No Bishop, No King

Introduction

Nothing like a new year to reintroduce the Reconstructing Christianity blog. And what better way to reintroduce the blog than to talk about a topic that has most of the western church in an uproar: church and state relations? So, grab your hunting gear because we are on the hunt for truth, and if we tarry too long, she will get away.

King James I on Church State Relations

            One would not expect me to side with a person who persecuted Puritans and killed Baptists on an issue like this, but more unusual things are happening this year. Despite how wrong he was on a lot of issues, King James did get some things right, one of those being the concept of “no bishop, no king.” The term in its most simplistic sense is that the church/state must work together and even mirror each other in the way that it operates. This was his apologetic for the way the Anglican church governed and operated against the reforms by the puritans and non-conformists. Although, undoubtedly an unrighteous king, James’ philosophical statement does have some weight to it. The state is a necessary entity, it is not supposed to just exist. The state has a job to protect the church which helps the church fulfill its duties by spreading the gospel. This just proves we’re not anarchists. However, the state needs the church in order to properly execute its functions as the state. How so?

The Church’s Effect on the State

            The state is very much indebted to the church. Without the church, the state must create a standard for morals in some other way or it will cease to exist. Without the church, the nation the state governs is left in anarchy. Without the voice of God in the state, the state is left to lawlessness by its citizens. If they cannot listen to a power higher than themselves, they will be left to fend for themselves. Thus, an era of mob mentality will perpetuate all of society. A religious system is needed to govern the general culture at large. Such void of a church has, in our times, led to the state becoming priests of a Marxist religion. The state gives rights; the state gives bread, water, and shelter; be thankful to the state; thou must not worship anyone else but the state. There must be prophetic voice to govern the morals of a society. Humans were made to listen to and live by God’s rules. In past times, the king would listen to the prophet and obey his words. Now the king (or president) must listen to the voice of Christ through the Scriptures and the ministry of the church.

Conclusion

       The church cannot retreat when dealing with the state. Both must respect their spheres of authority. But the state must make laws that allows the church to thrive in their respected nations. The church must remain as a prophetic witness to the state and see that it obeys all of Christ’s commands.