{"id":1991976,"date":"2023-08-05T15:04:02","date_gmt":"2023-08-05T19:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/drollinger-understanding-the-separation-the-churchs-job-is-crucial-to-the-state\/"},"modified":"2023-08-05T15:09:50","modified_gmt":"2023-08-05T19:09:50","slug":"drollinger-understanding-the-separation-the-churchs-job-is-crucial-to-the-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/drollinger-understanding-the-separation-the-churchs-job-is-crucial-to-the-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Drollinger: Church&#8217;s Role Crucial for State&#8217;s Separation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdrollinger-understanding-the-separation-the-churchs-job-is-crucial-to-the-state%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1991976&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Understanding the Separation: The Church&#8217;s \u2062Job\u2063 Is Crucial to the State<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>When Jesus said, \u201cRender to Caesar the things that are Caesar\u2019s; and to God the things\u200b that are God\u2019s\u201d (Matthew\u2064 22:21b), He was proclaiming a huge\u2064 new distinction \u2014 something quite different for the coming Church Age relative to Old Testament Israel.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This verse is among the New \u200cTestament \u200cpassages that represent\u2063 the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scott-hogenson-the-be-kind-fraud\/\" title=\"Scott Hogenson: The \u201cBe Kind\u201d Fraud\">biblical basis<\/a> of the institutional\u200d separation of civil government from God\u2019s ordained institution of the church.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike the preceding biblical epoch of OT\u2062 Israel,\u200b wherein God\u2019s people and the state were one \u2014 a theocracy or sacerdotal\u200c (\u201cpriestly or ecclesiastical\u201d) \u200csystem of governance \u200b\u2014 in the\u2062 age to come, Jesus expected the two institutions to be differentiated in structure, purpose and leadership.<\/p>\n<p>But institutional separation does not imply influential \u200dseparation, as is posited by\u200b many secularists today. Clearly, such\u2063 thinking is not supported by the Constitution or the\u2062 Scriptures.<\/p>\n<p>Let us\u200b examine this thinking more\u2062 closely from a historical perspective.<\/p>\n<h3>The Separation of Church and State in History<\/h3>\n<p>As Christianity began, as recorded in the book \u200cof Acts, the separation of the church \u200bfrom the state clearly existed. \u2063Not \u2064until the fourth century A.D., when Constantine co-opted\u2064 Christianity as the state religion (in his attempt to unify the vast\u200d and \u2063diverse Roman Empire), did the previously existing institutional separation between the two \u200cdisappear.<\/p>\n<p>Tragically, this lack of separation was \u2062seen even in the post-Reformation period. No surgical excision was\u200c performed by \u2062the leading Reformers to separate church and state.<\/p>\n<p>Historically, not until the American experiment in government did our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/al-sharpton-tries-shaming-trump-comparing-founding-fathers-gets-instant-history-lesson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Founding Fathers<\/a> (the \u2064stepchildren of the Reformers) react \u200cto sacerdotal \u2064England (where the Church of England and the state of England still remain united) and seek to separate themselves from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/drollinger-understanding-the-separation-the-churchs-job-is-crucial-to-the-state\/\" title=\"Drollinger: Church's Role Crucial for State's Separation\">forced religious belief system incumbent<\/a> on\u2062 being born in England.<\/p>\n<h3>The Role of \u200dthe \u2062Church in the State<\/h3>\n<p>If, biblically speaking,\u200b church and state are to be separate\u200d institutions, does\u200c that suggest, as the secularist would postulate, an influential separation as well, i.e., a total disenfranchisement of the church? Is that the extrapolation Christ desires from Matthew 22:21? No!<\/p>\n<p>Scriptures teach that the institution of\u200c the state is quite dependent on \u200ba strong and healthy institution of the church to build men and women in \u200drighteousness. Without a strong church \u2064to make \u200bdisciples, the state soon goes wayward due \u2063to the sinfulness of its leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind\u200d that the state was not and is not \u200ddesigned to form righteous leaders \u200b\u2014 rather, its God-given purpose is to \u201creward those who do good and punish\u200d those who do evil\u201d\u2062 (1 Peter \u200d2:13-14).\u200b It therefore depends on the church to provide mature-in-Christ leaders.<\/p>\n<h3>The Importance of Righteousness in Government<\/h3>\n<p>Since this is such a vital matter relative to the ongoing health of the state, what might the book of Proverbs have to say about it? A\u2064 lot!<\/p>\n<p>Proverbs 14:34 provides a summary insight:\u200d \u201cRighteousness exalts a nation, but sin \u200bis a disgrace to any people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Righteousness, Proverbs states, both \u200bin a country\u2019s citizens and leaders,\u2064 is the primary need. Neither international trade \u2062nor\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/its-official-trump-crushes-record-for-largest-gdp-increase-in-us-history-3rd-quarter-gdp-up-33-1\/\" title=\"IT'S OFFICIAL: Trump Crushes Record for Largest GDP Increase in US History -- 3rd Quarter GDP Up 33.1%\">gross domestic product<\/a> nor \u2062natural resources (to name but a few)\u2063 are more crucial to the exaltation of a nation. Rather, the righteousness of a nation\u2019s citizens is its greatest resource \u2014 and \u2063the greatest commodity\u200c that a nation needs to be manufacturing on \u200dan ongoing basis!<\/p>\n<h3>The Church&#8217;s Role in \u200bBuilding Righteous Leaders<\/h3>\n<p>But, again, the state \u2062is not in the business of manufacturing righteous leaders. It is \u2062not causal in this regard; it is reflective. The church must do that for her!