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CHURCH and STATE

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 45.

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CHURCH and STATE

By W. A. Colcord

By W. A. COLCORD
CHURCH and STATE By W. A. COLCORD
CHURCH and STATE By W. A. COLCORD
THE church and the state are two institutions ordained of God for important ends. Both exist and are necessary because of sin. Each occupies a real field and fulfils a mission peculiar to itself. While doing their heaven-appointed work, neither conflicts with the work and mission of the other. On the contrary, each, in doing its appointed work, is indirectly a help to the other.
When sin entered the world, selfishness and death entered. To restrain men from carrying out their selfish natures, civil government was ordained. To save men from final ruin and eternal death, the church was instituted.
That the well-disposed may know what they may do, and the evil-disposed what they must not do, laws must be formulated, and order maintained in the world.
That all may know that "the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," the Gospel must be preached unto men.
The church, therefore, is God's life-saving agency in the world.
  • The state is His law and order society.
  • The church saves men from sin.
  • The state protects men against crime.
  • The church saves from eternal destruction.
  • The state saves from temporal despoliation.
As a warning against sin, the church proclaims the wrath of God and final and eternal destruction.
As a warning against crime, the state sets forth the terrors of the law and temporal punishment.
As an incentive to holy living, the church holds forth the cross and the crown.
As an encouragement to civility and a law-abiding life, the state promises liberty, peace, and protection.
To convict of sin and convert the soul, God has placed in the hands of the church "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Eph. 6:17.
For the punishment of them that do evil, and as a terror to evil-doers, God has placed in the hands of Caesar the sword of steel. "He beareth not the sword in vain." Rom. 13:4.
Stating the object of His mission, and thus of the church, Christ said: "The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Luke 9:55. "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17.
As the basis of civil government, immediately after the Flood, God laid down the law, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Gen. 9:6.
  • The church preaches the Gospel.
  • The state administers civil law.
  • The church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
  • The state is the protector of human rights and the bulwark of society.
In the performance of its work, no carnal weapon has been vouchsafed to the church. When Peter took the sword, the Lord told him to put up again the sword into its place. Matt. 26:52.
The state in its work may use force. Its officers bear not the sword in vain.
The ambassador of Christ is to preach the Gospel "with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." 1 Peter 1:12.
The civil ruler is "the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." Rom. 13:4.
As the church can not rightfully use the power of the state for the furtherance of its ends, neither can the state properly, by its own power, attempt to accomplish the work of the church. Each has its specific and God-given work, and has been given its proper and appropriate means of accomplishing it.
Each should recognize the presence and rightful domain of the other. The church is to teach every soul to "be subject unto the higher powers," to "honor the king," to "be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates," and to pray "for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." Rom. 13:1; 1 Peter 2:17; Titus 3:1; 1 Tim. 2:2.
On the other hand, the officers of the state are sent, not only "for the punishment of evil-doers," but "for the praise of them that do well." 1 Peter 2:13, 14; Rom. 13:3.
While there is to be no marriage or alliance between the two,—no bartering of the power and influenceof the one for the power and influence of the other,—each, in doing its appointed work, is a help to, and support of, the other.
Such, in brief, is the model church and the model state.