Thursday, January 13, 2011

Separation of Church And State Is Still Baptist Doctrine

2 Chronicles 31:9-11 KJV
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,

Baptists have forever been the defenders of separation of church and state. As the years have progressed and we have lived these many generations with liberty to worship, we have also lost sight of the deep importance of this doctrine. I think mostly out of the frustration of seeing our country slip farther and farther away from those Christian principles we have all been led to believe our country was founded upon, we have begun to embrace tactics that would never have been accepted by our Baptist forbears.

In an effort to fight for religious liberty we may actually contribute to the mandate for controlled religion. Separation of church and state must be upheld among we who are Baptists. If we do not do it, it is sure no one else will.

This in no way means that there is no relationship between the faith and the work of the government.
• David was quick to hear the words to the prophet Nathan and seer Gad.
• Hezekiah met with Isaiah and prayed when Assyria threatened. But on the other side of this coin,
• Hezekiah the king was interested in the workings of the Temple and questioned the priests about the offerings that were stored up then commanded buildings be constructed to store them.
Government should never be used to force religion upon people or pay for the leaders of the faith. That should always be accomplished by the freewill offerings of the people. Neither should one denomination control the government else liberty of conscience be jeopardized. But those in government are the best leaders when they have a real a living faith in the Lord and churches should accept those commandments of the government that pertain to public safety and building codes.

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