The relationship between the State and the Church is tenuous at best. While North Americans are used to a seemingly compatible partnership between the two, history and much of the other world’s kingdoms say otherwise. When Jesus was born, Herod the Great tried to kill him under the guise of wanting to worship him (Mt. 2:8,13). Herod’s son, Antipas, executed John the Baptist (Mt. 14:3-12) for a number of reasons including challenging the king’s immoral marriage. The Jewish religious government with a conspiring Roman government falsely accused Jesus and had him executed. Thus the Christian movement was born with clear battle lines drawn: the Christ was rejected by the State, so that the Church is at odds with the State.
North America has enjoyed a truce with the State, but that doesn’t mean either side really trust the other. Over the years I’ve heard the fears of Christian believers and their rights being taken away by the State. Usually, I hear those fears expressed along party lines: the Democratic Christians distrusts the Republican President while the Republican Christian distrusts the Democratic President.
So just to be clear, I do not believe Christians in the United States are under attack. Maybe our values are being challenged. Maybe our neighbors have tired of our judgmental and condemning attitudes. Certainly people are concerned about how much the Church extends its power into civil and governmental places, while the Church is concerned about its voice being silenced.
As history has shown and the Biblical narrative has proven, God’s Kingdom cannot be overcome, no matter how hard the forces against God’s Kingdom try (Mt. 16:18). The reason is that God’s Kingdom is spiritual and is in no need of the physical for it to grow.
The State only sees the “here and now,” but the Church believes in the “there and then” (Jn. 14:2-3). The State may strip away your rights, but the Church has already given up its rights (1 Cor. 9). The State may outlaw prayer, but cannot stop the Church from praying (Dan. 6). The State may close church doors, but they cannot stop the Church from assembling (Acts 4). The State may carry-out some unforgivable actions, but it only empowers the Church to forgive (Lk. 23:34). The State may rape your spiritual heart-land, but the Church’s soil to grow the Fruit of the Spirit remains rich (Gal. 5:22-23). The State may use its power to make you suffer, but the Church only rejoices at the thought of being worthy to suffer for Jesus (Act. 5:41). The State may threaten you with death, but the Church will only embrace life (1 Thess. 4:13-18). The State may scorn you with hatred, but the Church only responds with love (Mt. 5:44). The State will make us feel destitute, but the Church knows the world is not worthy of us (Heb. 11:38). The State may try to squash our hope, but the Church knows that hope will not disappoint (Rom. 5:5). The State addresses us with cursing, but our comeback is always with blessing (Rom. 12:14). The State will try to persecute to weaken our faith, but the Church finds that persecution only strengthens faith (1 Pet. 1:6-8). The State may claim to rule the land, but the Church knows who sits on the throne (Rev. 4-5). The State may intimidate by fear tactics, but the Church only responds with faith tactics (Heb. 11:11).
No, I don’t believe Christians are being persecuted in North America, and the Church is not directly at odds with the State right now. I also believe that the Constitution is the bumper to protect the Church from the State. That said, it’s always nice to know we have a fallback plan. And honestly, the fallback plan is actually who we are. We just need to keep acting like the Church God intended.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)