When you hear the phrase “Separation of church and state” does your mind go to the constitution and what the founding fathers intended or does you mind go to the Bible and what God wants?
For many, if not for most, our expectation of the relationship between the church and state seeks certainty from our nation's founding documents rather than the Word of God. It is subtle, but a very important distinction we should consider. What does it suggest if our view of the separation of church and state is based on our understanding of the constitution. Do we not believe that God's Word is the inspired word of God that is the final authority for faith and practice . . . including the idea of separation of church and state?
If we lived in Canada, Mexico, Russia, China or Sudan, would we as Christians have a different view of the idea of separation of church and state? If living in, or being a citizen of, a different country would change our ideas about separation of church and state, then it reveals that our belief is not based on scripture, but on something else...
Handout
Do you believe in
separation of church and state?
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What is the basis for what you believe?
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Define what you understand the Bible to say regarding the concept of separation of church and state.
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Is it a secular concept?
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Is it a biblical concept?
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US Constitution states
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
Jesus said, "Then render
to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
(Luke 20:25)
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Explain Jesus statement as it relates to church and state separation.
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Which of the above two statements are more important to you regarding the idea of separation of church and state?
Identify and explain four
distinctions between the eternal church and the temporal state.
1
2
3
4
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