History: The Dangers of Church and State Union

Understanding the lessons of history regarding the union of religious and secular power is essential to guarding against future deceptions, and here are five clear and concise historical warnings about the dangers of the church and state combining:

And let it be remembered, it is the boast of Rome that she never changes. The principles of Gregory VII. and Innocent III. are still the principles of the Romish Church. And had she but the power, she would put them in practice with as much vigor now as in past centuries. Let the principle once be established in the United States, that the church may employ or control the power of the State; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and State is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured— GC88 580.3 (1888)

...nscience. How many non-conformist ministers have suffered under the power of the Church of England! Persecution always follows a restriction of religious liberty on the part of secular governments— ST November 8, 1899, par. 6 (1874)

...ans of their conversion. Satan was seeking to corrupt the doctrines of the Bible. At last I saw the standard lowered, and those heathen were uniting with Christians. They had been worshipers of idols, and although they professed to be Christians, they brought along with them their idolatry. They changed the objects only of their worship, to images of saints, and even the image of Christ, and Mary the mother of Jesus. Christians gradually united with them, and the Christian religion was corrupted, and the church lost its purity and power. Some refused to unite, with them and they preserved their purity, and worshiped God alone. They wo...— 1SG 103.1 (1858)

...er in support of the gospel of Him who declared, “My kingdom is not of this world.” The union of the church with the state, be the degree never so slight, while it may appear to bring the world nearer to the church, does in reality but bring the church nearer to the world— SPCCSR 139.2 (1964)

The iniquity and spiritual darkness that prevailed under the supremacy of Rome were the inevitable result of her suppression of the Scriptures; but where is to be found the cause of the widespread infidelity, the rejection of the law of God, ...— GC88 586.2 (1888)

1. In the early church, the fearful danger arose when heathen idolaters embraced only a portion of the Christian faith without a change of heart, causing the Christian religion to be corrupted and the church to lose its purity and power1SG 103.1.

2. The iniquity and spiritual darkness that prevailed under the supremacy of Rome were the inevitable result of her suppression of the Holy ScripturesGC88 586.2.

3. The history of the church demonstrates the evil results of attempting to build up the church by the aid of the state, as the union of the church with the state, no matter how slight the degree, brings the church nearer to the worldSPCCSR 139.2.

4. It must be remembered that Rome boasts she never changes, and the principles of her most oppressive rulers are still the principles of the Romish Church, which she would vigorously practice if she had the power now as in past centuriesGC88 580.3.

5. Persecution always follows a restriction of religious liberty on the part of secular governments, as shown historically when Protestant churches that followed Rome's steps by forming alliances with worldly powers manifested a similar desire to restrict liberty of conscienceST November 8, 1899, par. 6.