Christian Citizenship and State Churches

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · May 13, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 19.

Christian Citizenship and State Churches

An exchange well says:—

"State churches may not directly persecute to make converts, but find it an easy matter to move the State authorities to make the elective franchise, the holding of office, and other important rights of citizenship, depend on membership in the State church. This is a first-rate way to make hypocrites and infidels, but will never make true Christians or good citizens. Moral: Beware of Rome and her aims at State churchism in this country."

But the true moral is to go farther than this. All this "Christian citizenship" idea is in the same line as a State church. It will result in the manufacture of hypocrites, and in the persecution of honest dissenters, and the putting of the government in the place of God.