Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Church and State should remain separate for historical and theological reasons

In the year 313, Roman Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan. This decree, which came as a result of Constantine believing that the Christian God had given him victory over his enemy, and thus sole power in the Empire, reversed the persecution that had been sporadically carried out against Christians. Yet, the Edict also gave Christianity primacy in the religiously eclectic Empire. Once a religion on the margins of society, Christianity quickly became the religion of the Empire, and church and state were fused together into a dangerous alliance.

Indeed during the Medieval Period, crown and cross were virtually inseparable, as Roman Catholic Christianity was the only religion of Europe, leaving the citizens of Europe without religious freedom. For over a millennium, church and state were indivisible. Loyalty to one was loyalty to the other, and the state was often used to enforce religious doctrines and practices.

In 1517 Martin Luther challenged the authority of the church in what is known as Reformation, a period of religious upheaval that eventually led to schisms in the church, giving birth to different churches in Europe. However, despite some radical movements in the Reformation that preached the separation of church and state, the two remained entangled.

A new experiment, however, was on the horizon as many who sought to escape religious persecution made their way to the New World. When the United States won its independence from England and established its own sovereignty, it was created as a nation that officially separated church and state, offering religious freedom to all its citizens.

There is no doubt, however, that the Christian religion did played a major role in the establishment of the United States. While most of the founders embraced Enlightenment Deism, they did considered themselves to be Christian. Nevertheless, it is wrong to assume that America was created as a Christian nation. Neither the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution makes any statement declaring Christianity as the religion of the country.

But even today, in our increasingly antagonistic political culture, some religious leaders would like to see a blurring of the lines between church and state. For example, a leading member of the Christian right has unequivocally stated that “The ideal society is one in which church and state are inseparable.” His intent of course is to establish a Christian nation. While history has proven that such an alliance is very dangerous, there are significant theological reasons why church and state must remain separate.

First, followers of Christ are primarily citizens of the kingdom of God and not the kingdom of our country. Jesus has called us first and foremost to pledge allegiance to him and his teachings. Our allegiance to the state, and its symbols, is secondary to our faithfulness to Christ. This does not mean that we cannot be good citizens of both, for Christians are called to be salt and light in the world. But our ultimate loyalty must be to the life and teachings of Christ, particularly his call for justice and peace for all people, and especially toward the marginalized of our society. When the state makes economic policies that are unjust for the weak and poor, the church must speak and call for justice. When the state limits the rights of segments of a population, the church must stand for equality and inclusion. When the state creates foreign policies that lead to war, the church must stand for peace.

Second, the biblical story teaches us very clearly that God has sought to bless the world long before the birth of America. This is the reason that worship spaces should not include patriotic symbols such as the American flag, and worship services should not incorporate patriotic themes and songs. This is not to suggest that we should not be thankful to God for what we have in this country, but we need to worship God as the God of the world and not the God of American religion. If we only acknowledge God as blessing America, then we fail to recognize the vastness of God’s love and God’s will and purpose to redeem all humanity.

History has demonstrated that the relationship between the church and the state is hazardous, for if one seeks to control the other, then both, but especially the church, will loose their identity and purpose. If the state becomes an instrument of the church, then religious freedoms will be lost, as one religion will seek to control the state. Likewise, if the church becomes a mechanism of the state, then the church cannot stand at a prophetic distance from which it can speak to the potential unjust and abusive polices of the state.

