rl69
11-19-2016, 09:33 AM
Separation of church and state
a member of gun and game posted this this morning and I wanted to share.
I have been saying this same thing for years just not so eloquently
Separation of Church and State
Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
In this verse, we find that God's grace and God's law serve different functions. We know the law reveals when we have done wrong. The Bible teaches us that God's grace cleanses us from that wrong doing and makes us right in God's eyes. To try and combine the two would be like combining a saw with a hammer and nails. One cuts and separates while the other joins together. So it is the law which separates us from God and His grace which joins us together with Him.
God created civil government many centuries before he created the church. Civil government was designed to declare and enforce the law, to point out people's wrong doing and maintain lawful order. On the other hand, Christ died on the cross to create the church which is God's agency of grace which joins man back together with God.
Therefore, while God created both state and church, He has two distinct purposes for them. The law and civil government is His left hand of justice and the church is His right hand of grace and the two must operate independent of each other. The problem is this: The government is trying to extend grace through welfare and entitlements and many churches are more judgmental than gracious.
If the state would get back to focusing on law and justice and if the church would get back to preaching grace and caring for the poor, we would be much better off. Church and state have two distinct ministries and God has designed them to operate as two separate entities under His divine authority.
a member of gun and game posted this this morning and I wanted to share.
I have been saying this same thing for years just not so eloquently
Separation of Church and State
Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
In this verse, we find that God's grace and God's law serve different functions. We know the law reveals when we have done wrong. The Bible teaches us that God's grace cleanses us from that wrong doing and makes us right in God's eyes. To try and combine the two would be like combining a saw with a hammer and nails. One cuts and separates while the other joins together. So it is the law which separates us from God and His grace which joins us together with Him.
God created civil government many centuries before he created the church. Civil government was designed to declare and enforce the law, to point out people's wrong doing and maintain lawful order. On the other hand, Christ died on the cross to create the church which is God's agency of grace which joins man back together with God.
Therefore, while God created both state and church, He has two distinct purposes for them. The law and civil government is His left hand of justice and the church is His right hand of grace and the two must operate independent of each other. The problem is this: The government is trying to extend grace through welfare and entitlements and many churches are more judgmental than gracious.
If the state would get back to focusing on law and justice and if the church would get back to preaching grace and caring for the poor, we would be much better off. Church and state have two distinct ministries and God has designed them to operate as two separate entities under His divine authority.