How should the relationship between Christianity and Government be understood?  Should they walk hand in hand?  What is the relevance of this topic to the subject of art? 

First of all, God puts governing authorities in place and everyone is to be subject to them.  Government officials should love justice (Job 34:17).  Governing bodies serve God as ministers of His wrath, punishing the wicked, and as ministers of blessing by honoring the upright who abide by the law (Romans 13:1-3, Colossians 1:15-16).  We are to pay taxes, revere/fear them, and give them the honor they deserve.  These are not just things that Christians should do, but all people, especially Christians because it reflects well on Yahweh, whom we ultimately serve.  To disobey the government is to disobey God (Matthew 22:15-22, Romans 13:4-7, Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-17).

Secondly, our ultimate authority as believers is in fact God the Father, who will put an end to all other authorities through His Son, our Lord who is also reigning over all other authorities now (Matthew 28:18, 1 Corinthians 15:23-25, also 2:6, Ephesians 1:20-23, Philippians 3:20, 1 Timothy 6:12-16).  In fact, Christ is to rule in the hearts of all of His people (Colossians 3:15).

Thirdly, we are to pray for our governing officials (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

People often ask the question as to when it is ok to disobey the government as believers, and the answer is found in Acts 4:19-20.  While the question probably stems from our proneness, if you will, towards rebellion as sinners, and we must not forget that only when it requires us to deny/disobey God should we disobey our governing authorities.

When governments outlaw the sharing of the Gospel, we may suffer, but as the Scripture says, "it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong" (1 Peter 3:17).  We are commanded by God to share the Gospel of Christ and must do so, even when it is outlawed and we could be killed for our faith.  Let us all pray for our brothers and sisters presently facing such circumstances in other countries.  Nonetheless, these members of the Church should still consider their trials as a blessing (1 Peter 4:12-19).

This leads now to several additional questions, such as, "is it ever correct to rebel against a government or overthrow a government?"  This question reaches to the heart of many in our society currently in regards to what is taking place in Iraq.  Was the United States right for overthrowing the government of that Middle Eastern Country?  The answer to this may be found more in the issue of "Just War Theory," where one must support the overthrow of such an authority out of love for the many suffering under its rule.  This may be expounded on further in coming months.

Another question that these three points raise is the issue of separation of Church and State.  While Christians ultimately owe their allegiance to God, they also must obey their earthly government.  Jesus claims that we are to render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's.  This seems to show a definite distinction between Church and State even though God ultimately places the State in the authoritative position that it has. 

As Baptists we agree with this separation, and in our Statement of Faith adopted on June 14, 2000 stated: "Church and state should be separate.  The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends.  In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others."  After this it goes on to affirm some of what was already mentioned above.  Now that we have looked briefly at this issue we may discuss its relevance to art.  Should government houses be allowed to post pictures/sculptures/etc. of religious ideals (ex. the Ten Commandments)?

I would argue that they probably should not be able to.  This may appear odd to some of you, but I think there are at least three very good reasons for taking this position.  First, if a government building is allowed to have a sculpture of the Ten Commandments, then it should also be allowed to have sculptures of the Qur'an or the Book of Mormon.  Neither of these would I support.  You may object to this first point by saying that the Government was founded as a Christian Nation.  But, to this I must also disagree.  Therefore, the second reason in support of this position is that while the government was built on Judeo-Christian Principles, it was not, is not, and will never be a Christian Nation.  In fact, the only "Christian Nation" in a sense would be the Jews prior to the coming of Christ.  The country of Israel in the Old Testament is the only country to ever have been in a covenant relationship with God, and now that relationship is reserved for all believers in Christ (Galatians 3/Genesis 12).  The United States as a whole has never had that kind of relationship with the Lord even though Christians have always lived here.  Thirdly, the nation was founded upon Masonic Principles just as much as it was Christian Principles, and I do not believe that many of the Christians arguing that we live in a Christian Nation would also be willing to argue that we live in a Masonic Nation, at least not in the same capacity.

This gives rise to one final question.  How should we as Christians celebrate and worship on July Fourth?  Or to put it differently, in what capacity should Christians promote patriotism in their services and patriotic celebrations?  To begin with, it is wonderful that we live in a country that can celebrate so much religious freedom.  We can worship in buildings with unlocked doors for the entire world to come in, and that is a magnificent blessing.  Unfortunately, I believe that many Christians make this blessing into an idle, and on Sundays on and around July Fourth begin to give our country the glory that is only due to God.  I believe that many Christians also begin thinking that America is in fact God's country.  While God has blessed this country greatly, we should not forget that it is no more God's country than any other country in the world, and we must not think for a minute that we live in a "Christian Nation."  Instead, I think that as Christians on and around July Fourth, we should spend more time thanking God for the opportunities He has given us to so freely share our faith.  Then we should go out and make optimal use of that freedom for the next 364 days of the year.  I also think that instead of singing "Hymns" that have more to do with our country than our Savior, we should be singing songs to God of His great mercies, compassions, and blessings that He has allowed us to share in this wonderful land.  I am not by any means saying that we are not to be patriotic and celebrate our freedoms, but I am saying that we should not forget the place of God in the midst of those freedoms.  Church should always be more about God than it is about America.  How can we be so self centered as to think we should worship our own freedoms placing them above the God who has given them to us.  May we all ask humbly for forgiveness and for the renewing of our minds, in art, worship, and our involvement in politics!!!