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 fulfill the Biblical precepts of the believer-priest? The objective of this study is to demonstrate the compatibility between Bible doctrine 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 learned the facts I Some of these questions are answered from the standpoint of Matthew, Chapter 22.

There are two types of kingdoms on the earth today: the earthly kingdom, which we shall refer to as the State, and the Spiritual Kingdom of God. “… The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son” (verse 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 (John 18:36). The Father planned salvation so that all members of the human race could be saved (2 Peter 3:9). Grace found a way!

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should 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 (Rom. 1:18ff.); and it is religion which constantly opposes and attacks Jesus Christ.

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. Hosea 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).

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. Here is the principle: if a national entity, which is a divine institution, is to exist as God would have it exist with perfect freedom there must be inside that national entity a Spiritual Kingdom 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

apostate. 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 apostasy was in the days of Christ’s earthly ministry.

That is why the Jews are scattered all over the world today and why, in God’s economy, Israel does not exist as a nation. For many centuries the Jews had marvelous freedoms, blessings and information which no other nation possessed. Yet they lost all of these things, and thousands upon thousands of them went to eternity without Christ without hope because they were not straight on the very points that you and I now have the privilege of studying!

Verse 15 of Matthew 22 introduces this subject: “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.” The Pharisees were the religious crowd. Most of the Pharisees went to Hell because religion blinded them to the truth of God’s Word.

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:3).

Religion is man seeking the approbation of God by his own works, in contrast to Christianity, where the work has been done and man has but to receive it. Now these Pharisees wanted religion 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

There are both divine and Christian institutions. A Christian institution is for believers only. These include the assembly of the local church, water baptism and the Lord’s Table. 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 (Gen. 1:26; 2:16,17). This is a personal divine institution, which is the basis of all freedom, bestowed at the time of man’s creation (Gen. 1:26).

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 is religion ruling the State. Communism denies the basic Divine Institution of Volition and thus curtails 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.

(3) FAMILY (Psa. 68:6). 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.

(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. The Bible never teaches internationalism in fact, just the opposite (Amos 3:3). Internationalism enables Satan to have greater control (Isa. 14:12). Human government was established in Genesis 9. God divided the people into nations to keep them from being destroyed. In Genesis 11:1-9, internationalism became the breeding place for concentrated wickedness and rejection of God. 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.” God Himself put peoples within boundaries so that they would seek the Lord (Acts 17:26,27).

The Bible defines nationalism in three categories: geographical, racial and linguistic. It provides common law and culture, and is the basis of protection externally, through the military, and internally, 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 (Gen. 9:6; Ex. 21:12; Num. 35:16-18,30,31; Matt. 22:6,7; Rom. 13:4; Heb. 12:20).

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 capital punishment.

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 went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him (Jesus) in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men (Matt. 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 through religion. 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. Thus He has become an enemy to both parties.

Since the Pharisees were chiefly a religious party and the Herodians apolitical one, we have in this unholy alliance the concept of 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 union of Church and State is a Satanic strategy to discredit Jesus Christ, He is not recognized by these unbelievers as God and Savior only as a distinguished teacher. “We know that thou art true....”

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 therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not (Matt. 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 Matthew 22:18:

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Remember, Jesus is ETERNAL GOD He is OMNISCIENT! He read their minds. And so His first answer is, “Why TEST YE ME, ye hypocrites?”

Actually, their question is a good one; but the motive behind it is not to seek knowledge, but to disparage 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. Therefore, He continues in verse 19:

Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny (literally, denarius).

Now, with a coin in His hand, “he said unto them. Whose is this image and superscription?” (Matt. 22:20).

“They say unto him, Caesar’s ....” You can almost hear them gloating, for they feel as though the trap is now closing.

....Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s (Matt. 22:21).

The modus operandi for the two kingdoms

Here is the modus operandi for you as a believer in Jesus Christ, a citizen of a Spiritual Kingdom, and at the same time a citizen of the United States of America (or any other earthly kingdom): “Render .… unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto 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. They are to COORDINATE.

The Spiritual Kingdom. THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO MAN’S PROBLEMS IS PERSONAL FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST! THE ANSWER BEGINS WITH BEING BORN AGAIN (John 3:3).

Man looks to his own systems to solve his problems such as poverty, war and environment when he should look to his personal salvation and then turn his problems — PERSONAL AND NATIONAL — over to the Lord. This is God’s plan for the human race. You can alleviate poverty, but not abolish it only Christ can do that, and will when He returns to earth. War cannot be completely abolished because of the old sin nature resident in every person (Rom. 7:17,18). Only Christ can abolish war, and will when He returns. You can’t afford to leave Jesus Christ out of your PERSONAL or NATIONAL LIFE. To leave Him out of your consideration or your life is finally to destroy yourself and your country!

The existence of the Spiritual Kingdom — the Kingdom which is made up of all true, born-again believers is the only thing

in these United States which is keeping and guaranteeing for us any freedom at all. You live in the most wonderful country in the world, even under present conditions, because of the Bible THE WORD OF GOD which unequivocally 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 unto 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 and to show individuals within the national entity that the solution to their problems is personal faith in Jesus Christ. 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: Romans 13:1-7

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers’ For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (v.l)

Every person, believer and unbeliever, is commanded to be subject to or obedient to the authority of the national entity. “There is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” declares that the national entity is a divine institution.

Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinances of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation (verse 2).

God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). There must be order in the human race, if it is to survive. Obviously, the structure of Communistic Russia does not comply with the divine institutions!

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of 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 works” of Romans 13:3 describes the existence of a common law which parallels doctrine 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 defense of 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 he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth 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.

Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake (13:5).

The unbeliever is restrained from evil by fear of punishment; but the believer should be restrained “for conscience sake.” When a believer’s conscience is doctrine-fed, he has the correct norms (standards) in his frontal lobe by which to make decisions compatible with the Word of God.

For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing (13:6).

Because of the Biblical principle of subjection to 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 therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour (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; Honour to whom honour” — denotes respect for government authority (civil and military). Many believers should give serious thought to judicial and administrative service to our country. Christians on the legislative branch could have great influence and testimony for Christ.

By the same token, believers should also be in military service. The worst thing you can do is to be DRAFTED, because this precludes exercising your volition. There are some better opportunities open if you volunteer. However, should you wait, you should still be the BEST soldier. 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 doctrines, techniques and promises of the Word; to fulfill the command to erect an “edification structure” of the soul (Eph. 4:12,16,24,29). Doctrine builds up (edifies), producing grace-orientation, mastery of the details of life, 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 doctrine Jesus stated in one brilliant sentence? SPEECHLESS! (Matt. 22;22). The political approach was refuted; but it resulted in some significant points of doctrine: (1) The clear distinction between Church and State; (2) Emphasis on Christian responsibility to State; (3) Existence of two Kingdoms — STATE and CHURCH; When the State doesn’t follow the Biblical concepts of nationalism, the believer must declare his allegiance to God. He thus makes the salvation issue clear and helps the State define and maintain its freedoms. (5) Christian responsibility to God as well as State defined. (6) 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, and the hope of the national entity against the attacks of Communism and Socialism is found in the words of Paul uttered to a man in a hopeless situation:

“BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED!” — Acts 16:31.