Before
you begin your Bible study, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, be sure you
have named your sins privately to God the Father.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Known, Unknown and Forgotten sins) (1Jn 1:9)
You will then be in fellowship with God,
Filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to learn Truth from the Word of God.
"God is spirit, and those
who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth," (Joh 4:24)
CHURCH AND STATE
The Christian’s Responsibility to
Church and State
The issue before us has been a political “football” for centuries: is
there a conflict of responsibility between the Divine institution of
nationalism and or; the State and the Church?
Can a born-again Christian serve his country in
the military, kill the enemy, and at the same time Think with the Biblical
Thoughts of God as a believer-priest? The
objective of this study is to demonstrate the compatibility between the Word of
Truth and our national heritage. Many great believers have fought and
died so that we might have the very freedom of speech which makes this message
possible. It is time that Christians learn the Biblical Facts. Some of these
questions are answered from the standpoint of: (Mat
22:1-14)
At this time in which we live there are three types of kingdoms on the
earth today: Satan's false Spiritual kingdom, (Act
26:18) and natural earthly kingdoms, (Rom
13:1) which we shall refer to as the State; and the Spiritual
Kingdom of God. “…The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a
wedding feast for his son.” (Mat 22:2)
The “King” (God the Father) is the Author of the Divine plan for
the human race. The Divine plan centers in the Person of His Son through whom a
Spiritual Kingdom on earth would be formed. (Joh 18:36)
The Father planned Salvation so that all members of the human race could be
saved. (1Ti 2:4) Grace found a way!
For by grace
you have been saved through
faith; and that [Salvation] not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of
works, so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:8-9)
All those who have received Jesus Christ as
Savior make up the Spiritual Kingdom. (Gal 3:26)
However, at this point in the history of Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ
has been rejected by the nation as a whole. Once the Gospel is rejected; “religion”
(Salvation by works) is substituted; (Gal 5:4)
and it is religion which constantly opposes and attacks Jesus Christ and His
Word. (Rom 10:3)
One of these attacks occurs in this chapter, and forces the issue of the
relationship between Church and State.
The decline of a national kingdom
The Jews were about to fall apart as a nation because, as individuals,
they had REJECTED the person of Jesus Christ. (cf. Hos
4:1-6) Because the Spiritual Kingdom within the National Kingdom was
in such a minority, the freedoms, the blessings, the powers and the joys that
this nation had enjoyed for centuries were about to be removed under the “Fifth
Cycle of Discipline.” (Lev 26:15-39)
The group of people called Israel today; DO NOT
CONSTITUTE THE JEWISH NATION as a Theocracy under God! Israel is dispersed and
will continue to be scattered throughout the earth UNTIL JESUS CHRIST RETURNS. (Mat 24:31) Here is the Principle: if a national entity, which is a
Divine establishment; is to exist as God would have it exist, with perfect
liberty, there must be inside that national entity, a remnant of Spiritually
mature believers with the Kingdom living in the THEM; and through THEM; (Luk 17:21) which has an influence,
but WHICH IS IN NO WAY COMBINED with that national entity!
The Word of God teaches that any ecclesiastical
or religious organization which seeks to be the State is false and degenerate.
Don’t you, as a believer, ever support ANY organization that seeks to be the
State!
It is possible for a believer to be so ignorant Doctrinally that he
cannot orient himself politically! God help us when we
become so naive politically that we back such organizations as the UNITED
NATIONS and the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES. You
see, that is exactly where Jewish Spiritual degeneracy was in the days of
Christ’s earthly ministry.
