What is the “wall of separation”?
I am convinced that God is calling more Christians into public service than are answering the call. At the same time, I am equally convinced that the church is not to be a political organization. Here’s why.
George Washington was adamant that our new nation needed that morality which is found in religion. In his 1796 Farewell Address, the outgoing president stated boldly:
And yet he was also a firm supporter of religion freedom. Writing to a general convention of the Episcopal Church in 1789, he stated that “the liberty enjoyed by the people of these States, of worshiping Almighty God agreeably to their consciences, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights.”
Thomas Jefferson was a deist, removing every reference to the miraculous from the Gospels and creating what is known today as the Jefferson Bible. Yet as president, he frequently worshiped with the congregation of Christ Episcopal Church in Washington, explaining: “No nation has yet existed or been governed without religion. I, as the Chief Magistrate of this nation, am bound to give it the sanction of my example.” He also sent a note with $50 to the rector, Rev. Andrew J. McCormick, every New Year’s Day while he was president.
Jefferson authorized federal support for military chaplains and Christian missions to the Native Americans. He attended Sunday services of Christian worship in the Capitol building, and designated space in the Rotunda of the University of Virginia for chapel services. He refused to issue Presidential proclamations for national days of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving, but only because he considered this to be the responsibility of state governments rather than the federal authorities; as Governor of Virginia, he did issue such calls.
And yet he was an adamant supporter of religious freedom. In June 1779 he sponsored a Bill for Religious Freedom in his home state of Virginia, and later stated that he was prouder of it than of all the offices he held, including President. In the epitaph he wrote for his grave at Monticello, he called himself “Author of the Declaration of Independence, of the statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and father of the University of Virginia.” Nowhere did he list the presidency.
Jefferson was author of the most widely quoted single phrase and metaphor on the subject of church-state relations. Upon his election as President, the Baptist Association of Danbury, Connecticut sent him a letter of congratulations (October 7, 1801). They saw his anti-Federalist platform as assuring their (minority) rights of religious freedom, and they were right. In his response of January 1, 1802 he stated, “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”
Jesus would have agreed. His famous declaration, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21), made clear our responsibility to serve both the state and the Lord.
We are each to obey and support our governing authorities:
- “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1).
- “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor” (Romans 13:6-7).
- “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2; cf. Titus 3:1-2).
But we are also to obey and serve our Lord:
- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7).
- “You kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:10-12).
- Why? “By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth” (Proverbs 8:15-16).
Peter explains well the relationship between Christ and Caesar: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right . . . Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:13-14, 17).
So we are to love people, fear God, and honor the state. Do not fear people or state, but God alone. In other words, serve your highest authority. When you can serve Christ and state, serve both. If you must choose, choose Christ. The same apostles who taught us to serve the Empire were martyred by its emperors because they would not stop preaching the gospel. Because they chose to serve Caesar unless they could not also serve Christ. Serve your highest authority, always.
Paul’s metaphor clarifies our relation to state and Christ when he calls us “Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:20). American ambassadors live in foreign countries, under appointment by their president at home. They are to obey the laws of the country where they are stationed, and support their leaders. But always they will have a second, even higher allegiance to their home country and her leader. And if they must choose between the two, their loyalties are clear.
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