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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Reflection Essay: Christianity and The State Assignment
THEO 650
Public Theology
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Relationships Between Church and Government
Church and political power were intertwined globally several centuries ago, and this
connection is still observed in many countries of the world. Nevertheless, democratic free
states increasingly delve into the processes of secularization, reducing the importance of
religion in the life of society. These processes have dangers associated with more risky
behavior of the population and the loss of moral guidelines.
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On the other hand, negative
consequences of religious influence, such as social conflicts, due to globalization and
liberalization of the world, can also have a decisive importance in the political life of states.
Consequently, the Christian Church and state governments must maintain a balance in their
relations, separating the political and religious aspects of society but involving the church in
the process of making critical government decisions.
The secularization and involvement of the Christian Church in it have their advantages
and dangers. The participation and influence of the Christian Church in the political and
cultural life of the state have a positive economic, social, and spiritual impact on the life of
individuals and society as a whole. Studies show that religious participation has a positive
effect on the economic growth of a country.
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This situation can be justified by the fact that
Christianity promotes hard work, patience, diligence, and honesty, which are positively
reflected in the performance of companies. People who follow the commandments are less
likely to engage in corruption, fraud, or tax evasion.
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. Fernando Lozano, “The rise of secularism and its economic consequences,” IZA World of
Labor, 2017, https://wol.iza.org/articles/the-rise-of-secularism-and-its-economic-
consequences/long
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. See note 11 above.
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At the same time, Christianity also preaches mercy and compassion, which forces
individuals and companies to participate in charity and help people in difficult life situations
return to regular life. In addition, the church can also express its support or condemnation of
legislative initiatives based on fundamental Christian principles. For example, the expression of
ideas of the equality of people before God regardless of race or origin during the Civil Rights
Movement could help to turn the public against discriminatory policies. Therefore, the
responsibility of the church is to remind the people of the principles of Christianity and give
hope in difficult times.
Secularization also has its dangers that the church must face. First, secularization leads
to the gradual rejection of the benefits associated with religious beliefs and religiosity in
general by society.
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This fact is evidenced by the statistics of the growing number of atheists
and agnostics in modern states; for example, in the United States 28% of the population
considers themselves atheists.
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Secondly, the rejection of religion can lead to the loss of moral
guidelines for some people and, consequently, increase social problems. Research demonstrates
that increased secularization leads to the growth of risky behavior such as alcohol or drug use.
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Therefore, Christians need to understand these threats and be prepared to overcome them
through faith.
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. See note 11 above.
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. Henry Olsen, “Opinion: America Is Becoming Less Religious. That Won’t Demolish
Conservatism,” The Washington Post, April 2, 2021,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/02/america-is-becoming-more-secular-that-
doesnt-mean-conservatives-are-doomed/
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. Fernando Lozano, “The rise of secularism and its economic consequences,” IZA World of
Labor, 2017, https://wol.iza.org/articles/the-rise-of-secularism-and-its-economic-
consequences/long
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However, the church's influence on public policy should be moderate and in line with
the population's demand. In some cases, too much pressure from the Christian church can
cause conflict in society and force believers to abandon their denomination due to disagreement
on key issues. For example, the recent demonstration in Poland over the adoption of a law
banning abortion for most reasons demonstrates that the church and government do not take
into account the wishes of many people.
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Consequently, the church loses trust in the eyes of
believers, supporting and insisting on the need for this law, although the influence of the
Catholic Church in Poland is traditionally significant. In addition, in some cases, the close
relationship between church and government can be exploited by politicians for harmful
purposes. For example, politicians can persecute their opponents for insulting the feelings of
believers or speaking out against the official church in some extreme cases.
Moreover, the relationship between government and church should not be closely linked
or manifest as one whole due to globalization and the diversity of society. For example, the
United States is a multicultural and multireligious country. Hence, if the US government
declares Catholicism or Protestantism a national religion or promotes its principles at the
federal level, formally or de facto, it will cause social conflict. Representatives of other faiths
will feel that their rights are oppressed because of their faith, even if the laws and regulations
are in accordance with the general universal morality.
Consequently, Christians and the Christian Church should interact with the government
to defend their positions on critical decisions but not dominate politics. Church officials can
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. “Third Night of Protests in Poland After Abortion Ban Takes Effect,” The Guardian, January
29, 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/29/third-night-of-protests-in-poland-
after-abortion-ban-takes-effect
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make comments and statements on important political issues and events, such as expressing
support and hope during a pandemic; however, they should not be decisive in the life of the
entire state. In this way, people will remember the fundamental Christian principles and fulfill
them in their way, whether participating in church activities or having a decent person's life. At
the same time, expressing their concerns directly through appeals to representatives or
demonstrations will convey the position of Christians on critical political issues, as well as
representatives of other religions.
Therefore, these features demonstrate that although secularization is an influential trend
in modern countries, the church still should and can influence society's political and cultural
life. This influence contributes to the maintenance of moral guidelines for many people and
will reduce the impact of negative social or economic factors. However, the church must be
separated from politics to have a purely spiritual and mentoring function in people's lives. In
this way, religion will maintain its role in society but not provoke conflicts with those people
who take a different position.
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Bibliography
“Third Night of Protests in Poland After Abortion Ban Takes Effect.” The Guardian, January
29, 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/29/third-night-of-protests-in-
poland-after-abortion-ban-takes-effect
Lozano, Fernando. “The rise of secularism and its economic consequences.” IZA World of
Labor, 2017. https://wol.iza.org/articles/the-rise-of-secularism-and-its-economic-
consequences/long
Olsen, Henry. “Opinion: America Is Becoming Less Religious. That Won’t Demolish
Conservatism.” The Washington Post, April 2, 2021.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/02/america-is-becoming-more-
secular-that-doesnt-mean-conservatives-are-doomed/
