Firstly, the Old Testament (OT) church functioned as a state church grounded in the theocratic model of ancient Israel, where God’s Word intertwined religious and civil governance. This is evidenced through the Mosaic Law. There, the church and state were twain made one. There’s really no debate to be had here.
But the New Testament is curiously silent on political/nationalistic ideas of any sort in reference to the kingdom of Christ. Other than, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), “render unto Cesar,” “pray for the king,” etc. We ought to SERIOUSLY ponder those words, by the way. And then reponder them some more because Jesus’ words appear much clearer on this subject than polemical arguments from holdover thoughts.
But my question is, why? Why are there NT crickets on the grand doctrine of the Establishment Principle (tEP)? Not a hint. Not a whispering whisp?
Jerrold Lewis | “The Establishment Principle- Prove it!” | November 16, 2023
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“So it’s a numbers game. Is that what Jesus meant? “My kingdom is not of this world…yet”? Is that the story of the Early Church? I don’t think so.”
– fantastic