A common message to Christians today is that they should not force their beliefs upon other people. They should, instead, keep their faith confined to the Church and their home. Everywhere else, they should be quiet about it, let alone in politics. “Separation of Church and State” is a common phrase used in the argument that the Church should have no influence in government. Are Christians supposed to be quiet about their faith in the public square? Are they supposed to proclaim their faith even if it brings persecution? Is the “Separation of Church and State” argument legally sound? It is vital for us to understand the answers to these questions.
Scripture makes it very clear that as Christians, we are to live and proclaim the Gospel with both our words and actions to everyone, Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Our faith is supposed to be visible like a shining light, Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Our faith in Christ changes us from the inside, a change which results in a desire to share the Gospel and live rightly. If we hide our faith, refusing to display it publicly because it is shameful of embarrassing, then our faith is not real (James 2:14-17).
Christ calls us to live for Him no matter what national law we are under, because His law is above the law of man. If US law stated that preaching the Gospel is illegal, that should not prevent us from doing so. The Apostles faced this same issue, Acts 5:28-29 “And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’” Thus, whether or not the “Separation of Church and State” argument is legally correct, we must obey what God has commanded.
“The Separation of Church and State” is a sorely misused phrase. First, this phrase is not in the Constitution. It was used in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson regarding the Constitution, but not in the document itself. Second, people use it to argue that the Church should have no influence in the government. However, that is directly contrary to what Thomas Jefferson meant when he wrote it. When he said he wanted a separation of Church and State, he was wanting to protect the Church from the State, not the other way around. This is clearly displayed in the First Amendment of the Constitution which actually 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.” The government has no right to establish a state religion or to tell people who or how they are to worship. The First Amendment mentions nothing, however, about the Church being unable to have influence in the government. Instead, it directly states that the Church has the right “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” In other words, the Church has the right and responsibility to participate in politics and government. Laws and legislation can be based in Biblical morality, such as the sacredness of marriage and the lives of the unborn, and they would be perfectly Constitutional.
The United States government was founded on Biblical morality and principles. People were sworn into office with their hand on the Bible. The pledge of allegiance says that the United States are “One nation, under God.” The Declaration of Independence recognizes that men and women are created by God and their rights come from Him, not the government, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” By Benjamin Franklin’s suggestion, the Constitutional Convention opened each of its meetings with prayer. Statuary Hall, a major room in the capital building, was used for Church services from 1807 to 1857.
The Church has a duty to preach the Gospel to all the world, no matter the consequences. The USA has been prosperous because it has put Christ first. If we stop that now, if we refuse to share our faith to avoid the minor pain of mockery, then we will allow this country to go down the path of disaster. Then, a day will come when sharing the Gospel in America will be dangerous, perhaps even fatal. We have a choice. We can obey God and live for Him now, protecting our freedoms. Or, we can listen to the influence of the devil and hide our faith, losing the freedom to truly worship God in peace.
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