That is why the Jews are scattered all over the world today and why;
Israel does not exist as a Spiritual nation. (As a Theocracy under God) For many centuries the Jews had marvelous freedoms,
blessings and Divine Thoughts which no other nation possessed. Yet they lost all of these things, and thousands upon
thousands of them went into eternity without Christ and without hope because
they were not straight on the very points that you and I now have the privilege
of studying! (Act 4:12)
(Mat 22:15) introduces this
subject: “Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap
Him in what He said.” The Pharisees were the religious crowd. Religious
people go to Hades; because Satan and religion blind them to the Truth of God’s
Word. (2Co 4:4)
For not knowing
about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not
subject themselves to the righteousness of God. (Rom 10:3)
Religion is man seeking the approbation of God by his own works, in
contrast to God's Reality, where the work has been done; and man has but to
receive it. Now these Pharisees wanted to rule the
State; but this was never God’s intention. Instead, God has ordained
certain institutions in the world for all members of the human race for their
preservation and proper function.
The Divine institutions (Neh 4:14)
There are both Divine and Christian institutions. A Christian institution is for believers only; the Lord’s
Table, learning the Word, Operation Z, prayer, fellowship with God, Spiritual
growth, Thinking Truth, the royal priesthood, the ambassadorship, praise,
thanksgiving and worship etc.; can only truly be preformed in the Filling of
God the Holy Spirit! (Joh 4:23-24) But a Divine institution is for Christians and
non-Christians alike; and is God’s plan to create and preserve order in the
human race. Now, what are the Divine institutions?
(1) VOLITION / FREEWILL (Gen 1:26;
Gen 2:16-17) this is a personal Divine
institution, which is the basis of all true freedom (Liberty) bestowed at the
time of man’s creation. (Freedom with no authority is
anarchy; and authority with no freedom is slavery; God's plan is freewill
submitted to His Authority; (The Word) this is liberty!)
Every member of the human race has the right to make decisions within
the bounds of the Law. There are many national entities today that DENY the
existence of the Divine Institution of Volition; in fact, all Communist nations come under this category. Communism,
Muhammadanism, Fascism and every “ism” in power; is religion and or Satan
ruling the State! All Tyrannies deny the
basic Divine Institution of Volition and therefore restricts human freedom.
(2) MARRIAGE (Gen 2:21-24) This
was instituted by God for both believers and unbelievers, and is the beginning
of organization and stability in the
human race. (Satan uses Gay marriage, sensuality,
polygamy, and fornacation to attack it!)
(3) FAMILY (Num 2:34) This
logically follows the second Divine institution, and is the basis for orderly
society and protection of the human race. As the parents rule the children,
children learn respect for authority; rights of others and freedom with
responsibility. (Gay adoption, broken homes and no
discipline)
(4) NATIONALISM (Deut 32:8)
National entities have been ordained by God to keep the world from chaos and to
prevent Satan from completely taking over the world. Nationalism — protecting
freedom, guarantees bona fide evangelism. Internationalism
enables Satan to have greater control; (Isa
14:12-14) God divided the people into nations to keep them from
being destroyed. Internationalism becomes the breeding place and distribution center for
concentrated satanic thinking, (Astrology, fortunetellers, tarot cards, the New Age Movement,
séances, sorcery etc.) and rejection of God and His Word! God’s indictment
against internationalism at the Tower of Babel scattered the human race and
gave the people different languages in order to prevent the evils of “one-worldism.” (Gen 11:1-9) God Himself put peoples within boundaries so that they
would seek the Lord! (Act 17:26-28)
The Bible defines nationalism in three
categories: geographical, racial and linguistic. It provides common Law and
culture, and is the basis of protection externally, (From the sin natures of other countries; tyranny) through the military, and internally, (From the sin natures inside
a country; crime) through Law enforcement
and capital punishment. The State cannot fulfill its function in keeping
Law and order among a large number of families of the same nationality without
capital punishment; this started in, (Gen 9:6;
thru Exodus 21:12; Num 35:16-18; Mat 22:6-7;
and still continues today. (Rom 13:4)
Our departure from capital punishment is another great danger to this
country. Capital punishment is the basic Concept in Law enforcement. Crime increases in proportion to the decline of Truth in the
souls of believers.
