Ellen Gould White über: "Relationship between Church and State"

The relationship between Church and State should, according to the scriptures, be characterized by a strict separation, because any connection of secular power with the congregation leads to the corruption of the church and to intolerance. While state authority in its rightful sphere should be respected as divine order, the individual's conscience before God stands above any human legislation. An alliance between religion and politics, especially to enforce religious practices such as Sunday sanctification, is warned as a radical breach of constitutional freedom and as a sign of the approaching end.

The Dangers of a Union of Church and State

»The union of the church with the state, even if the degree is minimal, may appear to bring the world closer to the church, but in reality it only brings the church closer to the world.«

1 - Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.) (GC88 296.4)

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God's Word Stands Above Human Law

»God's people will recognize the human government as an order instituted by God and teach obedience to it as a holy duty within its rightful sphere. Yet when its claims conflict with God's claims, God's word must be recognized as standing above any human legislation.«

2 - Ellen Gould White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6 (6T 402.1)

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Protection of Conscience Freedom by the Constitution

»The founders of the nation wisely sought to prevent the use of secular power by the church, with its inevitable result—intolerance and persecution. ... Only in a flagrant violation of these protective measures for the nation's freedom can any religious practice be forced by civil authority.«

3 - Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.) (GC88 442.2)

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Corruption Through Secular Power

»Whenever the church has obtained secular power, it has used it to punish deviations from its teachings. Protestant churches that have followed Rome's steps by entering into alliances with secular powers have shown a similar desire to restrict freedom of conscience.«

4 - Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.) (GC88 443.3)

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Forced Religious Practice and Rome

»First, let the principle be established in the United States that the church may use or control the power of the state; that religious practices can be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state should dominate conscience, and Rome's triumph in this country is secured.«

5 - Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.) (GC88 580.3)

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Future Sunday Laws and Political Corruption

»The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade, or force all classes to honor Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be replaced by oppressive decrees.«

6 - Ellen Gould White, The Great Controversy (1888 ed.) (GC88 592.3)

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