What should be the guiding principles behind the relationship of the church with secular governments? Should the church seek to control the government, or should the church seek to support the government in the interest of nationalism (or internationalism)? Should the church seek to influence government policy and draft laws for the betterment of society? Should the church seek government finances in order to expand its social programs? How can we tell if a government is truly worthy of our support? Should a Christian get involved in politics?
These are all complex questions and sincere Christians have had different views on these questions. I will share some of my views also, and pray that we will all be taught by God and have God's wisdom on the issues here.
The true church of Jesus Christ is made up of those people who have given their lives to Christ, who confess Him as Lord and belong to Him. One way such individuals express their submission to Christ is by meeting with others who have likewise submitted to Him. There is no way to love one another as Christ commanded without spending time in committed relationships with other believers. Churches may or may not set up legal entities such as trusts or companies or non-profit organizations in order to facilitate the handling of money and formalize the way things are to be done. Secular governments may or may not pass laws recognizing the validity and rights of that group of believers to exist, worship God together and do things together. But the true church does not receive its authority to exist from secular governments, but from God. Therefore all the legal entities created according to the laws of the land are NOT the true church of God, but simply a tool that certain people have availed themselves of to conduct their affairs with a minimum of problems. If a true local church of God cannot get official recognition by the government because they will not compromise on things that the Lord has taught them, they should continue in spite of the persecution they may receive. It is then up to God to help them stand, even though they don't have a legal entity or government approval to exist as a church.
Legal entities may be desirable from many points of view, but one danger of these legal entities is that they tend to be more closely identified with the church than is scriptural or safe. Whoever controls the legal entity has a great influence on the finances and policies of the church. So if church politicians can get God's leader removed or severely restrict his leadership by means of the provisions of the legal entity, they can grieve away the Spirit of God. When this happens, the church begins to run as an organization on human energy and corporate principles rather than on the power and wisdom of God.
I have seen pastors who began to cast out demons in obedience to God who were threatened by their denominational leaders. They would have left the denomination except that the denomination had legal ownership of the land and church building. Thus human power-brokers were seeking to use the rights they had in law to stop the move of the Holy Spirit. It happens all too often.
The Bible teaches that the Spirit is Lord and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17). To the extent that the letter of ecclesiastical law is Lord, or some other spiritual influence is Lord, there will be bon
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