to the advancement of faith in America; religious leaders need all the help they can get. “After all, too many people seem to think religion is defunct; but look at our past,” say they, “see how religious our forefathers were!”

But does this allegation describe true American history? Does it correctly describe our nation’s forefathers? No, it doesn’t. Our nation’s forefathers never subscribed to true religion. Not at all. The original, true religion arose in the Reformation, but never came to the full church of the apostles. And it would not until the seventh-day Sabbath would be restored in the context of keeping God's Law and having the Testimony of Jesus Christ, per Revelation 12:17. Protestant America had neither. Is true religion helped by the religious examples of the political leadership? Is religion ever helped by government aid or endorsement? Never. Is it hurt by government laws and decisions against it? Never. Does the presence or absence of religious icons posted on government property or in public schools affect anyone’s faith in the eternal purposes of God? Definitely not.

Most Americans are Protestants, if not in faith, in culture, by inheritance. The original Protestant protest was against the need for the involvement of non-spiritual organizations in the church. They said the sinner and God have direct communication. Government involvement in the dealings between God and man is neither required nor desired. Unless any politician is under conviction of sin and repentant toward God, it needs to vacate this sacred precinct.

In other words, the Spirit of God is in no way hampered from its work by the lack of symbols and relics and governmental assistance. It “is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.” John 6:63. I don’t mean to sound dogmatic. Please don’t take me wrong. But what we all truly want is genuine Christianity. And I believe that you, the reader, want this, even if you have no religious affiliation. I believe that many atheists today want to see a Christianity with real self-sacrifice.

True Christianity endures difficulty, harassment, persecution, and hardship; and accept them without complaint because those Christians carry all their problems to Jesus in prayer and leave them at His feet. What the world needs today is a Christianity which carries a cross that doesn’t turn back; it needs Christians with the faith of John the Baptist who went to his beheading with the simple words of power from Jesus, “Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” Matt. 11:6.

The offense of Christ’s cross, His furnace of affliction has always been God’s method for cleansing us. The church of today needs cleansing, right? All throughout sacred history God’s people have, almost every time, ended up in trouble ─ (and here might be a sticky subject) ─ because they had secretly, maybe unconsciously, walked away from their God. And until they owned up to it and genuinely repented, a period of trouble ensued. “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. and they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them.... And they were greatly distressed.” Judg. 2:11-14.

Once they repented, then He would raise up a deliverer to save them. But He wouldn’t do it just because they cried. His children had to admit their disrespectful unfaithfulness to Him and wholly turn their hearts toward Him again. These are His immutable conditions.

“Have ye forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.” Heb. 12:5.

A good question to ask ourselves: Has the church backslidden? Do I need correction? Does the church need correction? It may be hard to see it because we are in the middle of the consequences of backsliding. But I say, if Protestantism is calling for power from the state, then she left her Husband and Lord a long time ago. We know by the testimony of the four gospels that a great display of religion is not necessarily evidence of consecration to God. Then the bombastic manner of today’s preachers, and specifically religious leaders’ irreverent treatment of the government, contrary to Bible injunctions, marks them as spiritual suspects.

Are we beginning to see similar characteristics today as were seen in the religious leaders who dogged Christ and His disciples for 3 ½ years? Is the church truly examining herself on a continuous basis, as the scriptures directs her to do, to know whether or not she is in the faith, so that when she preaches to others, she is not a castaway? Where is the reformation and renunciation of the world that accompanied conversion in the past? Where is the willingness to lose all for Christ? Where is the cross of Christ; the willingness to suffer quietly and endure as a good soldier of Jesus?

I’m not against a spiritual fight of faith. I’m not against regaining lost ground for Christ. But I am against the political methods of modern Christianity that are used by the churches today. I am for a genuine, renewed spirituality among God’s people. We need true heart conversion and revival. We need a return to the Reformation, when men, women, and children laid down their rights, their possessions and livelihoods and even their lives for the truth. I am sad to say, at this point, that only tribulation can bring all this about. As it is written, 

“It was said to them [in the Counter Reformation] that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren [the 144,000 remnant of the Reformation], that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Rev. 6:11. And, “When they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” Rev. 11:7,8. And, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” Rev. 7:14,15.

This post is not for or against the ACLU or the ACLJ. It’s for a revival in the churches, one that has not been seen since apostolic times.