The coalition of religious and
political parties
Now we are ready for the strange alliance of two
antithetical groups, the Pharisees and the Herodians.
Then the Pharisees went and plotted
together how they might trap Him in what He said. And they sent their disciples
to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that You are
truthful and teach the way of God in Truth, and defer to no one; for You are
not partial to any. (Mat 22:15-16)
This is the oddest group of bedfellows you would ever encounter. To the
Pharisees, true religion was a strict observance of the ceremonial Law, and
they controlled the religious life of the Jews through legalism.
On the other hand, the Herodians were a political party of Jews
organized and perpetuated to support the dynasty of Herod. They wanted Herod to
take the throne of Palestine and to throw out the Romans. The Pharisees wanted
neither Herod nor the Romans — they wanted to rule the State. Now, when you
find the religious crowd combining with this particular political group, there
has to be some dire emergency! And that great emergency is JESUS CHRIST!
Since His rejection, the Lord Jesus is now
proclaiming not a kingdom on earth but a Spiritual Kingdom composed of all
believers. (As
a Theocracy under God; inside each believer. (1Co 6:19-20)
Thus Jesus Christ and
Truth has become an enemy to both parties.
Since the Pharisees were chiefly a
religious party and the Herodians a political one, we have in this unholy
alliance; the union of Church and State! God, in His
Word, has separated the two to protect the world from religion as a source of
conquest and enslavement. But whenever the Principle is violated, there is aggression,
torture, abuse, enslavement and violence in the name of religion. When Church and State unite, the Person and work of the Lord
Jesus Christ is attacked. Hence, the union of Church and State in this Age is
always, without exception, satanic, anti-Christian and anti-Christ!
The attempt to discredit Christ
Having agreed upon their common purpose, the Pharisees and Herodians
formed a strategy to trap the Lord Jesus. The Pharisees sent out their
Theological students (Disciples) along with the Herodians to locate some
weakness by which to discredit the Lord.
Since the union of Church and State is a satanic strategy to discredit
Jesus Christ; “We know that You are truthful.”
The Herodians know that He has the true claim to the throne of Israel
because He is David’s greater Son. The Pharisees know that He is the true
Messiah, even though they will not accept Him as such; but because of His
claims, they are in danger of losing out in ruling the State. Their plan is to attempt to trap Him with a question. The
question they are about to propound was contrived to get Jesus to make a strong
and clear statement in opposition to the Roman Empire, thus opening the way for
the Empire to execute Him as a revolutionist and an enemy of the State.
The crowd moved in, and this is exactly what they want. They want
witnesses; because they are going to ask Jesus Christ a question which they
hope will discredit Him. So, the speaker asks:
Tell us then, what do You think? Is it
Lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not? (Mat 22:17)
The question is loaded! If He gives a simple
“yes,” He is denying His claims of Messiahship. If He gives a simple “no,” He
is saying, in effect, “l do not accept the State as a Divine institution.”
I’m glad that the Herodians combined with the Pharisees to ask this
question, because out of it comes a clear Principle for the believer in Jesus
Christ, as far as relationship with a nation is concerned: “Is it Lawful to
pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Now, notice first of all in: (Mat 22:18)
But Jesus perceived their malice, (PONERIA; Satan's thinking)
and said, Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
Remember, Jesus is ETERNAL GOD He is OMNISCIENT! He knows their thoughts. And so His first answer is, “Why ARE
YOU TESTING ME, you hypocrites?”
Actually, their question is a good one;
but the motive behind it is not to seek knowledge, but to deceive and trap our
Lord. So
Jesus rebukes them for their duplicity and makes it clear that He understands
their motive, but will give an honest answer to the question.
Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.
And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, Whose likeness and
inscription is this? (Mat 22:19-20)
“They say unto him, Caesar’s.” You can almost
hear them gloating, for they feel as though the trap is now closing.
