Baptists & The State
* Obedience to the State, Mt. 17:24-27;
22:21; Rom. 13:1f.; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13f..
* Prayer for rulers, Eph. 6:6; I Tim.
2:1f..
* The stress on practical implications
of loving all men (Mt. 22:39; Gal. 6:10) will be seen in awareness of civic
and social responsibilities. But there is the need to obey God rather than
man (Acts 5:29).
* Church and State should be absolutely
separate. Baptists believe that the idea of a State Church is spiritually
disastrous. Baptists believe that the State owes to every church protection
and full freedom to pursue its spiritual ends. It should not impose
penalties for religious opinions or impose taxes to support any form of
religion. The church should not rely on the religious power to carry on its
work. The Gospel requires spiritual means alone to maintain its witness.
* * * * *
