Jesus once said to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. Jesus was perhaps the first figure to make a declaration about the separation of church and state. A Christian in this life is the member of two kingdoms, or as St. Augustine put it, resident in two cities – the city of man and the City of God.
How am I as a Christian to live at once in these two cities, these two kingdoms? And what is the relationship between them? I did a very Canadian thing this morning. I got a double double and sat down to read, in full, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms . Maybe it is an after effect of spending time with the Christian Law Students Association.
The Constitutional Act of 1982 begins with the following words:
“Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law”
These are foundational things: “the supremacy of God” and “the rule of law”. Now I find myself asking: are these two completely separate things?; or are they supposed to be one and the same?; or are they intended to overlap and coincide on certain points? Is it a relationship of equal principles, or does one inform and have authority over the other?
The first interpretation – they are completely separate – would lead to a way of life in which the Christian would have no care for what happens in the state. Religion is private, government is public, and never the two shall meet. The Christian person would then have no concern for what happens in the public sphere. God and any human authority would be opposed, and the Christian would see the state, the laws and “secular society” as a lost cause. The extreme end result would be perhaps a holing up in the hills in retreat from society (“praise the Lord and pass the ammunition”), or a coldness which does not care what happens in society at large, as long as I can do my religious thing in private (“they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I said nothing”).
The second interpretation – God and the state are one – we have seen before. In the time of Christ, Caesar was held to be divine, and worship was due him as a god, there was no such “separation of church and state” The will of Caesar was the will of the State, and was the will of a god. The early Christians refused to offer incense to this deity, and so were persecuted.
Rome was the Walmart of the religions of the ancient world. Everywhere they conquered, they brought back a cheap new god for Rome. What the Christians could not abide was the claim that the state, personified in the person of the Emperor, was divine – was in and of itself the highest authority for humanity. Caesar makes reference to no higher authority than himself. He is the state, and he is divine. All things are Caesar’s, for he is God. Rome was the first true theocracy.
What of the third interpretation – that the supremacy of God and the rule of law may coincide, may overlap on certain points? And as a Christian, the first must inform and guide the second. But how? I will leave this for the law students to help me figure out…but I do have a few thoughts to share later.
Hi Joe, the following quote is from Brian Walsh's and Sylvia Keesmaat's book, " Colossians Remixed."
Brian Walsh comments, " Globilization isn't just an aggressive stage in the history of capitalism. It's a religious movement of previously unheard-of proportions. Progress is its underlying myth, unlimited economic growth its foundational faith, the shopping mall ( physical or online ) its place of worship, consumerism its overriding image, ' I'll have a big mac and fries ' its ritual of initiation, and global domination its ultimate goal.
I wonder if the new " Empire " with its language and icons...it's rule of law, hasn't made us slaves again. How do we again capture the imaginations to the reality of the supremacy of God and building and expanding the Kingdom.
Posted by: ron | April 05, 2005 at 04:32 AM
Ron, I keep meaning to get a hold of that book and have a look. I've appreciated the things you have pointed out on these kinds of topics over on your blog. I'll have to go the bookstore and get reading!
Posted by: Joseph | April 06, 2005 at 12:37 PM
It's a great read Joe, that and " God's Politics " by Jim Wallis. I think alot of times we decieve ourselves to think there are no politics involved in the Gospels and Paul's letters...we forget there is the same Empire world view now as there was then.
Posted by: ron | April 06, 2005 at 05:37 PM
God's Politics? I have a hard time coping with the notion that I am being deceived in thinking there are no politics involved in the Gospel and Paul's letters. Jesus was not about politics, granted he had much opportunity to engage if he had wanted to. I think the religious leaders of the day would have gladly solicited his help in politics. You don't get crucified for being political. The gospels are all about the Kingdom of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus declaring that he was I AM. Can we interpret politics in this? Sure, if we call feeding the poor and caring for widows politics, although the Word of God calls this pure religion. Paul admonished us to submit to the political rulers over us, because they wield the sword for a reason. If politics forces us to choose between man and God, then we must choose God, not form a new political party to try and legislate more God friendly laws.
Posted by: Flambero | April 06, 2005 at 09:35 PM
Flambero, I don't know if you have read Jim Wallis's book, but it is hardly a book about forming a new political party to try and legislate more God friendly laws.
The reality is just as in Pauls day, there is a dominant empire world view out there that hypnotizing people with thier language, thier myth that only they provide a hope for the future. They even using God in thier retoric, that some how god is backing them and on thier side. It's leader would probably even tell you, that He is God's sovereign choice.
And what you said is absolutely correct, if I'm hearing you right, the Kingdom is the alternative to the empire, the gospel provides the story, the language and the hope...and Jesus its sovereign ruler, over heaven and earth.
Posted by: ron | April 07, 2005 at 02:18 AM
Ron - got the comments fixed - not sure what the glitch was..
Posted by: Joseph | April 07, 2005 at 01:05 PM
Ron, sounds like an interesting read, I will have to check it out, thanks for the clarification.
Posted by: Flambero | April 08, 2005 at 12:05 AM