They said to Him, “Caesar's.” Then He said
to them, Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the
things that are God's. (Mat 22:21)
The procedure for the three kingdoms; Satan's
kingdom; we need to stay out of it, (Joh 15:19; Joh 17:14;
Joh 18:36; 1Jn
2:15-16; Jas 4:4) by staying in fellowship, (1Jn 1:9) with God and Thinking with His Thoughts; (1Co 2:16) and not
thinking with Satan's! (Mar 8:33)
Here is the procedure for you as a believer in Jesus Christ, as a
citizen of His Spiritual Kingdom, and at the same time a citizen of the United
States of America: (Or any other earthly kingdom) “Render to Caesar the
things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's.”
The Earthly Kingdom Jesus recognized the
existence of Divine Institution Number Four — the
national entity — NOT an international entity!
He also recognized the existence of a Spiritual
Kingdom on earth at the present time, made up of believers in Him. And though these two Kingdoms coexist, they are NEVER TO BE
COMBINED!
The Spiritual Kingdom. THE ULTIMATE
SOLUTION TO MAN’S PROBLEMS IS PERSONAL FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST! THE ANSWER BEGINS
WITH BEING BORN AGAIN! (Joh 3:3)
Man looks to his own systems to solve his
problems such as poverty, war and environment; when
after Salvation; we should stay in fellowship, learn Truth, grow; and reach
Spiritual maturity! (1Co 14:20) And constantly turn our problems — PERSONAL AND NATIONAL — over to the Lord! (Mat 6:31-34) This is God’s plan for the human
race. You can alleviate poverty, but not abolish it, (Mat 26:11; Mar 14:7)
only Christ can do that; and will when He returns to earth. War cannot be
completely abolished, (Mat 24:6)
because of the old sin nature resident in every person. (Rom 7:17-18) Only Christ can abolish war, and
will when He returns. (Isa 2:2-5) WE cannot afford to leave Jesus Christ out of our PERSONAL
and or NATIONAL LIFE. To leave Him out of our
Consideration or our life is finally to destroy ourselves and our country! (Pro 8:36)
The existence of the Spiritual Kingdom — the Kingdom which is made up of all believers; and powered by those who are
growing to Spiritual maturity; and is the only thing in these United States
which is keeping and guaranteeing for us any freedom at all! (Eze 14:14) We live in the most wonderful country in the world, even
under present conditions, because of the Bible; THE WORD OF GOD, which
absolutely declares Volition as the first Divine institution, and makes it
possible for you and for me to have some measure of freedom today.
The believer’s responsibility
within the national entity
“Render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar's!”
This means that you have responsibility to your national entity. A believer in
Jesus Christ has DOUBLE RESPONSIBILITY! It is the
believer’s responsibility to witness for Christ; to show individuals within the
national entity that the solution to ALL their problems; is personal faith in Jesus
Christ and growth to Spiritual maturity! The second responsibility of
the believer-priest is that he MUST, in time of war or in time of emergency,
fulfill his obligation in military service. There is no such thing, Biblically,
as a “conscientious objector.”
Authority in the national entity: (Rom 13:1-7)
Every person is to be in subjection to the
governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Rom 13:1)
Every person, believer and unbeliever, is Commanded to be subject to or
obedient to the authority of the national entity. “There is no authority except
from God: those which exist are established by God.” declares that the
national entity is a Divine institution.
Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God;
and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. (Rom 13:2)
God is not the author of confusion. (1Co 14:33)
There must be order in the human race; if it is to survive. Obviously, the
structure of a tyranny like: Russia, China, etc.; does not comply with the
Divine institutions!
For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil.
Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have
praise from the same (Rom 13:3)
“Rulers” refer to authority under nationalism, or the government
which administers justice. Paul is not approving Nero, but the PRINCIPLE of
authority in government.
“Good
behavior” of, (Rom 13:3) describes
the existence of a common Law which parallels Truth in the Word of God. “The
evil” is crime, which is the violation of such common Law. The believer in
the national entity has responsibility to obey the Laws of the land that are
compatible with and parallel to the Word of God. This
does not include international organizations that are anti-Biblical! It
does include participation in civic affairs, (Voting, jury duty, etc.) as well
as participation in the defense of our country.
