Neither the church or this country

are meant to be Israel

Now that the election has come and gone, I do not want to get into politics. However, it is vital for Christians to see the necessity of the separation of church and state. Many religious people want the United States to become like Israel of old. An examination of the New Testament leaves us with a necessary conclusion though – we will not succeed in creating a religious nation like the Israel was.

Genesis 12:1-3 contains the promises given to Abraham. One stated that a great nation (Israel) would be created out of his seed. They were promised a land, which was fulfilled during the time of Joshua (Josh. 23:14).  This nation of God’s people eventually had their own kings to rule over them – God was not pleased with this (I Sam. 8:4-7).

The ultimate purpose of these promises was revealed in the third one. Namely, someone great (Christ) would come from the seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:10-29). Our Savior was not coming to build a physical nation like Israel. As a matter of fact, Jesus fled when people tried to take Him by force to make Him their king (John 6:15).  Nor was it His plan for the church to become a government for the people.

Few religious people today want the church to become an earthly government for all people, but many want the government to be religiously-based like Israel’s was.  Remember, Israel was guided by the Old Law and was expected to enforce it to the letter. Those who broke that law were punished. Is this viable today?

On the surface, this might seem like a good thing. If all government leaders including the President were Christians, we could do away with abortions and homosexual marriages as the Bible calls for. Great! However, we could not stop there. To be consistent, we would have to enact laws to punish every kind of sin. Would we arrest those who buy and sell liquor? All those who gamble? All those who commit fornication and adultery? Would pornographers be thrown in prison? What about those who curse, dress immodestly, lie, gossip, hate, and envy – do we throw them in jail too?

Do not get me wrong – abortion is murder, and murder is sin (Gal. 5:21). I would like for it to stop. As a matter of fact, I want everyone to stop all sin because of the consequences (Rom. 6:23). If our government were tasked with punishing sin though, this government would not work. If we follow the idea to its logical conclusion, this government would ultimately be tasked with trying to read people’s hearts. Only God can do this (1 Sam. 16:7, Prov. 21:2 Heb. 10:30).

Furthermore, who would decide how to correctly interpret and apply Bible verses? The religious division around us clearly shows that a single, centralized, earthly religious organization is unworkable.

If a forcibly “Christian government” is not workable, then what should Christians seek in government? To start, some nations give more earthly freedoms and rights than others. As Christians, we should want people in all 195 countries around the world to be able to worship God and live lives pleasing to Him.

There is a purpose of government. We are to respect it just like Christ did (Matt. 22:21).  As law-abiding citizens, we can expect to generally live quiet and peaceable lives (I Tim. 2:1-2). There may be times when we will suffer for being Christians (I Pet. 4:16), but this does not mean that we should seek to overthrow the government. Let us recognize the value in keeping Christ’s church out of the government, so to speak, and instead focus on serving the Lord directly.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Chuck

Give God the glory for what? 

 In Acts 12, we read the story concerning Herod the king who had James, the brother of John killed, and who also had Peter arrested (vs. 1-3). As the chapter came to a close, we are informed about Herod’s dislike for the people of Tyre and Sidon (vs. 20). However, those people were longing for peace with Herod because his country supplied them with food.

Therefore, the king arrayed himself in royal apparel, sitting on his throne gave an oration to the people (vs. 21). After he spoke the people shouted out to Herod, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”(vs. 22). Now, because he did not give the glory to God, he was struck by an angel of the Lord and was eaten by worms and died (vs. 23). 

The obvious question arises, with Herod being such an evil king, who not only had Peter arrested, but had James killed, what could he have given glory to God for? I mean, was he to thank God for using his power to hurt His children? Of course not. What kind of glory would God expect this man to give to Him? The answer is, it is easy to give God the glory if he was willing to admit some things.

No matter what he says, he is just a man

The people were crying out that his words were not of a man. Yes they were. Even children of God are warned about thinking of themselves more highly than they ought (Rom. 12:3). People in position of power, shouldn’t forget there is a supreme power. Kings were created by the Creator (Gen. 1:26).

Even as a king, that has food, he didn’t create it

Not only was this man’s words, were not divine, his ability to prove food for them came as a result of that which God provided. Whether it be the seed, the soil and the rain – none of which any king can make. The only way to describe someone like Herod, is to call him a fool. Why? Only a fool says in his heart there is no God (Psa. 14:1). Or in this case, accept the he is a god.

As a ruler, even he could not stop God

When Herod had Peter arrested, he was determined to bring him before the people after the Passover (Acts 12:4). To be assured of this, the king delivered Peter to four squads of soldiers to keep him. We are told the apostle was bound with two chains between two soldiers, and there were guards before the door of the prison (vs. 6). Not only that, we learn when Peter was freed by an angel of the Lord, they still had to get past the first and second guard posts (vr. 10).  Even though the king had the guards killed (vs. 19), certainly he ought to have feared the God that was able to set Peter free.

Having wealth doesn’t guarantee good health

Not only should he have been thankful for creation, but to bring it closer to home – his life. Rain falls on the just and unjust (Matt. 5:45). Evil people can have good health, and they have God to thank for it. No, God wasn’t giving Herod a special blessing of good health (until the end) because he was good. Good things happen to bad people and good people. But the fact is, God needs to be thanked – even though the wicked don’t. God deserves the glory.

This man was eaten by worms and died because pride got the best of him. This is a transgression that will keep many people out of heaven (I Jn. 2:16).  Let us learn the lessons from Herod and give God the glory for all things.

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