God And Country | Genesis Sermon

GOD AND COUNTRY
(It’s Not the Same as the Separation of Church and State)

Sermon presented by Pastor Mike L. McKinney
Leawood Baptist Church

July 3, 2005
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Tomorrow is Independence Day, the day our country celebrates our freedom and ideals. It will be a time to express patriotism and gratitude for the United States of America. For American Christians it is also a time for us to express our gratitude to God for blessing our country. Today, across our land, churches will not only sing songs of praise and love to God, but they (like us) will also sing a few patriotic songs. We do so, not for the purpose of blending the church and the state, but as an expression of our gratitude to God for our country.

*There is much unrest in our country today regarding the issue of the separation of church and state. Many Christians are rising up in opposition to our country’s traditional stand on the separation of church and state because we have people in our country who desire the removal of any expression of God in the public forum, and they have been somewhat successful in achieving their desires. Opposition to the separation of church and state is developing because of frustration over recent court rulings, like the Supreme Court ruling last week on the public display of the Ten Commandments. If we change our traditional commitment to the separation of church and state, I believe we will “throw the baby out with the bath water.“ Our frustration is being misdirected. *The issue is not the separation of church and state. The issue has to do with expressions about God in the public forum. It is more of a God and Country issue than a separation of church and state issue.

My desire today is not to present a political sermon, because I believe God would be greatly disappointed in me if I did. The worship of God should not be formed around political views. But, in the context of the political climate in which we live, and the timing of our country’s birthday celebration, I want to address the issue of God and Country from a Biblical perspective. Let me begin by reading *Matthew 22:15-22.

Suppose Jesus appeared today in our midst, and we approached him with the following questions: “Jesus, is a good Christian a Democrat or a Republican?” “Is a good Christian a liberal or a conservative?” What do you suppose Jesus would say about these questions? If some ways Jesus was being asked a similar question when, as we just read in Matthew 22:15-22, he was approached about the legality and spirituality of paying taxes to the state. In this encounter Jesus was being asked to declare the political and spiritual stance the people of God should take in regard to their views of government and God. *If Jesus approved of paying taxes to the Roman government, because of Roman law, he would be branded as being disloyal to God by the Jews. *If Jesus disapproved of paying taxes to the Roman government, he would be branded as a criminal for violating the societal laws of the land. Jesus chose to clarify that Christians, even though they are first and foremost citizens of God’s kingdom and under the authority of God, they must also accept the responsibility of living as citizens of earthly kingdoms guided by secular governmental laws. *Christians are to live their lives on earth with obedience to both sacred and secular governing systems.

Jesus stated that Christians are called to love God with all of their heart, soul, strength, and mind. Jesus also taught that we do have responsibilities to secular governments, which exist to keep social order in society. When the people raised the question about taxes, Jesus showed them the image on their secular coins and made his famous statement about rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s. Jesus identified that there was a difference. In essence he was saying, don’t mix or confuse to two.

What would Jesus say, about our questions concerning the gospel and politics? I do not profess to know what Jesus would actually say, but in light of what Jesus said in the past, I would not be surprised if he would declare the questions to be inappropriate. He would likely tell us to not confuse or pollute the gospel with politics. This is underscored in the teachings of Romans 13. In that chapter Christians are called to accept the reality of secular government as having validity in society, but we are called to not mix it or confuse it with the supreme authority of our allegiance to lordship of Jesus Christ.

Today in our country Christians are struggling with the issue of the separation of church and state. *I believe in the separation of church and state, and I believe the forefathers of our country did also. I know that Baptists involved in the founding of our country believed strongly in the separation of church and state. *But, I do not believe that the separation of church and state is the same as the separation of God and country.

