In the following 4-minute video excerpt, R C Sproul talks about the separation of church and state from a biblical perspective: in terms of how God designed them to function in His universe.
In the Bible, Old and New Testaments, God is presented as the sovereign ruler of the universe which He created and oversees. He is often portrayed as Judge, and calls people to account in His courtroom. See some examples of that below the video.
There were only a six comments under the video at YouTube, but I noticed that 3 of them were responding to R C’s statements via their evolutionary worldview.
The evolutionary worldview is very new in world history, but most people, educated in state schools in the latter part of the 20th century, are unfamiliar with the creationist stance, that derives from the Bible, because western cultures suppress it.
In grade 10 biology, I was familiarized with both positions in 1967, and although I was not very serious about my studies, I remember thinking to myself that I could subscribe to neither view, as both were too fantastic (I couldn’t articulate then, that faith is required to accept either, and I did not possess that).
I recently published a post on the worldviews of creationism and evolution, see link below video.
Link to my post on creationism and evolution:
https://sheeplywolves.com/biblical-creation-vs-evolution-by-pastor-patrick-hines/
SCRIPTURES THAT SPEAK OF GOD AS JUDGE OF HIS WORLD, AND OF HIS STATUS OF LORD OF LORDS, KING OF KINGS [emboldening and underscoring are mine]:
From the book of Acts in the New Testament, via the apostle Paul:
Acts 17:24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
From Romans:
Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Rom 2:16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
From 2 Peter:
2 Peter 3:7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
From Matthew, Jesus’ words:
Mat 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Mat 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
[Anyone who merely reads through the New Testament will encounter such statements many places.]
From Genesis 6:
Gen 6:5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen 6:6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
Gen 6:7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
Gen 6:8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
[The flood is the greatest biblical example of God’s status as Judge that the inhabitants of the world thus far.]
From Daniel in the Old Testament:
Dan 7:9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
Dan 7:10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
From the book of Psalms:
Psalms 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
Psalms 2:6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Examples that state that God is the JUDGE of His world abound in scripture; but those who have not read the Bible, and/or who have no faith, cannot believe them.
Prayerfully read through it soon, as life is very short and you will be meeting Him.
THE FOLLOWING NARRATIVE ACCOMPANIED THE VIDEO AT THE LIGONIER YOUTUBE SITE:
From one of our live events, R.C. Sproul discusses the distinct roles of the church and the state in addressing one of the most serious ethical issues that America has ever faced: abortion.
In his ebook on the subject of abortion, Dr. Sproul provides balanced and compassionate answers to the difficult questions this topic raises. Remember, you can always download this ebook for free: http://gift.ligonier.org/2343/abortion
Scriptures are very clear, God is the One true God, He is the Creator, He is the One who breathed the breath of life into the man He formed of the dust. He spoke and it was so.
God is Holy, Just and True.
Matthew 24:37 – 39 “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Today, our world is much worse than Sodom and Gomorrah.
Bobbi, thank you for commenting. It may be worse? The Bible talks a lot about child sacrifice and about homosexuality and pedophilia… we have all of those. And we seem to be moving towards greater Christian persecution. I hope we never see it as it was in Rome, when Nero used Christians for torches and Lion food…. The Bible clearly describes the depravity of mankind and that his only hope is to be found in Christ, only regeneration will change the heart of man (as RC noted), which is determined to delight in the pursuit of it’s own lusts….