Question: Should Christians avoid the political arena because of the separation of church and state?

Answer: James said, “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). We need good people who do good things to be involved in politics. Our system of self‑government allows every person a voice in political affairs. If you’re led to serve in politics, you go for it. Joseph became second only to Pharaoh in Egypt. (See Gen 41:40.) But, I don’t know if there are more misconceptions about the Bible or the rest of your question.

There are 4,543 words in the Constitution and nowhere are the words, “separation of church and state” found. In a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802, Thomas Jefferson wrote of a “wall of separation between church and state.” The intent was to build a wall of separation prohibiting the government from making laws that would hinder the free exercise of religion. Simply put, the federal government has no business governing religion.

Former Arizona State Senator John B. Conlan declared, “Separation of church and state is a slogan that sounds legal, but in fact is a sham. It does not appear anywhere in the Constitution.” Jefferson’s words were to protect religious liberties from an intrusive government. The Pilgrims risked their lives crossing the Atlantic just to get away from government intervention in their Christian beliefs.

Now here’s the good side of Jefferson’s intentions. We need the spirit of this statement of separation rightly defined, because state‑sanctioned churches would ultimately become puppets of the government, as they were in Europe. Jesus is the head of the true church. In some 19th century European countries one could ask, “What do a dog catcher, a letter carrier and a pastor have in common?” All three were civil servants feeding off the government payroll. Loyalties could easily be divided between the Lord of life, and the government of man. God calls pastors to faith, and where God guides, God provides.

Concerning religious expression in schools, on May 30, 1998, President Clinton said, “I believe one of the best ways we can help out schools is by supporting students’ rights to voluntarily practice their religious beliefs, including prayer in schools.”

In closing, have you ever seen the bumper sticker that reads, “The last time we mixed politics and religion, people were burned at the stake?”

That’s a catchy bit of sarcasm meant to demean the legitimacy of Christians running for office. Want to know what happens when you mix atheism and government? Joe Stalin murders five million Russian peasants.

2Corinthians 3:17