p. 4 | Governmental Religion by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 18, 1906

Governmental Religion

By L. A. S.

The literature of those who are undertaking through Congress to make the United States a Christian nation, has much to say about the state as a moral person. In their scheme the idea is fundamental that the state, no less than the individual, ought to profess and practise a religion. They have in mind, of course, the religion professed by the majority of the people in this country,—Christianity. Their aim is to set up here a “Christian civil government.”

But there can not be any such thing as state or governmental Christianity. The very nature of the two things—the state and Christianity—makes any union between them impossible. There may be a state religion, it is true, but that religion can not be Christianity.

The state aims at justice, secured through force. This is the only basis for civil government. It could not be maintained on any other. But if Christianity did not mean something else than force and justice alone, what would become of the transgressor of God’s holy law? Justice would demand his death, and the force of the Almighty would be used to execute the sentence. And as “all have sinned,” the death penalty would be upon all, and the whole human race would be cut off. The Almighty would simply execute the death penalty upon the sinner just as the state executes the death penalty upon the one convicted of a capital crime.

The state does not argue with any person on the point of obedience to its laws. It does not try to persuade men. It simply makes laws and executes them. The one who violates the law is at once taken into custody, and if the violation is proved in court, he is sentenced according to the penalty provided by law. But in Christianity, “mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” Christianity stands not only for justice, but for mercy to the transgressor.

The civil law admits of delay in the execution of its penalty, but only to secure the ends of justice. Much complaint is made about the law’s delay, and it is recognized that it would be much better if a speedy execution of the penalty could be secured. There would be less encouragement given to lynching and anarchy, which are greatly against the state’s best interests. But the express purpose of Christianity is to secure delay in the execution of the penalty of the divine law, while the sinner is given opportunity to escape its execution altogether.

The rule of Christianity is that upon confession of the transgression, forgiveness must follow. “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” Luke 17:3, 4. “If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. But how long could a civil government proceed by that rule? If the state were required to forgive the murderer or the thief as often as he might repent of his crime, how long would it be before law-abiding people would be saying that something was radically wrong with the system of government? It needs no argument to show that under such a system nobody’s rights would be secure, and that anarchy would be the quick and sure result.

This is what would be if the state should attempt to practise the principles of Christianity. On the other hand, if the state should try to be Christian without practising the rules of Christianity, it would surely be unchristian. In the realm of religion, using force alone and seeking the speedy execution of judgment, as its own best interests would demand, it would necessarily work directly against Christianity, which requires judgment to give place to mercy. The civil government would at once become an engine of persecution, run by the fire of religious animosity. The history of

state religion has ever been stained with blood.

The attempt to set up a Christian government in this nation must, therefore, fail as the like attempt has failed in other nations and times, and will be ruinous to both church and state; and this should be understood by the American people. L. A. S.