• Church and state, what should Christians do or not do,
• Should a Christian stand for politics? Should we vote?
• Should churches support the government by paying taxes,
• Should the taxes be used help the churches
• Should donations to churches be tax deductible?
• Can Christians be in protest marches?
• Where does the final authority lie in society?
• The individual, the family, the community the church, God, the state
• Who has the right to make decisions for us?
• Are sins crimes, and therefore need the state to punish them?

"Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.'" ~ Charlie Brown.

This is a big topic that will not be dealt with in one sermon. However, let’s turn together to Titus 3 and consider Paul’s input on these issues. Today you may not get the right answers but start to ask the right questions

SUBJECT TO RULERS AND AUTHORITIES

^3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,

 
Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.^13:2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.^13:3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.^13:4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ^13:5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. ^13:6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.

Matthew 22:20 and he asked them, "Whose portrait is on this coin? And whose inscription?" ^22:21 "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

Sometimes we can put God into a box where he is only interested in the personal. Scripture reminds us that God controls the big picture

Acts 17:26 “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live”

Revelations 14:7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." 14:8 A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."

Babylon is regularly associated with Rome or any world ruling power

OUR RESPONSE - 6 things to do as a believer

·        to be obedient,

·        to be ready to do whatever is good,

·        ^3:2to slander no one,

·        to be peaceable and

·        considerate, and to

·        Show true humility toward all men.

IN A SINFUL WORLD ALL MAN MADE STRUCTURES WILL BE FLAWED

QUOTES

~ David Dinkins, New York City Mayor, answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes

"I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law."
~ Richard Darman, director of OMB, explaining why President Bush wasn't following up on his campaign pledge that there would be no loss of wetlands

"He didn't say that. He was reading what was given to him in a speech."
~ Frank Rizzo, ex-police chief and mayor of Philadelphia
"The streets are safe in Philadelphia. It's only the people who make them unsafe."

CHURCH and STATE conflicts and errors

o       The uncompromising refusal of the early Christians to accord divine honors to the Roman emperor was the chief cause of the imperial persecutions of the church.

o       In 312 AD Constantine after a vision used the Christian cross on his banners in the army and won, and thus promoted Christianity and legalised it, He is the one who called for the council of Nicea to be from which we get the Nicene Creed, - the state helping to determine the church.

o       He also like wearing robes and gave some vestments or robes to the Bishop of Jerusalem from which the Catholic Church continues today the custom of distinctive clothing in worship.

o       As the State approved the Christian faith it came at the price that many church leaders became arrogant under their new status.

o       Ambrose of Milan who lived between 340 and 397 AD once refused to give communion to the Roman Emperor Maximus who usurped the west Empire Throne, and did not give it to Emperor Theodosius due to ordering a massacre in Thessalonica. THE CHURCH seeking to the lead the state.

o        390 – 461 Pope Leo the Great stopped Attila the Hun at the gates of Rome but also pushed to be seen as head of the visible church.

o       400 – 500 as the Roman Empire fell Popes filled the power vacuum,

o       Around 530 AD Emperor Justinian had Pagans barred from the civil service, baptized Christians who lapsed into paganism were to be put to death, pagan teachers were denied stipends from the imperial treasury and if they would not accept baptism, they were to lose their property and be banished (CONVERSION BY STATE AUTHORITY)

o       Peace of Augsburg (1555), [whose the region, his the religion], by which the ruling prince determined the religion of his territory.

o       In England today revisions of the Book of Common Prayer must be approved by Parliament, and appointments to all bishoprics are made by the monarch, acting on the advice of the prime minister.

o       In Australia in 1901 at Federation, religion has been separated from the government. Section 116 of the Australian Constitution forbids the government from proclaiming a state religion, or even favoring one religion over another.

HOW TO MAKE GODLY DECISIONS FOR ISSUES IN THE PUBLIC ARENA

* What will it do for the gospel?

Slaves: Titus 2:10 “but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive”

Young Titus 2:5 “to be self‑controlled and pure, … And other good qualities so that no one will malign the word of God.”

2:8 ... ”so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

Why is it so important to get the right questions?

THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

IN I- ROBOT the chief Computer Vicki realises that the best way to protect humans from danger was to put them under house arrest and that it was better to kill the few humans to save the many,

One of the robot designers saw that the empathy and relationship by robots would be safer than the rules.

So how do we work out right decisions?

1. Do I have a proper understanding of sin?

YOU ONCE WERE

^3:3At one time we too were

·        foolish, (Not in touch with the true reality of God and His ways)

·        disobedient,

·        deceived and

·        enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.

We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

Any approach in life that does not have a healthy understanding of sin will fail, in education we sometimes hear, if people know the truth they will do it, thus public awareness of safe sex, sharing needles is seen as solving AIDS, but knowing truth does not make someone do it.

Because you can see a dirt spot on your face in the mirror does not mean a mirror is the best thing to use to clean a face.

2. Do I have a good understanding of Grace?

SAVED BY

^3:4But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared,^3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

Acts 17:25 … ‘because God himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.’

- Remember we are in the image of God

In terms of ethical issues it means that as Christians the value of a person is found in God and His grace not our productivity, this becomes a key argument in abortion, the rights of the handicapped and euthanasia as people.

The Law may point to truth but they cannot transform a person.

Does our understanding of punishment seek to redeem people, and offer a way out?

What role should grace and repentance play in courts etc.

3. Do I have a good understanding of God’s work in the world through the Spirit?

SAVED THROUGH

He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ^3:6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ^3:7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

God redeems. Redemption comes from the POW Money to save prisoners

4. Do I have a good understanding of what God thinks is right?

SAVED FOR

^3:8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

5. Do I have a good understand of God’s Priorities?

SAVED FROM

Unprofitable arguments

^3:9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. ^3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. ^3:11You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self‑condemned.

Other Issues to take into account

6. Who is the ultimate authority?

Acts 4:19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.”

7. Who is the final Judge?

Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope ‑ the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

Conclusion: HOW ARE WE TO LIVE?

Do our corporate decisions reflect God?

His mercy, take into account his judgement,

Do we take in to account sin, and act in grace?

SAVED FOR

o       ^3:14Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,

^o         in order that they may provide for daily necessities and

^o         Not live unproductive lives^.