Grade school may have been all about the three Rs — reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic — but charting a proper course between church and state is definitely not elementary. Historically, the Church has often fallen into one extreme or another, defined by two Ps — pietism or power politics. Rarely has the Church fulfilled its proper relation to the state, which is the third P — prophetic.

The first ditch, pietism, is when the Church becomes so heavenly minded that she ignores her earthly duties and retreats within her own walls. She says, let’s just preach the gospel to ourselves, and let the world go wherever.

The second ditch, power politics, has been a growing problem in recent decades. Many Christians find the basic plot line of increased reliance on power politics compelling. We are told to organize to combat great social evils, such as abortion or homosexuality. It makes sense to us, so we send money, support the causes, and vote according to the voter’s guides. Rarely do any of us consider that the Church may be on the wrong road, that it has fallen into the second ditch.

When the Church pursues power, she is corrupted in the process. Tempting Faith by David Kuo is a modern day cautionary tale about the manipulation of religious conservatives by the political establishment. The Church was not made to rule. The role of the Church is neither to pursue power, nor to shun the world. Instead, it is to speak truth to power, and so fulfill her prophetic mission.

In the book of Revelation, the Church of the last days has become a harlot, because she has abandoned her intimate relationship with Christ and fallen into the arms of the state. She is pictured riding on the beast, holding the reins, calling the shots. The Church has come to dominate the State.

Revelation 13 indicates that there will be great deception, confusion even. It is confusing when the United States, the beacon of freedom to the world, begins to forsake her principles. It is confusing when she substitutes the pursuit of national righteousness for genuine righteousness by faith. Prophecy is being fulfilled as we watch, yet few realize it.

The three angels' messages warn the Church to return to Christ and the everlasting gospel and to flee from power politics. The second angel warns that the alliance of Church and state will cause the downfall of both. God’s judgments will be poured out without mixture, the third angel declares, when, as a result of a church-state alliance, worship is enforced and dissenters are persecuted. The first angel points us back to the source of true power, to the everlasting gospel and the worship of our Creator.

The pursuit of power politics by the church is not the answer to the problems that beset our nation. True spiritual revival can transform a culture and a nation. America needs the three angels’ messages!

Who will give this message? The stones are already crying out. Some, like David Kuo, see the problem from the inside, but lack the biblical context. Their voices need to be joined by ours, with a profound biblical insight into the problem of church-state union.