RELIGION AND POLITICS PART 7 OF 9

TEXT-ROMANS 13:1-7

INTRODUCTION

PEOPLE SAY THAT THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER DISCUSS, RELIGION AND POLITICS.

HOWEVER, IN OUR STUDY ABOUT BIBLICAL MORALITY, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

AT THE INCEPTION OF OUR COUNTRY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS BASED WHAT THEY DID ON THEIR BIBLICAL BELIEFS.

SINCE THE EARLY 1960s PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REMOVE EVERY FORM OF CHRISTIAN BELIEFS FROM OUR GOVERNMENT.

ANYTHING THAT IS IN THE SLIGHTEST WAY EITHER ASSOCIATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT OR PAID FOR WITH MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BE CONSIDERED SEPARATE FROM RELIGION.

THIS HAS OCCURRED AS WE LEARNED IN THE VIDEO BECAUSE OF A MISINTERPRETATION OF THOMAS JEFFERSON'S WORDS CONCERNING THE SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE.

IN THIS SPEECH WHICH WAS MADE TO A GROUP OF BAPTISTS, JEFFERSON ASSURED THEM THAT THE STATE OR GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT ESTABLISH A STATE RELIGION, WHICH WOULD RESTRICT THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION THEY WERE ENJOYING.

REGARDLESS OF JEFFERSON'S INTENT, HIS STATEMENT CONCERNING THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE HAS BEEN USED TO BRING US TO THE PLACE WHERE CHRISTIAN BELIEFS ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO INFLUENCE OUR CULTURE OR THE LAWS OF OUR LAND.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS EVER INTENDED FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF OUR NATION WE ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME KIND OF PERSECUTION THAT MANY OF OUR CHRISTIAN FOREFATHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST.

AND TO SOME DEGREE THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING IN OUR NATION IN THE FORM OF CHRISTIAN BASHING.

TODAY THERE IS MANY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE A CHRISTIAN SHOULD BECOME INVOLVED IN POLITICS AT ALL.

OTHERS SAY THAT PRIESTS OR PREACHERS SHOULD NEVER SAY ANYTHING ABOUT POLITICS FROM THE PULPIT.

THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD SAY THAT A PERSON'S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OUGHT TO BE HELD SEPARATE FROM THEIR POLITICS.

TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER FOUR WAYS WE AS CHRISTIANS SHOULD VIEW GOVERNMENT.