How Might It Really Be?

The idea of a nation with laws built strictly around the Bible, a country in which there is no separation of church and state, is gaining traction in certain circles. However well-intentioned that notion might be (and I'm giving some promoters of the idea the benefit of doubt in huge way when I say their intentions might be good) if it were to happen, it would not have the desired effect of making our nation a better place.

Let's put aside political leanings and personal beliefs for a moment and think about this issue logically, in the context of the Constitution and of scripture. Christians, our religious beliefs should guide our individual lives, but as I have been trying to make the point over the past couple of weeks, we are never instructed by Jesus to try to FORCE our beliefs on others. It was not his Way, nor should it be ours. Let's consider some things.

If we used what Jesus taught as the law of the land -- not political or religious IDEAS about the Bible, but what Jesus SAID -- many things would no longer be permitted: calling someone a fool, lawsuits, greed, gossip, lying, not taking care of the poor and war, for instance. Jesus spoke against those things.

Interestingly, since Jesus did not specifically mention contraceptives, abortion or gay marriage, it would be difficult to build a case making them against the law. Yes, it might be possible to take bits of scripture, here and there, and come up with reasons to outlaw them, but then you would have to ignore some very direct commands about other things which are mostly overlooked in this debate. For example, adultery and divorce (simply based on incompatibility) would definitely be illegal. If the New Testament were to be our nation's policy manual and law code, we would have to accept it all, not part, and that's simply not practical, quite honestly, because almost everyone would be in jail.

Are we prepared for divorce, outside of adultery or abuse (and perhaps with no exceptions), to be illegal, especially since the divorce rate is as high among Christians as non-Christians? What about adultery? If it were against the law, many high-profile preachers and politicians, along with millions of others, would be among those who do jail time or pay hefty fines. Most who are promoting separation of church and state probably don't intend for those things to happen or think that they would, but that doesn't mean they would not, eventually, if we ever started sliding down that slope.

Jesus intended for his followers to heed his teachings and do right, but there is no evidence he meant for any nation's legal system to be governed by his words. Believers should strive to live according to what Jesus proclaimed, even though we all fall short. Thankfully, our Christian faith provides for making mistakes, seeking forgiveness and going on, hopefully learning lessons along the way. We may pay for disobedience with our personal peace or well-being, but we are not put in prison for our sins nor should we be.

I, personally, would love for the conscience and decision-making process of every leader, at every level, to be influenced by the intent of Jesus, but that is not the same as the joining of church and state. Let us please never ask for that union. And let us please stop asking others to live their personal lives according to our standards.