Day: August 1, 2007

Separation of Church and State, and Baptists

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

The phrase “Separation of Church and State” is nowhere mentioned within the Constitution of the United States or the Bill of Rights.  The idea there is for Government to have no State Church which is sponsored by Government.  It is also for the purpose of keeping the government out of Church business, from dictating to the Church how they are to operate, and function.  The people of every church has the right and privilege to have a say in elections, and at the voting booth, and the Church can inform its members of the moral issues, and where candidates stand on those issues.  We have an heavenly authority, and responsibility to do so.

Have Baptists ever been close to becoming a State sponsored Church.  At the last writing we read of a time the Baptists were one of four which were proposed to become State Churches.  The following is more info along that same idea.

“24. Some serious questions have many times been asked concerning the Baptists:  Would they, as a denomination, have accepted from any nation or state an offer of ‘establishment’ if such nation or state had freely made them such an offer?  And would they, in case they had accepted such an offer, have become persecutors of others like Catholics or Episcopals, or Lutherans or Presbyterians, or Congregationalists?  Probably  a little consideration of such questions now wouold not be amiss.  Have the Baptists, as a fact, ever had such an opportunity?’

‘Is it not recorded in history, that on one occasion, the King of the Netherlands (the Netherlands at that time embracing Norway and Sweden, Belgium, Holland, and Denmark) had under serious consideration the question of having an established religion?  Their kingdom at that period was surrounded on almost all sides by nations or governments with established religions — religions supported by the Civil Government.’

‘It is stated that the King of Holland appointed a committee to examine the claims of all existing churches or denominations to see which had the best claim to be the New Testament Church.  The committee reported back that the Baptists were the best representatives of New Testament teachings.  Then the King offered to make the Baptist ‘the established’ church or denomination of his kingdom.  The Baptists kindly thanked him but declined, stating that it was contrary to their fundamental convictions and principles.’

‘But this was not the only opportunity they ever had of having their denomination the established religion of a people.  They certainly had that opportunity when Rhode Island Colony was founded.  And to have persecuted others — that would nave been an impossibility if they were to continue being Baptist.  They were the original advocates of ‘Religious Liberty.’  That really is one of the fundamental articles of their religious faith.  They believed in the absolute separation of church and state.”

From THE TRAIL OF BLOOD, p. 53, by J. M. Carroll.

We Baptists may disagree whole heartedly with some forms of religion, but we also will fight with you for your right to believe it and teach it.  That is after all what Religious Liberty in our Nation is about, and what Religious Liberty the world around is about.

Fast With Joy

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Matthew 6:1-34 continuing…

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:16-18 (KJV).

This third characteristic of the kingdom heart and life should be when you are fasting FAST WITH JOY. It seems that the religious leaders very much wanted to be noticed for their fasting, and would have very somber and sad faces, so everyone would know when they were going without food. Let me say that there are several forms of fasting. One can fast from food to find God’s will in a certain need; one can fast for the purpose of seeking God for personal and national revival and renewing; but these must be done with the right heart and motive.

Fasting is right and good with the right motive. Jesus fasted. We have the most notable account of Jesus fasting in Matthew four where He fasted for forty days and nights (4:3). Members of the early church fasted – “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” Acts 13:2 (KJV).

Fasting is a means of disciplining the appetites of the body. It helps us keep our spiritual priorities straight. We focus more on God, His Word, and His will for our lives and living for Him, than on when the next meal is due. One of the most useful fast that I have found is when you are so involved in your study of God’s Word and prayer, that you do not even think of eating, the time passes, and you are into the Word so deeply, that it does not matter.

Fasting is more than depriving ourselves of food. It is time for the worshipping of God. A time for devotion to Him and giving all to Him.

True fasting is not for the purpose of drawing attention to one’s self, as did the hypocrites. To do so fits us into that category. Hypocrisy robs us of reality in Christian living. It substitutes reputation for character; it substitutes mere words for true prayer; it substitutes money for devotion of heart. Hypocrisy also robs us of spiritual rewards. Instead of God’s eternal approval we receive the temporary approval of men; We pray and receive no answers; We fast, but the inner man does not improve; We miss the blessing of God; and we lose God’s rewards when Jesus comes again. The first steps in overcoming hypocrisy: 1) Be honest with God in your secret life; 2) Fast seeking God with all your heart; 3) Pray from the heart; 4) Please God alone.

We will remain in hypocrisy if we tend to offer God pretty, lace and flower prayers, and fast to be seen and recognized by men. We will remain in hypocrisy if we pray only from a form or liturgical prayer that has been offered by someone else. We will remain in hypocrisy when we fast and pray to please others and do not care whether God is praised, honored and glorified or not. The purpose of fasting and prayer is to glorify the Lord, and then it matters not whether you get what you asked for yourself.