What’s “Church And State”?

Substance

Church And State (CAS) is a Christian political education ministry. We are nondenominational, nonpartisan, and theologically orthodox/conservative.

CAS teaches Christians to have no blindly partisan loyalties, but to examine every issue and candidate through the lens of Scripture (both authority and wisdom), and to thresh out the comparisons and contrasts with other Bible-believing Christians in their church, always debating with grace and charity for those amongst us who disagree on non-essential points – an ecclesiastical reality since the Apostles.

Of course, we are expected to soberly arrive at an informed conclusion of what’s best for our city, nation and neighbours’ justice and peace, and to then campaign for the best policies at every election.

CAS seeks to support and supplement local churches in each city & region, understanding that Sunday services are busy enough without the enormous task of teaching civics as well as everything else the local shepherd is expected to do. We ask how we can serve the unique needs and contexts of local churches.

Many of Australia’s highest calibre Christian speakers generously share their time and expertise on this platform. Occasionally some may even disagree with others on validly debatable issues. All are trusted to sincerely and civilly put their case in a healthy way which promotes unity and grace, rather than cavalierly divide us. Some supportive, non-Christian speakers are sometimes also invited as topic experts.

Mission & Vision

The mission of Church And State Ministries is to help Christians first be better informed about the Biblical basis for political involvement, then the social/historical basis, and to then be better involved in providing the imprimatur for justice and wisdom in government.

Our vision is that Christians in every electorate would resolve to take the simple political steps within everyone’s ability to proactively influence culture & politics, motivated by obedience to Christ and love of neighbour.

For the record…

Some cynics attempt to sensationalise influential Christians with pejorative euphamisms designed to create more heat than light, such as “theocracy” and “dominionism”, “seven mountains” (care of our logo designed to simply illustrate a literal summit) or other inflammatory rhetoric. They nearly always fail to define their terms.

If those labels means we faithfully obey Christ’s universal commision to be counter-cultural (not conformed to this world), environment-changing, public salt and light; if those labels mean we take Him seriously when He told us to “make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything” He commanded – then yes: we’re Christians trying to be obedient by positively engaging with the public square.

What such cynics desire is actually tyrannical: that citizens with convictions and consciences informed by a Christian faith would have no place in public debate or policy discussions. God forbid such a society! This is all the more reason for Christians to refuse to be low-information or low-energy observers.

“Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in my father David’s place, even though I am only a young man and am inexperienced…Give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”

(1 Kings 3, NET)