You can't have one without the other

Christian social ethics, some would keep this subject only in the seminaries, but, should theology and ethics be kept as far apart as possible?  That is what’s happening in mainline denominations that are playing the role of social worker instead of theologian.  There is rampant liberalism, immorality, crumbling orthodoxy and more and more stories of clergy and lay ministers being arrested for lewd behavior, division, and strife, just a few of the signs that show that mixing social ethics with theology can have disastrous results.

It’s said that orthodoxy and orthopraxy have to be joined together.  Correct doctrine must be combined with correct living; as Christians, we can’t have one without the other.  So, as much as we’d like to avoid the sticky issues of social ethics, a Christian isn’t permitted to live one way, while confessing to believe another.

The Civil and Ceremonial Laws God handed down in the Old Testament weren’t to show how much of a tyrant God could be over His creation.  Clearly, God wants His creation to be holy, because He is holy, and fellowship with Him depends on man being like God in character.  Not that man has to become a god, like some claim, but that man was created for fellowship with God.  This is only possible when man lives up to the standard that God created for him to live—namely, holiness.  This relationship with God is man’s reason for existing; it’s impossible to say that we can have sound theology and then ignore the social ethics attached to our beliefs.  If you want to see what someone believes, observe the way they live.

Saint Paul tells the Philippians and us that since we now are citizens of Heaven, we now must live according to the laws that are consistent with being citizens in Heaven.  That goes for all of life’s choices, or social ethics.  And, the most basic law of the Kingdom is; “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” And, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

But what about being a citizen of the United States?  Do we have to renounce everything that goes along with this citizenship?  Since we’ve already been made citizens of Heaven, are we still under the laws of this country?  Can we disregard them?  That’s the trick question the Pharisee’s threw at Jesus, as seen in Matthew chapter 22.  The Pharisees tried to lay a trap to catch Jesus in his words.  The bait was set in the form of a compliment that Jesus isn’t afraid of anyone and acts fairly.  The loaded question was “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”  If Jesus had answered “Yes,” then he’d have been seen as a traitor to his own people.  If he answered “No,” then he’d have been seen as a troublemaker for Rome, and his enemies would have had the chance to have him arrested.  His answer sent his enemies away marveling.  When Jesus told them to, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.”  By this, Jesus implies that both Church and State have a place in the economy of God.  In an ideal society, each has a responsibility to the other.  The state should provide an orderly society where the Church can perform its mission.  The Church, on the other hand, should produce the type of Christian character that’s favorable to righteous government.

As a citizen of two kingdoms, the Christian must be loyal to each.  Christians are urged to be law abiding citizens.  They’re to abide by laws unless they involve a matter of Christian conscience.  An example of this resistance to the law is in Acts 4:19-20, where the Apostles Peter and John were commanded not to teach the name of Jesus.

The line that separates the Christian’s obligation as a dual citizen is hard to draw.  To live according to God’s Commandments isn’t easy, but what’s expected of us is contained in Holy Scripture.  As citizens of this country, we have a system that allows us to exercise our beliefs in a lawful manner.  The bottom line is this, live a life consistent with God’s Kingdom, observe the laws by which you are governed and seek to make changes in lawful ways.  If the government issues laws that demand you renounce your Faith, be true to God and be willing to suffer.