Perpetuating a Physical Emphasis
When one realizes that God’s church is His New Covenant nation, many other matters become clearer. Biblical truth can correct faulty ideas such as these:
- Some political movements and religions cling to the notion that physical Israel remains God’s covenant nation today. They focus on the Middle East and base their hopes on the fortunes of fleshly Jews. This obsession makes them twist many Scriptures and ignore many others.
- Some “state religions” rely on the Old Covenant’s physical emphasis. Here is their general logic: In the Old Covenant, God made a special agreement with a physical nation. Now, if an earthly nation is sufficiently “Christian,” it too can have a similar agreement with God, usually in the form of an alliance between a denomination and the government. In one example today, the hereditary head of the nation also serves as the symbolic head of the main denomination. Top church officials have special roles with the government and benefit from national taxes. They view every citizen as a “Christian” from birth, owing allegiance to the state religion. Parents comply by “christening” their babies. In this way, millions who have no commitment to Christ still call themselves “Christians.” Many who dislike Christianity are reacting to this corruption and have no idea what real Christianity is. Historically, believers who wanted genuine Christianity were severely persecuted. State churches have even waged full-scale wars, again justifying their methods by appealing to Israel’s role in the Old Covenant.
- Related to state religions is the notion that Christians should control the government, whether aided by official agreements or not. There is, of course, no doubt that Christianity can bring many blessings to society. But these movements go further than anything found in the New Testament. They seek to force compliance through political pressure as compared with conversion. Some leaders also use war as a tool for advancing their version of Christianity.
- In countries with a colonial history, some missionaries relied on colonial governments to advance their forms of faith. This caused some nationals to hate Christianity as foreign and oppressive. They viewed their struggle for independence as a fight also against Christianity. Of course, Jesus was not a politician. His true Christianity was never designed to be a political tool. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36). Despite Jesus’ clear teachings, some who claim to represent Him have used worldly methods and damaged His cause in many countries.
- To this day, one colonial result may still be seen in territorial claims. In effect, each denomination became the state church of its section of a country. The denomination provided schools and hospitals, but it also expected loyalty, and punished disloyalty.
- In their anger at colonialism, some have reacted with their own worldly methods. Like their oppressors, they turn their ‘Christianity’ into a tool to advance political and social agendas.
Christianity and Government
Each of these cases begins with ideas never given by Jesus. Each case treats modern people as if they were like old Israel. True, the Old Covenant combined religion with civil government and social customs. True, its covenant leaders held political power, waged war and enforced religious practice. All of that, however, was in the Old Covenant. The New Covenant is “not like” the Old (Jeremiah 31:32). Imposing the Old’s ways onto the New destroys the very nature of the New, and results in spiritual disaster.
What is the relationship between the Christian and government? Jesus reigns “in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21 cf. Matthew 28:18). Such divine sovereignty need not conflict with earthly governments for this simple reason: The King’s will is for His people to respect the authority He has given to governments (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:17). They cooperate in every way they can, without directly disobeying God (Acts 5:29).
The result is that Christians worldwide find themselves in many different earthly nations. They honor many different political leaders, obey different laws, and pay different taxes, depending on their residences. It is not their nature to rebel or to “resist” authorities (Romans 13:2). Like yeast, they spread through all levels of society—including official positions (Acts 10:1, 48; 17:34; Romans 16:23; Philippians 4:22). Where opportunity allows, they help to improve society (Galatians 6:10).
Yet, in all this, they also realize the limits of external change. They follow the example of Jesus who focused on the human heart in its relationship with God. Jesus invested His power in the cross and the Gospel, not in political control and civil movements. He sent His followers to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20), not to make laws or to force unwilling compliance. The Old Covenant dealt with the heart, but also emphasized much that was material and fleshly, including armed enforcement of religious laws. But the New Covenant focuses on personally knowing God and His will (Hebrews 8:10-11; 1 John 2:3-6; John 17:3). Its people are the new creation, growing into their Creator’s likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:17). Though they come from all nations, they form one, united kingdom of God, defined by “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). This New Covenant nation is unlike any nation on earth because its citizenship is in heaven (Luke 10:20; Philippians 3:20).