Separation of Church and State
1️⃣ Baptists Believe in the Separation of Church and State
✅ Governments roles and duties
🔎 Baptists have long upheld that the church and the state are two separate God-ordained institutions with distinct roles. The state exists to maintain order and justice in the civil realm
📖 Romans 13:1-7 (KJV) Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
📌 When it comes to rulers or governments we need to understand that God has placed them there so that evil forces don’t just fully exploit innocent people, now we don’t want to get the idea that governments are perfect or without sin, rulers and governments are placed there to protect the innocent, and we are to pay tribute also, meaning taxes, and I know that its not fair most times, we have to obey or you can disobey and feel the wrath of the governments? I actually like our governments in the sense of protection, I like laws when its to do with evil, or morally corrupted issues. The only time I don’t like laws is when it is outside of Gods instructions, that is “execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” Also Taxes can be a pain when our governments are full of greed. Yet we are subject to the higher powers that are ordained of God as Jesus also respected.
📖 Matthew 22:21 (KJV) They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
📌 Jesus shows that the rulers or governments are separated from the church and we are to respect them both in their separate roles.
✅ Church roles and duties
while the church exists to preach the gospel, make disciples, and spiritually shepherd God's people
📖 Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
📌 We can clearly see that the point of the church is for (1) “For the perfecting of the saints” Thats for the growth of believers, (2) “for the work of the ministry” This will be outreach and every other work the church do for God (3) “for the edifying of the body of Christ” this is generally speaking about the welfare of the church as a whole.
📖 Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
📌 Again we see (1) “teach all nations, baptizing them” This is related to evangelism and outreach of people, (2) “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” This is for the growth of believers. So we see the roles of the church are different to the roles of a government, and both are ordain by God.
🔥This doctrine is not about being apolitical, but about refusing to mix the mission of the gospel with political power or national agendas. As Baptists, we reject state-run churches and politically-run pulpits.
“The church is not to rule the state, and the state is not to rule the church. Each has its God-ordained purpose. When the two mix, corruption and compromise follow examples.
🛑 1. The Roman Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire
❌ What happened:
From the 4th century onward (starting with Emperor Constantine), the church became closely tied to the Roman Empire. Eventually, the pope wielded political power, kings sought papal approval, and the church began persecuting dissenters.
🚩 Results:
The gospel was replaced with rituals, works-based salvation, and political control.
The Inquisition was launched to suppress "heresy" (often meaning Bible-believing Christians).
Bible translation was banned in many languages.
Corruption and abuse within the priesthood exploded.
🛑 2. The Crusades (1095–1291)
❌ What happened:
The Roman Catholic Church launched a series of military campaigns (Crusades) to reclaim Jerusalem and “defend Christianity” by force.
🚩 Results:
Mass killing of Muslims, Jews, and even other Christians.
Spread of violence in the name of Christ, which Jesus never commanded.
Deepened hatred between religious groups that still exists today.
🛑 3. The Church of England (Anglicanism) under King Henry VIII
❌ What happened:
King Henry VIII broke from the Roman Catholic Church and made himself the head of the Church of England so he could divorce his wife.
🚩 Results:
Church became a tool of the crown, not of Christ.
Persecution of those who refused to conform (including Baptists and Puritans).
Spiritual authority was based on politics, not Scripture.
🛑 4. State Churches in Europe (Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican)
❌ What happened:
Even after the Reformation, many Protestant nations kept a state church, where being a citizen meant being part of a specific denomination.
🚩 Results:
Dissenters like Baptists, Anabaptists, and Quakers were imprisoned, tortured, or executed.
Church membership became a civil obligation, not a personal decision of faith.
Preaching became tame, tied to the crown, and often powerless.
🛑 5. Nazi Germany and the Reich Church
❌ What happened:
In the 1930s, Adolf Hitler supported a “German Christian” movement that aligned churches with Nazi ideology. Many pastors submitted.
🚩 Results:
Churches began promoting racist and nationalistic teachings.
Persecution of many people and dissenters was justified by some churches.
Only a remnant (like the Confessing Church and Dietrich Bonhoeffer) stood for truth.
🛑 6. Modern Prosperity Gospel Movements Involved in Politics
❌ What happens:
Today, some churches (especially in the U.S. and other democracies) try to merge Christian identity with political ideology, endorsing parties or candidates as “God’s choice.”
🚩 Results:
Gospel is watered down or replaced by political activism.
