Church and State

The debate between Church and State started long before Thomas Jefferson drafted his famous words (which have been taken of out context), "There must be a separation between Church and State." (Jefferson's Letter). In the Middle Ages this debate was between King Henry II of England and Bishop Thomas Beckett of Canterbury. Henry wanted to change the law and have priests be tried in the civil courts for their crimes instead of the ecclesiastical courts which were presided over by Churchmen. Becket having been Henry's best man refused to concede this power to lay authority on grounds that it gave the King and his Barons power over the Church. The disagreement between Henry and Beckett was so full of vehemence that Beckett fled to France for refuge. In time Beckett returned to England, but his stand against the secular and lay rulers judging ecclesiastics inevitably led to his assassination. This power struggle between the secular world and the spiritual world ended in blood. And it will end in blood again.

Right now, the world is aflame. People are taking sides on issues of Birth Control, Homosexuality, and Abortion. There are many like King Henry that argue that contraceptives should be distributed to women workers by the companies they work for. Then there are those companies like Bishop Beckett that are Catholic or Orthodox Christian who argue against this measure because it violates their convictions of faith. There are those who say Homosexuality must be embraced and that even the Church must condone and marry same sex partners. Then there are those that claim this is a violation of their beliefs and that accepting homosexuality in the Church is to turn against God's Truths. On the Abortion issue there are Pro-Choice people and Pro-Life people; those who are Pro-Choice saying that a woman should be free to choose if she will have a child and raise it, while the Pro-Lifers see any form of abortion as murder and shirking responsibility and endorsing sexual promiscuity.

On these three hot issues alone are people divided. Those who fall into Birth Control, Homosexual, and Abortion camp stand with the State or Secular Powers, while those who stand against these three stand with the Church. Some cross these party lines, many Churches are now bowing to the Secular Legislation and threats. However, there is a Remnant of God's People who still resist throwing their religious beliefs aside to be accepted by their culture.

In the end one must either side with the secular world or with the spiritual world. One must choose to battle for the political principalities of this life and establish what men think is right or they can fight for the faith and stand for the principles of Almighty God. Many are tempted to try to skirt these social issues and pretend they do not exist; but in time everyone will have to decide where they stand. Will it be with the current movement and impetus of the world or will it be with God and his standard that has been the source of human transformation and love since forever?

Make not mistake, there will be blood. If believers choose to take a stand for Christ and the principles of God's Church, they will find themselves the target for every kind of abuse.  The very lives of Christians may be threatened and like Beckett, the enforcers may come for them and slaughter them during Mass. My words may seem radical and far fetched, you maybe thinking, "that could never happen." That was the Middle Ages, this is the Modern Era and we are more civilized. Pardon my language, but that is not true; we only appear more civilized and use rhetoric that is more refined. The same impulses and passionate fervor that fueled men back in ages past is within us now. People very quickly can turn from protestors into police squads rounding up those who disagree with their notions. We have seen it most starkly during World War II under the Third Reich.

Perhaps the 1940s is also too distant in time. Well then take what has been happening since the 2000s around the world. Christian priests, pastors, and lay people taking a stand for Biblical Principles are arrested, tortured, and executed in countries like Africa (especially in Sudan and Nigeria), Congo, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Russia, China, and Thailand.  Even though the Church has not had a reputation for arming itself since the Crusades or waging war, a target is nevertheless on believers who would dare speak up about controversial issues. Even silent saints are not guaranteed safety, for on Christmas Day many churches around the world are raided by extremists and the causalities are reported on local news feeds.  (The Global War On Christians.., John L. Allen Jr.)

We are not to be dissident towards our government. St Paul said, "honor those in authority over you, pray for them, for God has appointed them." (Romans 13:1). Even a terrible ruler can be sent by God to get us to remember our Lord, and to search our own hearts for the sin that offends. However, there inevitably comes a time when you must turn against the State for your faith. If your government starts a Gestpo and tries to censor and control the Church, the words of St. Paul in this context no longer apply. If you cannot have a voice as a Christian, than the time to leave or rebel may be at hand. Unfortunately, the threat of a Church censor and Gestpo has already become a reality in the United States of America. The US was once a free nation, a shining beacon of liberty, but now the Land of the Free is oppressed by groups spouting among others, the different social issues I have already mentioned. The Church is being forced by the Government to break principle and accommodate those who disagree with the Bible on these issues.

Make no mistake, it has begun. King Henry's men are mobilizing and hunting down the Beckets. If  the Church complies with censorship and the control of interest groups, then it will fall. Believers will wake up to find a Church that has no semblance of Christ; that has taken down the cross of suffering and put in its place a spineless man in a business suite. The very core of Christian beliefs is being threatened and if no one takes a stand to uphold Scripture, then the Church is already dead and fear not faith has won.

Jefferson was right when he said, "There must be separation of Church and State." There is not to be a state Church, a Church that is bound by the powers of State and controlled by the Ruling Class. The Church is to be free, to be governed by God alone! By allowing Secular Rule to enter our Churches and tell us what Scriptures we can practice and which we must adjust for the current social trend, we have lost our Freedom of Religion established by The First Amendment. The First Amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof (religion), or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people to peaceful assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

According to the America Law the Government is not permitted to influence or pass legislation over any religion (there are similar laws like this in other countries). There can be no decree that inhibits freedom to practice your faith. It is time that the Church remind the Laity where their power ends, and like Beckett defy any decree from a king that would violate that which is written in stone.