A friend on Facebook shared this article from a Baptist pastor. What is you opinion of his treatise?
LEVI SECORD
Secularism is failing. As the West undermines its Christian foundations, it destabilizes liberty’s grounding. Western states are becoming increasingly hostile to religious liberty in general and Christianity specifically. This political reality is the backdrop of the debate within evangelicalism concerning the relationship of the Christian to the state.
Much has been written in defense of and against Christian nationalism. Yet, the debate seems stuck between two competing options—a return to the marriage between the church and state or a Secularism Lite where Christianity is reduced to one competing voice among many. The first option blurs key distinctions between two God-ordained spheres, while the second option ignores the clear implications of Christ’s lordship over everything (Matt. 28:18: Col. 1:15–20). Both options leave something to be desired. Is there another path? I believe there is, and I call it the sanctified state.
What is a Sanctified State?
A sanctified state is a national or state government set aside for service to God. Calling such a nation sanctified instead of Christian avoids the idea that people can be born into the church and the challenge of defining how an impersonal entity can be Christian. Throughout the Bible, inanimate objects are described as sanctified or consecrated to the service of God (Exod. 25–29; Lev. 8:10–11; Matt. 23:17). If utensils can be sanctified, then so can a national government. Governments are either faithful or rebellious; they serve either God or the dragon (Rev. 12:17–13:18).
Some may object, “But how can a state government serve God?” Romans 13:1–7 describes governing officials (e.g., the state) as the “servant(s) of God.” A servant serves his master. The state is God’s servant, and this reality must shape how it functions.
For a government to be sanctified, instead of rebellious, it must fulfill its God-ordained function by executing God’s justice and wrath upon evildoers (Rom. 13:4). As God’s servant, the state is endowed with authority to accomplish its specific task—no more and no less. To be a sanctified state, a government must punish evil and protect the good. A sanctified state acknowledges its God-given role and its inherent limits.
Additionally, a sanctified state should formally recognize its master. Similar to the way that the Declaration of Independence recognizes the Creator, a sanctified state should, in its founding documents, acknowledge God. While such thinking offends secularists, each of the fifty states of our nation recognizes the divine in all of their constitutions. This is part of the Western and Protestant tradition of government, and while it is not sufficient in itself, it is critical to limiting the power of the state. Faithful servants recognize their master.
If recognizing an unnamed Creator or Divine being is tolerable, then Christians should endorse rightly naming this God. A sanctified state should name the Triune God and/or reference Jesus Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords. We should not shrink from naming the God who is there.
From Pharoah and Caesar to modern atheistic states, governments regularly seek to dethrone God. Moreover, Scripture has many examples of God’s people calling the nations and their rulers to acknowledge the one true and living God (see e.g., Exod. 5:1–3; Dan. 3:28–30; 4:34–35; Acts 26:24–29). To prevent this, the state must actively recognize that they are accountable to a higher power—almighty God. A sanctified state knows whom it is truly serving.
A Sanctified State: A Baptist Alternative to Christian Nationalism - Christ Over All
- A Sanctified State: A Baptist Alternative to Christian Nationalism
LEVI SECORD
Secularism is failing. As the West undermines its Christian foundations, it destabilizes liberty’s grounding. Western states are becoming increasingly hostile to religious liberty in general and Christianity specifically. This political reality is the backdrop of the debate within evangelicalism concerning the relationship of the Christian to the state.
Much has been written in defense of and against Christian nationalism. Yet, the debate seems stuck between two competing options—a return to the marriage between the church and state or a Secularism Lite where Christianity is reduced to one competing voice among many. The first option blurs key distinctions between two God-ordained spheres, while the second option ignores the clear implications of Christ’s lordship over everything (Matt. 28:18: Col. 1:15–20). Both options leave something to be desired. Is there another path? I believe there is, and I call it the sanctified state.
What is a Sanctified State?
A sanctified state is a national or state government set aside for service to God. Calling such a nation sanctified instead of Christian avoids the idea that people can be born into the church and the challenge of defining how an impersonal entity can be Christian. Throughout the Bible, inanimate objects are described as sanctified or consecrated to the service of God (Exod. 25–29; Lev. 8:10–11; Matt. 23:17). If utensils can be sanctified, then so can a national government. Governments are either faithful or rebellious; they serve either God or the dragon (Rev. 12:17–13:18).
Some may object, “But how can a state government serve God?” Romans 13:1–7 describes governing officials (e.g., the state) as the “servant(s) of God.” A servant serves his master. The state is God’s servant, and this reality must shape how it functions.
For a government to be sanctified, instead of rebellious, it must fulfill its God-ordained function by executing God’s justice and wrath upon evildoers (Rom. 13:4). As God’s servant, the state is endowed with authority to accomplish its specific task—no more and no less. To be a sanctified state, a government must punish evil and protect the good. A sanctified state acknowledges its God-given role and its inherent limits.
Additionally, a sanctified state should formally recognize its master. Similar to the way that the Declaration of Independence recognizes the Creator, a sanctified state should, in its founding documents, acknowledge God. While such thinking offends secularists, each of the fifty states of our nation recognizes the divine in all of their constitutions. This is part of the Western and Protestant tradition of government, and while it is not sufficient in itself, it is critical to limiting the power of the state. Faithful servants recognize their master.
If recognizing an unnamed Creator or Divine being is tolerable, then Christians should endorse rightly naming this God. A sanctified state should name the Triune God and/or reference Jesus Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords. We should not shrink from naming the God who is there.
From Pharoah and Caesar to modern atheistic states, governments regularly seek to dethrone God. Moreover, Scripture has many examples of God’s people calling the nations and their rulers to acknowledge the one true and living God (see e.g., Exod. 5:1–3; Dan. 3:28–30; 4:34–35; Acts 26:24–29). To prevent this, the state must actively recognize that they are accountable to a higher power—almighty God. A sanctified state knows whom it is truly serving.
A Sanctified State: A Baptist Alternative to Christian Nationalism - Christ Over All