I believe our forefathers did the right thing when they included in our Constitution the statement, Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion. Whenever in human history a government has established a religion, favored a religion, and legislated a religion, the true freedom of its citizens in regard to religion was compromised and harmed. *Under Jesus Christ, no earthly government is to become the steward of God’s gospel. You might say, “Well that’s the way it was in Old Testament days.” No, in Old Testament days the government did not legislate the faith of the people, the faith of the people legislated the government. And, that scenario was within the context of a covenant God made with one nationality of people (the Jews). In the new covenant under the lordship of Jesus Christ, the covenant is offered to all nationalities of people. In the gospel of Jesus Christ a new humanity is to rise up and bind people into allegiance with one another, an allegiance that stands above any and every earthly institution or government. That’s what the apostle Paul was inspired to write in Ephesians 2:11-22. This is a new humanity that is not bound to any particular nation or political ideology. Believers in Jesus Christ are to unite, not under the banner of a nation or an earthly government, but under the banner of Christ, the gospel, and his cross. *It is the Christian’s allegiance to God that is to direct his or her response to government.

Our country’s forefathers responded to the pleadings of Christians to assure that our government established the ideal of not making any law respecting the establishment of religion. Our forefathers not only insisted upon Congress not making any law respecting the establishment of religion, but they also believed that Congress should not pass any law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. *I believe our forefathers never intended for us to experience in our country the kind of restrictions against even mentioning God that we currently experience. True freedom of religion requires the freedom of people to speak of God, even in the public forum. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and virtually all of our country’s forefathers spoke openly in the public forum about God, but none of them did so in order to favor any particular religion or church.

*The issue of separation of church and state is not the same as the issue of God and Country. When we say that we cannot mention God, or speak of God in the public forum, including government, we are saying that the citizens of our country are not truly free to speak of God in their country. Trying to separate the mention of God, except within the confines of a purely religious setting, is an attempt to keep people from being allowed to have their religious faith impact their service to their country. *We must allow people to be influenced by God and to speak of God as they relate and function in the public forum. Trying to legislate silence of God in our country is an attempt to force people to separate God from their lives as they strive to serve their country. The founding documents of our country, The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, all contain expressions about God. The authors of these documents spoke openly and publicly about their beliefs in God. But we are struggling with such expressions in our cultural setting today.

Unfortunately, some Christians believe the issue of the separation of church and state has caused the recent restrictions upon mentioning God in the public forum. *True freedom of religion requires the freedom of people to speak of God, even in the public forum, but it also requires restraint from imposing one religion over another. This is what our forefathers did, and this is what they wanted for this country. We should keep the church separate from the state--not to do so is to favor one religion, restrict religious freedom, and to run the risk of secularizing the gospel. But, we must not try to keep the mention of God separate from people’s service to our country. The separation of church and state is not the same as public expressions of God and Country.

*A major problem we face in our country today is polarization. We are an “either or” society. We function with the belief that either you are with me or you are against me. If you agree with me, we will get along just fine. If you do not agree with me, we will not get along. If you agree with me, we can be friends. If you do not agree with me, we cannot be friends. If you agree with me I will trust you. If you do not agree with me I will not trust you. Either you are a Democrat or a Republican. Either you are a liberal or a conservative. Either you have the right political views, or you have the wrong political views. And so we fight, argue, malign, hate, and attack one another. *This polarization is causing great harm and unrest in our country. Jesus, I believe, calls us to a more excellent way, a way that causes us to rise above this polarization. We should allow and encourage differing political views; we should confront and challenge one another, but all within the value of respect--respect for the ethic that we have all been “endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights that include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

*The misdirected attack upon the separation of church and state is causing the establishment of two most unfortunate polarities in our country. On the one pole there is the belief that all mention of God must be ultimately removed from the public forum. On the other pole there is the belief that our country must embrace Christianity as the religion of our nation. I believe our Lord Jesus Christ would call us to avoid embracing either of these two poles as our governmental stance as Christians.

*The New Testament demonstrates secular government to be a part of God’s design for the governing of social order, but it is not God’s design for the governing of the human soul. The New Testament calls Christians to be good citizens in their country, but to never lose sight of their primary allegiance, which is their allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord above all. We must strive to maintain the freedom that allows us to openly embrace and express our allegiance to Jesus Christ without enforcing that allegiance upon others.