Churches become divisive, focused on national issues rather than eternal salvation.
Jesus is portrayed as a political revolutionary, not the Savior.
✅ Summary: Why Mixing Church and State Always Fails
Whenever the church tries to gain power through the state, the following always happen:
The gospel is compromised.
Corruption and pride take root in church leadership.
Persecution replaces preaching.
The church becomes a political tool, not a spiritual force.
This is why Baptists have historically stood for the biblical separation of church and state: so that the church can stay focused on preaching the gospel, making disciples, and honoring Christ alone.
📖 John 18:36 (KJV) Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
📌 Jesus clearly showing the separation of the church and worldly kingdoms or governments. This means we focus on the things of God and not of this world as church members.
📖 Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
📌 When we serve church we are serving eternal things for God, material things mean nothing in eternity and so governments are for worldly sakes and church for eternal sakes, and Jesus is showing us that church is more important than then what the governments are doing.
🔎 Now there are a lot of so-called Christians like Brian Tamaki who is fixated on protesting against the government , campaigning politically, and mixing church leadership with political ambition, is unbilicial, which leads to our next point
2️⃣ Jesus Avoided Political Movements
Jesus lived during Roman occupation a political situation far worse than anything in New Zealand today. Yet He never led protests, rebelled, or tried to influence Roman policy. Instead, He preached the free gift of eternal life and the Kingdom of God.
📖 Luke 19:10 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
📖 John 6:38-40 (KJV) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
✅ The Apostles Submitted to Government (Unless It Contradicted God’s Word)
📌 when we look at the apostles as well, they too didn’t focus on governments, they only dealt with governments because they were called in for questioning! The only things the apostles wanted to do was to teach the gospel, show me where the apostles rebelled unless for preaching Jesus and his gospel!
📖 1 Peter 2:13-14 (KJV) Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
✅ The Apostles Refused to Obey Only When Told Not to Preach
Their only “civil disobedience” was when government tried to stop them from preaching:
📖 Acts 5:28-29 (KJV) Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
📌 So they only disobey when it’s concerning preaching of the gospel, because God only said that the powers of the government was to execute judgment on the unrighteous so technically speaking the apostles aren’t disrespecting the word of God.
✅ They Endured Persecution Without Retaliation
When arrested, beaten, or killed, the apostles rejoiced to suffer for Christ, rather than seeking revenge or organizing protests:
📖 Acts 5:40-41 (KJV) And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
📌 We see that governments which are ordain of God persecuted the church and the believers never retaliated because the believers knew that the government wasn’t their focus, and they knew that God will deal with that, So using the pulpit as a platform for nationalism, control, and politics rather than the gospel is not of God and its falsehood.
💭 I remember this Christian group I meet with that was in the government they were leaders in the Conservative Party and I asked them if they are doing well and they said not really, and I said to them that no one will vote them in ever because this world is not ours as Christians…
John 14:30 (KJV) Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
Another serious concern is the absence of a clear gospel message. The gospel is not about New Zealand’s future in economic freedom, or personal loyalty to a church, it is about Jesus Christ dying for sinners and rising again, offering salvation by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works…”
Romans 3:23–25 – “For all have sinned… being justified freely by his grace…”
If salvation is unclear, confused, or not central, then we aren’t being christian.
3️⃣ Conclusion: Focus on the things of God
🔥 The Baptist doctrine of Separation of Church and State is grounded in Scripture and rooted in a desire to protect the purity of the gospel and the independence of the church. Brian Tamaki’s fusion of political activism, lack of gospel clarity, and authoritarian leadership does not align with the teachings of Christ or the convictions of historic Baptist faith.
📌 Let us follow the example of the Apostles in the Bible, who said:
📖 Acts 6:4 (KJV) But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
📌 The mission of the true church is not to rally nations, but it is to win souls. People get these weird ideas that making the government christian will fix things? Wrong, it leads to compromise.
💭 What we need to understand is that the world is going to get worse until Christ returns, this means governments will turn against us, Jesus mentions this in
📖 Matthew 10:17-25 (KJV) But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
📌 Even though the government can turn on the church we are not to retaliate, Jesus never done that nor the apostles, in the end of this world its clear the government will become a one world government against God and its God who will deal to that then. We as christians need to focus on spreading the gospel as mentioned….
📖 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
‼️ Lets not be like destiny’s so-called church and focus on governments and self exaltation, but let us humble ourselves by loving the lost and sharing the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Amen
