Governments have been ordained of God and man has biblical instruction to be subject to them, so long as the laws and rules do not conflict with the commands of God. There is no record of any formal government prior to the universal flood and the people had received their instructions issued by God to the early patriarchs who were charged to pass those instructions to their progeny. As everyone knows, however, man chose not to follow those rules and commands of God and eventually all were destroyed except Noah, his wife and three sons with their wives. But even when they were subject to no authority except that of their creator, they were left to be free moral agents, to obey or not to obey so long as they understood the consequences.
After the re-population of the earth and nations were formed, most had monarchial governments and were subject to the whims of that ruler. Many of those monarchs were perfectly happy to have their subjects worship idols of just about anything they desired except for those who wanted the people to worship them. Mankind has historically wanted to worship something and for the most part, they willingly worshipped those Kings who ordered them to. But there is a vast difference in earthly rulers forcing their people to worship him or any other type of worship, than with that of God who created all mankind as well as the universe that sustains us. He has the right to ask for our reverence toward Him, simply from the fact that He is omnipotent. He created us. We belong to Him. Men who rule are simply those appointed or the ones who had backers enough to put him into power.
God issued strict rules of behavior, morality and ethics for His people who, when they obeyed, were noble and worthy people, while those who chose to ignore those rules were evil and undesirable to society. History has proven time and time again that a nation whose people are honest and of high morals, survive and do well when compared to those whose moral values and care for others were low to non-existent. Empires have fallen when their peoples became Godless and uncaring.
Since the birth of Christianity, made up of those who follow Jesus Christ, freedom of religion has been almost unheard of until the settling of America. It was God's intent that man should be free to worship as He pleased while he lived here on earth, albeit He desires that all should submit to His commands, He forces no one. This nation was founded upon those principles, that man should be allowed to worship God or not worship Him, unmolested.
When governments begin to make their own laws based upon evil men's ideas and greed, freedom ceases. Religion should be unrestrained by government except in the most obvious breaches of moral and ethical standards. The founders of this great nation had the right approach and ideas. Many of their famous quotes show they recognized the extraordinarily beneficial doctrines put forth by Jesus Christ and His inspired apostles. Jesus, who had power to eradicate the entire Roman empire, nevertheless submitted himself to arrest and, mock trial, and death by crucifixion. There is no record, biblical or secular, where any of the apostles who were martyred, fought for their lives but rather, faced it proudly for the sake of Christ.
Living a Christian life, requires that one be a good and submissive citizen, even if enslaved, so long as he is not required to do anything contrary to the teachings of the New Testament. Those who were martyred by the Roman empire, and others, were not ordinary lawbreakers, but were simply adamant that they would serve and proclaim God and no other. For this they were slain.
The role of government is to protect it's people, not only from other nations who would do us harm, but for those of our own number who are wicked and unscrupulous. For one person to willfully kill another has, since the creation, been recognized as evil and unacceptable behavior. This is not only a portion of Christian doctrine but an accepted rule for civilized people everywhere. It should not be necessary to have written laws for such, it should be recognized fact. There are only very few reasons which should ever permit someone to take another's life. Self defense is a readily recognized reason. But there is never a reason that any woman should willfully take the life of her unborn child. Governments have no right to make exceptions to laws in order to keep a woman from having abdominal stretch marks. Or because she does not want the baby she has helped to give life.
It is a grievous sin to do such a thing. Souls do not grow. When a fetus is killed and the soul is released from that tiny body, it is then fully matured. I would hate to have a soul to witness against me on that final day.
But should government place restrictions on religions? The answer is not a cut and dried yes or no. Governments should only regulate religions under the following circumstances:
(1) If a "religion" is formed and obviously has no basis for it's existence, then it should not classify as a religion. Many atheists vehemently deny that atheism is a religion, yet we have atheists churches??? There is at least one which the founder boldly admits that he started it for money. There are others who name their organization a "church" name and then expect (and get) a tax free business.
(2) One whose doctrines teach or threaten physical harm to others lives and property. This usually goes with a religion which feels that their religion should be forced upon others. No government should allow one religion to harm, harass or kill those of another religion.
(3) Any religion whose adherents threaten the stability or the safety of a nation. We have had such whose activities were subversive and dangerous and were stopped…rightfully.
Conversely, governments should never interfere, in any way, with the freedom of worship of any religion except for the restrictions mentioned above such as subversion, rioting, physical threats and so on.
There should be complete freedom to speak out against any thing believed to be wrong or sinful by others religions. While no one should be required to listen, it is wrong for government to try and silence those who feel compelled to speak out against sin and error.
Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ and His apostles is a submissive and loving doctrine. Not many modern day Christians have been able to humble themselves and not physically fight back when attacked. Most will fight back but this is not Jesus' doctrine. The turning of the other cheek is a literal approach. When they were about to be harmed, they only had the choice of summoning the authorities or leaving the area. Each of the apostles with the exception of John, met a violent martyr's death. This physical restraint was not from fear because many of those early martyrs stood and spoke forcefully and boldly against the sinful lives of those around them.
History reveals much torture, maiming and slaughter of people under the banner of Christianity. This was not done by true Christians. Most often the true followers of Jesus were the victims and those who wrongfully portrayed themselves as His followers were the perpetrators. The so called Christian crusades were conducted by the existing church/state powers in control. It is right and proper for the governmental powers to stop the infiltration, killing and land possession from outside forces, whether they be governments or religions. But the Lord's spiritual followers have no authority for that type of activity. Unless, ordered to arms by their own government .
