Q: You mentioned (in last week’s sermon), “God never meant for religion and state to be combined… absolute power corrupts absolutely.” On the issue of separation of church and state what do you think of America’s “one nation under God” and that we are a nation built on Christianity? Should all aspects of religion and God be removed from government?
A: Acknowledging our Christian heritage in America and seeking to establish a state church are two different things. The accusation that Christians want to create a theocracy is a straw man. For the most part, Christians want a voice and a place at the table. The European model of state religion is a disaster. Reacting against this, our forefathers created the “establishment clause” in our Constitution which prevents a state church from developing or the government giving preference to one religion over another. As a pluralistic society, we want all voices to be heard and every religious position to be given its chance in the marketplace of ideas. In our Constitution this is called “the free exercise clause.” We should support the freedom of all. Christianity doesn’t need special status or preferential treatment. Nor should we be barred from the public square. To remove all references to God or the Christian faith from government or the public sector is to deny our heritage and who we are. The principle of separation of church and state does not mean separation of church from state. We are called to be “salt and light,” to positively influence our culture for good, to use our prophetic voice in defense of the weak, to be in the world, not of the world. If we are too aligned with power, we lose our voice and corruption is inevitable.
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