*So, how should I conduct myself as a Christian and as an American? First, let me speak of my country. I love my country. My father was a veteran of Word War II, as were many people in my family. I am grateful beyond words for my country and for the people who have sacrificed themselves in history to make my country what it is today. I salute my country’s flag with pride and patriotism. My eyes well up with tears when I sing about my country. I want the freedom to express my gratitude for my country in the context of my faith even in the public forum. But, I will not allow allegiance to my country to replace my supreme allegiance to Jesus Christ. I will not allow allegiance to my country to blind me into believing that the Christian faith and American patriotism are one and the same, because they are not! *There were many amazing Christians before there was a United States of America. There are many Christians around the world and recorded in the annals of history whom had the same patriotism for their country as I have for mine. I gladly pray and sing for God to bless my country, and gladly support my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who pray and sing for God to bless their country as well.

*There is a frightening movement in our country striving to move us closer and closer to blending the gospel of Jesus Christ with American ideals. This is done symbolically with ominous displays of the American flag at the focal point of worship in Christian sanctuaries. I recently saw some banners advertised for display in Christian worship that showed the cross of Christ of Christ draped with an American flag. I could never bring myself to do that. I could not drape a flag over the cross if its purpose is to imply the blending of American ideals with the gospel, or the sanctioning of the gospel into American idealism. I could bring myself to lay a cross upon the American flag, but not the other way around.

*Jesus Christ and his gospel are not bound to any one country or any one political ideology. Jesus and the gospel are always supreme. In an attempt to keep the symbolism of Christ and the gospel from being overpowered by American patriotism, some clergy and Christians believe it is wrong to even display an American flag in a Christian church. While I am sympathetic to their concern, I do not support their practice. In fact, in response to the Scriptures we have read today, I believe it is most appropriate for us to display the flag of our country in our place of worship, but not in the prominent place of our focus in worship. The prominent place in Christian worship is to be always reserved for the cross and the Christ who gave His life on that cross for all people. We proudly display the American flag in our church as an expression of gratitude and loyalty to our country, in our attempt to be the good citizens of our country that our Scriptures call us to be. I thank God that you and I live in the United States of America. We have freedom and justice here that others around the world long for. I love my country, but I also understand how people in other lands can love their country just as well.

Is a good Christian a Republican or a Democrat? Is a good Christian a liberal or a conservative? *Being a Republican or a Democrat or being liberal or conservative may truly be a refection of our attempt to live our faith within the confines of the politics of our country, but being either one or the other of these two polarities has nothing to do with whether we are Christians. In God’s kingdom there is only one primary allegiance, our allegiance to Jesus Christ. All believers in Jesus Christ are under one banner, the banner of the cross. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not dedicated to any particular nation, regardless of how blessed that nation is. *As much as we love our nation and praise God for blessing it, and as much as we love our flag and all that it stands for, we will not march into heaven under the banner of the American flag and American political beliefs. We will march into heaven under the banner of the cross and the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This will be true of all Christians from all nations throughout history.

*Let us be good citizens of our country, and let us strive to live and proclaim the truths of God as good citizens of our country. Let us strive to influence our country with the values taught in Scripture, because they are from God the Creator of life. And, let us encourage Christians from all over the world to do the same in their country and for their country. *Let us allow our faith to influence our politics, but let us never allow our politics to influence our faith! *Let us strive for freedom, so that the gospel can be received or rejected in the heart of every human soul. *Let us protect this freedom with the separation of church and state, and let us stand for God in our lives and in our country.

*MAY GOD BLESS US IN THE CHURCH AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

 

 

 

THE GENESIS CONDITION
Mike L. McKinney, November 2005
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Introduction
Genesis (chapters one through eleven) identifies and describes the nature and conditions of life on planet earth.  These ancient stories articulate the human condition on earth and give the foundation for understanding the nature of humanity, the nature of God, and the nature of the relationship God desires with humanity.  These passages describe the "human dilemma" on earth, which is the result of human sin.

