Christian Citizenship: Utilizing the Wall of Separation
Lee Yancey(From Salt & Light: May/June 2002, Vol. 15, No.3)
In George W. Truett’s address to the Baptist churches of Washington, D.C. on May 16, 1920, he spoke of Jesus’ words: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” Truett said it was:
one of the most revolutionary and history-making utterances that ever fell from those divine lips. That utterance, once and for all marked the divorcement of church and state. It marked a new era for the creeds and deeds of men. It was the sunrise gun of a new day the echoes of which are to go on and on until in every land, whether great or small the doctrine shall have absolute supremacy everywhere of a free church in a free state. In behalf of our Baptist people I am compelled to say that forgetfulness of the principles that I have just enumerated, in our judgment explains many of the religious ills that now afflict the world. All went well within the early churches in their earlier days. They were incomparably triumphant days for the Christian faith. Those early disciples of Jesus, without prestige and worldly power, yet aflame with the love of God and the passion of Christ, went out and shook the pagan Roman Empire from center to circumference, even in one brief generation. Christ’s religion needs no prop of any kind from any worldly source, and to the degree that it is thus supported is a millstone hanged about its neck.
Truly, the separation of church and state was one of the best things that ever happened to Christianity. The idea of a state religion imposing its beliefs on Christians stands in stark contrast to long held Baptist beliefs, including but not limited to, the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local church. The separation of church and state prevents the imposition of religious creeds by an ecclesiastical authority. According to E.Y. Mullens in an address to the Third Baptist World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, July 23, 1923, “While confessions of faith, voluntarily framed and set forth as containing the essentials of what men believe to be the gospel, are acceptable, religious creeds laid upon men’s consciences by ecclesiastical command or another form of human authority become a shadow between the soul and God, an intolerable yoke, an impertinence, and a tyranny.” Thanks be to God for the separation of church and state.
Now, since there is a “wall of separation” (Jefferson’s term) between church and state, how then can a Christian be salt and light locally, statewide, nationally, and globally? Let me suggest that you should organize a Christian Action Team in your church. Be informed on issues of critical moral concern and vote in every election. Next, establish a phone or e-mail network to share critical information on current issues with like-minded friends. Contact public policy makers on the local, state, and national levels regarding decisions and legislation affecting the culture. Take a stand for Christ where you are, speaking the truth and making a difference in your area of influence.
The Mississippi Baptist Convention has divided the state into nine areas. The goal of the Christian Action Commission is to establish Christian Action Area Coordinators in each of the nine areas. These Area Coordinators will be trained annually at the Associational Leadership Training Event. Then, training would be coordinated in each of the nine areas for all churches with Christian Action Teams. Training would take place in the local areas. A “how to” manual will be provided for each team and a statewide network will be put in place for the purpose of relaying information and contacting elected officials. With well over 700,000 Mississippi Baptists, our voice can and should be heard. It will be.
There will come a day when someone who is not of the Christian faith will be elected president of the United States. God knows we have had some “Christians” who did not advance the cause of Christ. The Constitution will protect the freedoms of Christians just as it protects the freedoms of all religions today. In the meantime, we are to be about the Lord’s business, sharing our faith, walking the walk, running the race. I heard about a group of graduating seniors. They walked in tandem, each of the 93 students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt. Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and moms freely brushed away tears. This class would not pray during the commencements – not by choice but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families. The speeches were nice, but they were routine, until the final speech received a standing ovation. A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then he delivered his speech . . . an astounding sneeze. The rest of the students rose immediately to their feet, and in unison they said, “GOD BLESS YOU.” The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God’s blessing on their future.