Liberty University School of Divinity
Reflection Essay: Christianity and the State Assignment
Submitted to Dr. Todd Buck
In partial fulfillment of the requirement for completion
THEO 650-B02
Public Theology
by
Connie Tindall
September 18th, 2022
According to Aristotle he referred to humans as being political animals.1 This to me is in
regard to how politics have become so mingled with religion especially in this era. In
determining whether a religious leader, namely a pastor, can serve in both the political arena and
minister to the masses as a religious leader expected to offer spiritual guidance and I said that to
say that Christianity is a religion that has a record of laws and structure for example take Moses
who was given the ten commandments that were given by God (Exodus 31:18). We could also
consider the covenant made involving Abraham and God. This was a quasi-legal agreement
because God along with Abraham made an agreement (contract) about how they would
communicate and interact as a result of this binding agreement they had cut. Just for the record I
am not saying there is a particular stance on whether politic and Church should be completely
separated is not an belief that believers can take in an approach in reconciling what relationship
if any, should exist between Church and State our the political arena. For this assignment I will
approach the position a believers should take regarding politic in community and the dangers
they pose or may not pose, when we get heavily involved in political affairs mingling or
intertwining State and Church and its governing body.
There are a variety of spiritually motivated political viewpoints taken by conservatives and
liberals and according to the authors of the book some of the issues we cannot be neutral about
some of the issues.2 While it is apparent there is no particular political party a believer must
belong to because there is no Christian party for them to belong to. For many centuries biblical
scholars have tried to make the connection the dots concerning the passage of Matthew 7:6-11
with the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. As I reflect back on the reading I see where “Jesus
calls His disciples to break out of the vicious cycles that lead to a dead-end lifestyle and to
1 McQuilkin, Dr. Robertson, and Paul Copan. An Introduction to Biblical Ethics: Walking in the Way of
Wisdom. IVP Academic, 2014. Pg. 517.
2 Ibid. pg. 517.
embrace kingdom values that move toward reconciled relationships and cultivating life giving
patterns.”3 Which reminds me of what Paul said in ‘Come out from among them and be ye
separate,’ and touch not the unclean thing. (2 Corinthians 2:6). From the reading I can now see
how it relates to the passage of Scripture emphasized in regard to Church and State due to the
early rabbinic literature and how the various classes of people were classified. In essences it
pretty clear that Jesus’ alternative to idolizing government is clear when He says “But seek first
the kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you as well” Matt. 6:33 NIV). In regard
to Table 29.1 we see basically the same thing, because the Father has our best interest in mind.
As we consider America and where we are today regarding Christianity and State. I think
for the most part much of what America held to was the Protestant theology of both England and
Scotland. I believe that America’s greatest concern was the separation of Church from state to
ensure that neither undermined the other which is what is implied in the first Amendment.4 This
has continued to be an important issue in America today, because the First Amendment of the
Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion for every American. So what happens when
Church becomes involved in politics and the results are not good? It would serve us well to say
that it becomes like oil and water they don’t mix. As for humans who are involved in
“government aims to control the religious life of the people, the result has rarely been beneficial
for health of the Church.”5 Christians who involve themselves in politics often attempt to govern
in a way to punish or dissuade those who would stray from religious norms and values; whereas
the politician would want hold political views in high regard. I can see that the rule barrier would
come into play and start establishing rules. However, we are not under the law but under grace
3 Ibid. pg. 518
4 Ibid. pg. 525
5 Ibid. pg. 530
that was under the old system which I have actually encountered and this was my response. It
begins with a change of mindset. Scripture tells us to “Do not conform to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Believers must
be able examine and approve what is God’s will is and what is pleasing and perfect will is.
The other danger of adding to much religion to the political arena is a word called
humanism. Humanism is a popular ideology in today’s era and humanism can cause a problem
for the people who are governed by laws in which humanism is the ultimate guiding force.6
Which this viewpoint we go back to the mingling and intertwining of the powers that be inserting
their own ideologies and molding those ideas to fit their own purposes because they’re in charge.
Then we would be putting to much trust in the flesh which we know no go thing dwell and not
trusting in God. Politics and religion have their own spheres of influence and should be treated as
such, but these spheres should complement each other.7 Politics are a part of society and
believers must live in accordance or be subjected to them just as (Romans 13:1-7) prescribes. We
as believer must do our part to affect politics to achieve our true mission.
The true mission of every born again blood washed believer is to win the lost to Christ. We
have been call and or commissioned to go into all the world and preach/proclaim the gospel to
the ends of the earth (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; and John 20:21) in what is referred to as the
Great Commission. To that end we are called to be the light in the dark place the word
illuminating the life of Christ and shine brightly so that other will be drawn to Christ not a
building. In closing , the life of the believer must ensue that our involvement in politics is an
6 Ibid. pg. 533
7 Ibid. pg. 539
virtue to cause Christ to be elevated to another platform that brings glory and honor to God and
not to a systematic way of thinking.
Bibliography
1. Dr. Robertson McQuilkin and Paul Copan, An Introduction to Biblical
Ethics: Walking in the Way of Wisdom (IVP Academics, 2014).
