Church and State: Just How Separate? – Frank Kacer

Can a biologically male transgender student be denied access to facilities intended only for girls? Can a public high school football coach pray on the field after games?  Can a Christian photographer or baker decline to provide services for a homosexual wedding?  Questions like these now arise with increasing frequency, and underlying all of them is the issue of separation of church and state.

This week Kevin talks with Frank Kacer, an expert on the relationship between politics and religion.  Frank is a pastor and elder at Grace Bible Church in Escondido, a long-time Christian activist, the author of over 150 columns and op-eds on Biblical politics, and also a trained physicist!  He is the founder of the Christian Statesman Internship Program, which he designed to transform believers into biblically based, politically conscious leaders of society.

Kevin and Frank talk in depth about the ubiquitous concept of separation of church and state.  If these two bodies must remain totally separate, then how should Christians participate in politics?  Is it really wrong to legislate morality?  Frank explains that government is a morally neutral tool of society that can be used for good or evil.  Because the government is so active in our lives, there is no hope of completely avoiding political issues.  Instead we must know how to engage them faithfully, intelligently, and effectively.

Our government asks its citizens, who should be in charge and what laws should be enforced?  If the Christians of America do not respond, others certainly will; and we might not like their answer.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? … You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:13-16.

This episode first aired on November 8th, 2015.