(This article was also posted on EthicsDaily.com at http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=9648)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I want to address your regards on incorporating patriotic themes into church services.
“…the biblical story teaches us very clearly that God has sought to bless the world long before the birth of America. This is the reason that worship spaces should not include patriotic symbols such as the American flag, and worship services should not incorporate patriotic themes and songs. This
is not to suggest that we should not be thankful to God for what we have in this country, but we need to worship God as the God of the world and not the God of American religion. If we only acknowledge God as blessing America, then we fail to recognize the vastness of God’s love and God’s will and purpose to redeem all humanity.”
I feel that recognizing America or any one specific country within worship doesn’t mean that the worshipers are exalting that country as a “chosen” country or more blessed than others. As believers we are called to be salt and light of the world, and witness in love to our fellow citizens. Acts 1:8 says… “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” These words from Jesus command Christians to make believers of all nations, the progression …Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth is the rough equivalent to locally, national and the rest of the world. So does separation of church and state mean that believers cannot hold services dedicated to praying for their nation? Absolutely not, Christians should be interceding for America, it citizens, politicians and praying for revival for this country.
“This is the reason that worship spaces should not include
patriotic symbols such as the American flag…”
Why not? Do we not hang up crosses in are sanctuaries as symbols and reminders for us to repent and be thankful for the pardon we were granted for what Christ did on that cross? Can we not have an American flag to remind us that for this brief period on earth, God has given to us a duty as an earthly citizen of America to pray for our country? Does this also mean that we cannot celebrate within the walls of our church Independence day? Does this also mean that events such as “See You at the Pole”, where students gather around an American flag to pray about issues and America’s leaders; are wrong?
I don’t believe that recognizing the blessings that God has given America as a “fail to recognize the vastness of God’s love and God’s will and purpose to redeem all humanity”. However I do believe that just as Acts 1:8 says we should be reaching all ends of the earth, in prayer, giving and missions. America is not a perfect nation; in fact I believe we are a broken people and a broken nation but I will not cease to pray in corporate worship as well as outside of corporate worship for this nation as well as other nations.

This blog didn’t exactly seem to be addressing separation of church and state as much as it did seem to encourage keeping God and Beliefs within the confines of a Church Building.

C. Drew Smith, Ph.D. said...

First, I think your last statement is way off. I am very clear in my argument that the church is to remain at a distance from the state so that it can speak prophetically to the state. This is not keep God and beliefs inside the church.

Second, I never said that we should not pray for our nation or its leaders. But patriotic themes and symbols in worship may at times confuse our loyalties and may cause us to see an issue as influenced by our faith, when in reality it is more influenced by our being American.

Take the health care debate. Many Christians are standing against universal health care. This is not a stance that is influenced by our faith, but is one influenced more by our being Americans.

I think your comparison between hanging a cross in a church with hanging an American flag in a church is ludicrous and insulting to the death of Jesus. The American flag stands as a symbol of nationalistic power, while the cross is a symbol of death at the hands of injustice.

Religion and the state must remain separate. America has never been a Christian nation, and we are certainly a pluralistic one now. This does not mean that we cannot be moved by our religion to influence governmental policies, but, in a democracy, where religious freedom is a must,intertwining religion with state to the extent that one becomes equated with the other is a very dangerous road.

Anonymous said...

I’m not entirely sure I understand, what you mean by confusing our loyalties? Do you mean that you sometimes feel very deeply that you are more of an American than a citizen of heaven? I have never met anyone who felt confused in this way, you must have a very tough 4th of July.
But really, I did not compare the cross and the flag as a means of equating them, and if I offended you I am deeply sorry. I am very much aware of the differences between the two. The flag stands for the unity of one country and the sacrifice it took to earn that freedom, and the cross is symbolic of the hideous sin that we as humanity are capable of and that all of that Christ took upon himself so that we may be reconciled to the Father. When I compared the two I was comparing the fact that they both are visual reminders, not that they are equal in importance.
And in response, I think people are standing against universal health care because it is ludicrous and ineffective idea produced by communist minded individuals.

C. Drew Smith, Ph.D. said...

Wow, universal health care as an "idea produced by communist minded individuals." You must take your theology from Glen Beck and Sean Hannity instead of from Jesus.

And no, I am not confused about my loyalties; they supersede any loyalties I have toward America.

Anonymous said...

Produce any scripture reference where Jesus pointedly says that universal health care is correct, and I'll believe it.

C. Drew Smith, Ph.D. said...

Even if I did direct you to my posts on this issue, you would not accept it, for you would continue to see Jesus as nothing more than a savior who died for our sins and not as a political prophet who judged the powerful for how they oppressed the poor.

This mindset points to exactly what I have said about church and state. Perhaps you are confused about your loyalties.

Anonymous said...

I find it interesting that you don't even know me, but you make assumptions about the way that I view Jesus.
I would agree with you that Jesus spoke out radically to the politics of his time. I agree with you that we are supposed to take care of the oppressed. If you recall the command to take care of the widows and orphans was given to the believers and was called the truest form of worship.
So I believe that the Church and Christian organizations should be meeting those needs, not the government.

P.s.
I didn't ask for YOUR posts on this issue, I asked for scripture.

" Love the man who seeks wisdom, but beware the man who thinks he's found it all."