Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. – Ezra 3:2

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 12, 2014): Ezra 3

The opposite of the coveted Baptist ideal of the Separation of Church and State might be either Caesaropapism or Theocracy. The basic difference between Caesaropapism and Theocracy would seem to be whether it is the church or the secular authority that is in ultimate control. Caesaropapism is the concept of combining the power of the secular government with the religious power, with the secular power in control. A good example of Caesaropapism, at least on paper, is Great Britain.  The British Monarch (King or Queen) is also the head of the Church of England. Theocracy reverses the power structure with the leader of the church also being in charge of the nation. An example of Theocracy would be Israel during the time of the Judges, before the reigns of Saul, David and Solomon. And neither of these forms of government separates the powers of the Church from the powers of the State.

Today, true Caesaropapism or Theocracy are rare. Even in Great Britain, the Caesaropapism of the nation has largely been relegated to a ceremonial role. But even with the separation of Church and State in most modern cultures, there is still a time when it is totally appropriate for the church and the state to come together. Maybe a modern example of this is in the aftermath of any type of disaster. Often in those moments it is not unusual to see the political officials and the religious authorities standing together in solidarity – putting any differences that might exist between them in the rear view mirror.

As the exiles began to return from captivity, there was a clear division in the power structure of the church and state. But anything special that was going to happen in the nation after the disaster that was the Babylonian captivity could only happen if the secular and the religious came together with one purpose. Joshua was the high priest, and Zerubbabel was the prince, heir to the throne of David, and now governor of the province of Judah, and both of them were going to be needed if the religious ritual of the nation was going to be restored.

Great things always require the full community in order to be accomplished. And there are times that we still need to come together – both church and state – if we are truly going to bring to completion the great things.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ezra 4