Creation - Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-4a

Major theological lessons:

  1. There is a Creator, and this Creator is the source of all creation. (1:1)
  1. Creation in its inception is good.  There was no pain, sorrow, or death in the beginning of life on earth.  Earthly life was a "heavenly" experience.  Creation was a paradise.  (1:1-31)

 

3. The Creator is “supernatural” from our human perspective. (1:1-31)

4.  Humanity is created in the "image" of God and is unique in creation. (1:26-27)

5.  Human beings are stewards of creation. (1:28)

Adam and Eve - Genesis 2:4b-25; 3:1-24

Major theological lessons:

  1. A human being is a physical body (dust/earthly elements) energized (breathed) by a human spirit (breath/spirit).  (2:7)
  1. Humanity is free to make choices.  God gives directions (commands), but humans can chose whether to obey God’s directions (commands) for life.  (2:16-17)

 

  1. Men and women are unique in creation yet dependent upon each another. The ultimate union of a man and a woman is marriage (union of commitment).  (2:19-25)
  1. Humanity is tempted by evil to disobey the commands of God.  (3:1-5)

 

  1. Humanity chooses to disobey God, and chooses knowledge of evil as well as knowledge of good.  (3:6-7)
  1. Fear is part of the human experience.  (3:10)

 

  1. People tend to deny responsibility for their poor choices. They tend to blame others for their own poor choices.  (3:12-13)
  1. Because of sin, life on earth involves pain, toil, struggles, and difficulty. Humanity is vulnerable to the effects of sin and evil. Suffering is a natural part of life on earth.  (3:14-19)

 

9.  Earthly death is part of the human experience.  (2:17, 3:19)

10. Humans are separated from God and from a perfect life.  (3:22-24)

Cain and Abel - Genesis 4:1-26

Major theological lessons:
1. People are responsible for their own choices in life.  (4:3-5)

2. Some people are more good-natured than others.  (4:3-6)

3. Innocent people can and do suffer from the sin and evil of others.  (4:8)

4. Individuals can and do experience the consequences of their own sin.  (4:11-16)

5. People can turn their anger into violence and destruction.  (4:8, 4:23)

6. Humanity has a tendency toward war.  (4:23-24)

7. Humanity has a tendency to be dishonest.  (4:9)

8. Humanity has a tendency to not accept the responsibility of caring for others.  (4:9)

Noah – Genesis 6:1-22

Major theological lessons:

  1. God does not predestine people’s choices.  (6:5-9)
  1. God can and does grieve over the poor choices people make and their rebellion against God’s principles for life.  (6:6)

 

  1. God rewards righteousness.  (6:9)
  1. God is righteous and just, and brings judgment upon sin.  (6:7, 12-12)

 

The Flood – Genesis 6:13-22; 7:1-24; 8:1-22; 9:1-20

Major theological lessons:

  1. God is righteous and just, and will save from destruction those who by faith trust in Him.
  1. God is superior to Creation.

 

  1. Humanity has taken on a sinful nature.  (8:21)
  1. God cares for sinful humanity and establishes covenants to foster relationship. (9:11)

 

  1. Even basically good people have sin problems.  (9:21)

The Tower of Babel – Genesis 11:1-9

Major theological lessons:

  1. Humans tend to be self-centered and arrogant before God.  (11:4)
  1. Humans tend to develop and define their own gods and religions.  (11:4)

 

  1. Humans tend to be stubborn in their selfishness and arrogance.  (11:6)
  1. Humans live in a scattered, separated, and confused condition in the world because of sin.  (11:8-9)

 

Conclusion

Genesis 1-11 identifies and describes the nature and conditions of life on planet earth.  The Bible from Genesis twelve through the book of Revelation reveals God’s response to humanity’s sinful condition.  God has “stepped” into history in Jesus Christ and offered redemption to sinful humanity.

The conditions of life on earth, as revealed in Genesis 1-11, shall remain until the fulfillment of God’s kingdom (new heaven and a new earth).  Life in heaven is void of the Genesis condition and is a return to perfection and paradise.

GENESIS CONDITION 2005