<\/p>\n<p>Given this analysis of our nation\u2019s greatest\u200c need, the question quickly becomes how righteousness is formed in the lives of individuals. It is the preeminent duty of the church\u2062 to \u200bconvert the soul and make disciples \u2062of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/famous-atheist-richard-dawkins-former-right-hand-man-converts-christianity-realizing-truth-jesus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jesus Christ<\/a> in the political arena, i.e., to give a Christian worldview to the leaders of the state and its\u200d citizenry. \u2062There is \u2064no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fallen-boulder-police-officer-would-have-been-deeply-offended-at-being-used-to-advocate-for-gun-control-family-says\/\" title=\"Fallen Boulder Police Officer Would Have Been \u2018Deeply Offended\u2019 At Being Used To Advocate For Gun Control, Family Says\">higher calling<\/a> or purpose for the church (cf. Matthew 28:19-20).<\/p>\n<p>It follows that for the church to spend her\u200c energy attempting \u200dto affect policy with little manifest concern for\u200b the souls of the state\u2019s leaders is to have, biblically speaking, \u200da misinformed \u200dand misguided mission. It is to attempt to do what others \u200c\u2014 strong-in-Christ elected and appointed public\u2062 servants \u2062\u2014 can do much better from inside the state! It is to be less than efficient; it is to get out of her lane. To do the former \u2064at the expense of the latter\u200b is to misunderstand her God-ordained calling and role in society during the Church Age!<\/p>\n<h3>The Church&#8217;s Influence on the State<\/h3>\n<p>Rather than \u200bspend all\u200b her energy lobbying legislators for better laws, the church can best influence the state by building and sending righteous public servants to serve in government.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind \u200bthat the state is not in the business of manufacturing righteous individuals! Rather,\u200d God has designed it to punish unrighteous individuals \u200d(cf. Romans 13:4, 1 Peter 2:13-14).<\/p>\n<p>Proverbs\u200c 29:2 serves to summarize this point: \u201cWhen the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>States Proverbs 11:10-11 in this regard, \u201cWhen it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there is \u200djoyful shouting. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but \u2062by the mouth \u2063of the wicked it is torn down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adds Proverbs 28:12, \u201cWhen\u2064 the righteous triumph,\u200d there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As \u2062you can see, Proverbs has much to say\u2064 about the necessity of righteous government leaders. Scripture shouts about this matter! The church must be in the business of manufacturing them via evangelism and discipleship at all levels of their career!<\/p>\n<h3>The Church&#8217;s Mission and Role<\/h3>\n<p>Unfortunately, for the past \u206350 years, some have \u200bsought to change the church into \u200ba lobbying organization. It is time to change all that! That, in \u200dfact, is what Capitol Ministries is all about \u2014 exemplifying\u200d a biblically correct relationship between church and \u200cstate and discipling political leaders in the\u200d Word of God.<\/p>\n<p>All would agree\u200d that\u200d righteousness\u200c is necessary to the dispatch of good government, but the only way to produce virtue in leaders is through the discipleship efforts \u200bof the church. As the \u200cchurch goes, so goes the \u200cstate.<\/p>\n<p>Said another way: The church \u200bshould \u200bnot expend all its \u200defforts in activism, seeking to cajole those \u200cwho hold \u200coffice (who oftentimes reject Christ) to vote biblically. It won\u2019t happen. You can\u2019t expect someone who rejects the\u200d author of Scripture to obey the \u200dprecepts of \u2062His book.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, Proverbs\u200d clearly emphasizes creating and exalting righteous leaders. The church must emphasize this task: developing statesmen in Christ! It must be pre-political.<\/p>\n<h3>The Church&#8217;s Impact on\u2063 the State<\/h3>\n<p>Righteous, mature-in-Christ public servants \u2064are the greatest\u200c resource\u200c of the government \u2014 and it all starts with an institutional\u2062 separation of the church from the state.<\/p>\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/capmin.org\/understanding-separation-church-state\/?utm_source=twj&#038;utm_medium=dcbiblestudy&#038;utm_campaign=churchandstate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> to read the full study.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/drollinger-understanding-separation-churchs-job-crucial-state\/\">Drollinger: Understanding the Separation -\u200d The Church&#8217;s Job Is Crucial to\u2062 the State<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\">The \u2064Western Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>for the separation of church and state. Jesus was emphasizing the importance of giving worldly authorities their due, while also acknowledging the higher authority of God. This concept would shape the relationship between religion and government in the future, highlighting the need for a clear distinction between the two realms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2037,"featured_media":1991977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1991976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1991976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2037"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1991976"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1991976\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1991977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1991976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1991976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1991976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}