Hanover Baptist Church

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1453

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

1 Peter 2.13

INTRODUCTION

                            1.  The Bible teaches that the church and state should be separate entities.

                            2.  The church should not control the state, and the state should not control the church.

             I.  OLD TESTAMENT TEACHING

                            1.  God called Moses to lead the nation of Israel and Aaron to be the High Priest.

                            2.  God called David to be the King and Nathan to be the prophet.

                            3.  God called Saul to be the King and Samuel to be the prophet.

          II.  NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING

                            1.  Paul - Rom 13.1-7

§ Authorities are ordained of God. 1

§ Rulers are to be a terror to evil works. 3

§ The ruler is a minister of God.  He is to bear the sword, executing wrath upon them that do evil. 4

§ Believers are to be subject to the governing powers for conscience sake. 5

§ Believers should pay taxes as assessed by the government. 6

                            2.  Peter - 1Pe 2.13-17

§ Believers should submit themselves to the ordinance of man 13

§ Believers should honor the king (the authority over them) 17

                            3.  Jesus - Mat 17.24-27 Jesus paid taxes to Caesar

        III.  THREE INSTITUTIONS FOUNDED BY GOD

                            1.  The home is responsible to produce Godly children. Deu 6.6-9

                            2.  The state (government) is responsible to dispense justice. Rom 13.6-7

                            3.  The church is responsible to spread the Gospel. Mat 28.18-20

The church should not control the state, and the state should not control the church.

         IV.  WHAT ABOUT FINANCIAL SUPPORT?

                            1.  The home is to be supported by the hard work of family members.

                            2.  The church is to be supported by tithes and offerings of the church members.

                            3.  The state (government) is to be supported by taxes from the citizens.

Mat 22.15-22 Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?...Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

The church should not pay for the state, and the state should not pay for the church.

           V.  THE BELIEVERS' RESPONSIBILITY TO GOVERNMENT

                            1.  Prayer - 1Ti 2.1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

                            2.  Submit to laws - Titus 3.1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work

                            3.  Pay taxes - Rom 13.6 For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

                            4.  Honor authority. 1Pe 2.13,17 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake...Honour the king.

         VI.  DISOBEDIENCE - IS IT EVER RIGHT?

                            1.  God commands obedience to authority.  The only time it is right to disobey is when the government interferes with obedience to God.

                            2.  Examples of disobeying government authority:

§ Moses' parents - Exo 1.22-2.10

§ Daniel - Dan 1.5-8

§ Three Hebrew youths - Dan 3.1-30

§ Apostles - Act 5.26-29

       VII.  THINK ABOUT IT:

                            1.  Does separation of church and state forbid prayer and Bible reading?

                            2.  Should a Christian pay taxes if the government pays for abortions?

                            3.  Should a church be politically active as an organization?

                            4.  Should a believer run for office?