Two weeks ago, I taught our Catechism on Church and State and how we as believers are to relate between the two. I've included my notes from the class here because a few people were not able to attend and had asked for a copy of my notes.

Join us this Sunday at 10 AM as we continue with this topic for Coffee & Catechism. We will end the class with time for questions.

The separation of church and state

is one of the fundamental

principles revealed to us throughout

the story of the Bible. 

The Bible tells a story of God’s people living among the nations testifying to the gospel (good news) of another King that will return to overthrow human governments. But the Bible gives no commands, illusions or insinuations that Christians are to make their nation obey the morality of their God. Instead, we should focus on our own obedience (which is severely lacking). And the spread of the Gospel to ALL NATIONS!

Christians live among nations

of menand their governments, 

which have temporary rule over civic life. 

We live as peaceful and helpful citizens of the kingdoms of men: 

• obeying the laws, paying taxes, serving in everything from public office to the military, showing honor to human authorities even when they are less than Christian or flat out evil (Roman Empire).

When Christians have tried to mix church and state it always backfires (Europe). The church gets influenced by the state and the state severely corrupts the church. The church becomes less holy and the state becomes more confused, unprincipled and less helpful. 

1.) The Firsts of the 2 Kingdoms

• THE FIRST COMMANDMENT: You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3).
• THE FIRST AMENDMENT: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

2.) The Gospel Story 

Covenant with the Nation of Israel:

1 These are the words of the covenant that the Lord commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb. 2 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land,

9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. 10 “You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord your God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, 11 your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water, 12 so that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the Lord your God, which the Lord your God is making with you today, 13 that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Deuteronomy 29:1-2; 9-13

Covenant with Jesus

to bless the nations: 

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Jeremiah 31:31-34

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Luke 22:19-20

3.) My kingdom is not of this world

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

John 18:33-37

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Luke 17:20-21

See you Sunday for Coffee & Catechism at 10 AM and church service at 11 AM!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Harvey