* The Church and the State are not the same, though they are both answerable to God and have specific functions and directives from God.
* God gives responsibilities to the Church, which differ from the responsibilities He gives to the State (the Government).
* God's moral standards are applicable to all people, whether they are the redeemed who are His Church, or the unsaved who are serving in the State.
* There are Divine standards by which the State should operate.
* The State is under the rule of God and answerable for its actions.
God instituted Human Government for the purpose of protecting the righteous and punishing the wicked. Human Government has authority to wield the "sword" to protect its people from evil men and nations. Human Government, as a Divine institution, is responsible to protect the righteous and the law abiding, and is also responsible to punish the wicked, that is, the evil doers. Human Government has the right to execute judgment (according to Divine standards), even if it means taking the life of an incorrigible offender or oppressor.
God gives moral standards, which He requires of all men (the redeemed and the unredeemed, the individual and institutions). All men are answerable for their disobedience to God's commands.
Romans 13:1-7
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
When the State requires anything from its citizens, which requires a person to disobey God, then the individual is not obligated to obey such a law. It is better to obey God rather than man.
The mixing of Human Government with the Lordship of Christ over His Church has had catastrophic results, such as a religio-political organization (Roman Catholicism, and the assumed Divine Right of Kings [observed by Reformation churches as well as the Roman religion]), and the Catholic and Protestant concept of the Church taking up arms in a so-called "just war" against other people. Remember, Chrisian violence was contrary to New Testament revelation, and early Christians did not take up arms against other people until the pagan influence of Constantin, the Emperor of Rome, who misled the Roman Christians in the first part of the fourth century. Sadly, the Protestant Reformers clung to the un-Biblical idea of Christian violence, and we are saddled with that heresy until the present day.
Remember, the New Testament does not command, condone or commend "Christian violence." However, the New Testament does condemn "Christian violence." "Christian violence" is a human corruption of New Testament teaching.
This has always been important, but in these last days it is essential to know what the Bible says about Christians and violence and also to live by what the Bible says.
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