If you are a Christian and are called into military service, serve as
unto the Lord; if called upon to kill, BE THE BEST “KILLER” IN YOUR OUTFIT! If
called to jury duty, be the most conscientious juror. You have a responsibility
to the State, and the best citizens within the State ought to be those who are
born again, those of the Spiritual Kingdom.
for it is a minister of God to you for
good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for
nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one
who practices evil. (Rom 13:4)
Capital punishment is the greatest restrainer of crime. “The sword”
refers to capital punishment. Decapitation was a means of capital punishment in
the Roman Empire. Under Divine Institution # 4, the authorities of the State
are “ministers of God” to execute a criminal when warranted.
Therefore it is necessary to be in
subjection, [Obey the rules] not only because of wrath, but also for conscience
sake. (Rom 13:5)
The
unbeliever is restrained from evil by fear of punishment; but the believer should
be restrained “for conscience sake.” (1Ti
1:5-6) When a believer’s conscience is
Truth-fed, he has the correct norm and Standard of Thinking; by which to make
Decisions compatible with the Word of God!
For because of this you also pay taxes,
for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. (Rom 13:6)
Because of the Biblical Principle of subjection to the authority of
government; under Divine Institution # 4, believers have the responsibility to
pay their taxes. There is a bona fide basis for taxation under nationalism.
Abuse by unfair taxes does not negate the Principle. Leaders of government
(God’s ministers) must be paid by a taxation system, even as priests and
Levites were maintained by the Jewish system of tithes.
Render to all what is due them: tax to
whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
(Rom 13:7)
The illustration of taxation is used to establish the Principle of
Christian responsibility to one’s nation. (Military service, voting, jury duty,
civil service, etc.) “Fear to whom fear” — reference to respect for Law
and Law-enforcement agencies; “Honor to whom honor” — denotes respect
for government authority. (Civil and military)
When fulfilling this obligation under the Principle “render unto
Caesar” a believer ought to be the best!
Believers have a tremendous responsibility
under God to witness, to pray, to study, to learn, to absorb Truth, techniques
and Promises of the Word; to fulfill the Command to build the “edification
structure” of the soul and then live by GOD'S REALITY! (Eph 4:12-15) Truth builds up, (Edifies) by
producing grace-orientation, mastery of the details of life, a relaxed mental
attitude, (Minus mental attitude sins) capacity to love God as well as people,
and inner happiness. YOU CANNOT FULFILL THE FIRST PHRASE (“Render unto
Caesar”) WITHOUT THE LAST! (“And unto God”)
Conclusion
What was the reaction of the Herodians to the Truth Jesus stated in one
brilliant sentence? SPEECHLESS! (Mat 22:22) The political approach was refuted;
but it resulted in some significant points of Truth: (1) The clear distinction
between Church and State; (2) Emphasis on Christian responsibility to State;
(3) Existence of two Realities — STATE and CHURCH; When
the State doesn’t follow the Biblical Concepts of nationalism, the believer
must declare his allegiance to God! (Act 4:19-20;
Act 5:29) He therefore makes the
Salvation issue clear and helps the State define and maintain its freedoms. (4)
Christian responsibility to God as well as to the State defined. (5) The Church should support good government, but never become
that government.
In declaring His answer, Jesus did not condone all of the PRACTICES of
the Roman Empire, but rather the PRINCIPLE of the
Empire, which was Divine institution # 4. Remember that true evangelism
can only be pursued where Law, order and freedom exist.
The personal solution
Behind these Principles is the personal solution which cannot be
ignored, and which MUST NOT be ignored! THE ONLY HOPE of any person within any
national entity; are found in the words of Paul uttered to a man in a hopeless
situation:
“BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED...” — (Act 16:31)
END
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