We are a nation at war. However, the war I am talking about is not the war on terror being fought in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places around the globe. I am talking about the war against the corrupting influence of the anti-Christ element of our culture trying to push Christians and Christ Himself into the shadows of irrelevance. A brief excerpt from history reveals this war in not new.

     In 1799, Dr Jedidiah Morse, preached an election sermon, something few pastors do these days. His text was from Psalm 11:3, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Below is a quote from his sermon.

 "To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys. In proportion as the genuine effects of Christianity are diminished in any nation, either through unbelief or the corruption of its doctrines, or the neglect of its institutions: in the same proportion will the people of that nation receed from the blessings of genuine freedom, and approximate the miseries of complete despotism. I hold this to be a truth confirmed by experience. If so, it follows that all efforts made to destroy the foundations of our holy religion, ultimately tend to the subversion also our our political freedom and happiness. Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all the blessings which flow from them, must fall with them.

     Dr. Morse clearly understood that our freedoms are founded on the blessings of God. The history of Israel, in the Bible is a perfect example of this. When they obeyed God, they prospered and enjoyed victory over their enemies. But when they turned from God and worshiped false Gods, they were defeated and at times became captives of other nations.

     Our founding fathers also understood this. In the midst of heated disagreement at the constitutional convention following the revolutionary war, it seemed no constitution would be approved and hopes for a unified new nation were waning. Then the elderly Benjamin Franklin stood and  reproved those attending. He challenged them to pray and seek God, reminding them of the daily prayers offered in that very room during the war. He asked them if they thought they no longer needed God's assistance. He reminded them that, if a sparrow does not fall without God's notice it is unlikely a nation can arise without His aid. They paused for prayer, asking God's guidance, and today we have a constitution.

     Dr. Morse mentioned three distinct things that can cause Christianity, and thus our national freedoms, to diminish. These are: 1) unbelief, 2) corruption of doctrines, and 3) the neglect of its institutions. Let's look briefly at each of these.

Unbelief
     Christians are called believers. But what does it mean to believe? I have often heard people defend their personal virtue by indignantly proclaiming, "Oh yes, I believe in God." But believing in God is more than mental agreement.  James writes, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:19-20 NKJV). You see, real belief always has corresponding action. As Jesus said, we know a tree by its fruit. Just as an apple tree produces more apples, so a Christian produces more Christians. It is therefore our job as Christians, to spread the knowledge of God to others. By doing this, we not only insure that we have real faith, but we insure that unbelief does not overrun our nation.

Corruptions of its Doctrines
     It is also our job to hold true to biblical teachings and resist humanism and the social gospel. This corruption has crept into many of our churches to the point that people are not challenged to repent from sin and follow Jesus as Lord. Instead they are often stroked with feel-good tips on self-improvement. This social gospel of our day is basically therapeutic moralism. In other words, "be nice and do the right thing." This implies that man is basically good and if given the right information (and therapy) he will be good. This line of thinking  completely leaves out the need for a Savior to save us from the destructive results of sin. 

     The Bible, however, teaches us that mankind is basically wicked and, without the life-changing power of God through faith in Jesus Christ, he will never be good in God's eyes.

Neglect of its Institutions
     Through unbelief and corruption of doctrine, the institutions of Christianity are naturally neglected. There are three general institutions of Christianity. 1) the family 2) the Church, and 3) Civil Government. Most everyone agrees that the Church is an institution of Christianity. But Civil Government is also instituted by God (see Rom 13:1-2). And, to the degree that civil government is influenced by Christianity, to that degree we will, as Jedidiah Morse put it, "experience political and social happiness." The idea of Separation between these institutions is one of the most damaging things that has ever happened to our nation. It is a deception of the masses due to unbelief and corruption of doctrines. The diagrams below illustrate three different views concerning Church and State. 

     First, the pagan view sees the state as the ultimate authority. In this view, the state owns and rules over man, and all man's endeavors, including his family and his  religion. Religion is viewed as just a "crutch" invented by man and is tolerated as long as it remains in its place, a "personal" issue. Atheists, communists and extreme secularists in our culture hold this view.

     Then we move to the modern "Christian" view. This view is not really Christian, yet many Christians have been conditioned by the culture to hold this or a similar view. In this view, family, church, and state are all separate. Though we talk a lot about Christian values in government, we still embrace varying degrees of a separation mentality. 

     I'm sure you have heard the statement, "After all, my religion is a personal thing." Because of this, we have separation barriers  that keep church issues in church and out of public and political affairs. The issue of who controls the family seems to be up for grabs in our culture. Biblical standards for raising children are often neglected by parents, viewed as old-fashioned, and replaced with secular views.

     One of the earmarks of this view is a "fairness" mentality that says we must not promote our views above the views of others. Yet Jesus has no such "fairness" in His thinking nor does He promotes any other view except His own. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." He is God in the flesh and all the world must one day bow their knee to Him. 

     Now we come to the biblical view of how earthly institutions relate to God. God created man in His own image and gave him dominion over the earth. Sin greatly reduced man's ability to have dominion over the earth, but Jesus has provided the answer for sin through His atoning work on the cross. 

     Those who believe on Jesus Christ and have been re-born by the Holy Spirit are once again in a position to take dominion over earthly institutions. God governs man from within by the indwelling Holy Spirit and man in turn governs the institutions that God directs him to establish. Though family, church, and state are separate institutions, they are in no way intended to be isolated from Godly people who should influence every area of life. 
 

     The next time you hear "Separation of Church and State" being used as an excuse to keep prayers from being said in schools, or to keep the Ten Commandments out of a court house or a school room, or to keep a student from wearing a cross necklace to school, or to replace the word Christmas with "winter holiday" (and the list goes on), I hope you will remember what John Quincy Adams said and quote it to whomever is near:

The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indisoluable bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.   —John Quincy Adams

     Or maybe you would prefer to quote George Washington:

True religion offers government its surest support. It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.   —George Washington

     Or possibly a quote from Benjamin Franklin:

He who shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.      —Benjamin Franklin

     And, of course, don't forget to quote from the foundation of our freedom, the Bible:

 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV) 

     Don't be discouraged. Our nation is not a lost cause. The battle against the corrupting influence of the anti-Christ element of our culture has been going on since our nation was born. Jedidiah Morse engaged this battle in 1799 and we must engage it today.

     Do you love your freedom? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

     Do you want to enjoy the liberties we have this day? Learn the word of God and do not allow the doctrines of truth to grow corrupt.

     Do you want your grandchildren to enjoy the liberties you have enjoyed? Do not neglect to influence the institutions of our great nation with biblical values.
 
 
 

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