Romans 13 - Church and State

Romans 13 - Church and State

The state is to keep the peace, to protect its citizens from whatever would disturb it, to preserve law and order (without the oppressive overtones like clamping down on dissidents), and to punish evil and promote good, so that within such a stable society the church may be free to worship God, obey his laws and spread the his gospel. The church is to pray for the state, so that its leaders may administer justice and pursue peace…(being thankful)…for the blessings of good government as a gift of God’s common grace. Church and state have reciprocal duties, the church prays for the state (and is its conscience), the state protects the church (so that it might be free to perform its duties). Each should acknowledge that the other also has a divine origin and purpose.         John Stott, “Guard the Truth,” The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus