THE FAMILY ALTAR

November 12.

"Render, therefore, unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's,

and unto God the things that are God's." Matt. 22, 21.

Foremost among the many temporal blessings which our mer-

ciful God showered on the world in the Beformation we must prize

the separation of Church and State and the resulting restoration

to the civil powers of their God-given honor and authority. In the

words just read our Lord makes it the duty of every man to honor

both God and the civil government, rendering to each what is

their due. But before the rise of the Beformation, the Pope claimed

to be the sole possessor of both powers, of the powers of Church

as well as of State. Kings and civil magistrates were held to be

his vassals whom he could depose from office at pleasure if they

refused to obey his mandates. What terrible wars resulted from

this arrogance of the Pope the history of the Middle Ages tells us.

From the Bible Luther taught the Christian world God's clear and

holy will regarding this vital question, too; and our forefathers

boldly defend civil government in Article 16 of our Augsburg Con-

fession as an ordinance of God, teaching that "Christians are nec-

essarily bound to obey their own magistrates and laws, save only

when they command to do any sin; for then they ought to obey

God rather than men. Acts 5, 29." The separation of Church and

State which we enjoy in this country is the very bedrock of our

American liberty and independence. But it cannot be denied that

lawlessness and dangerous anarchism is spreading about us on all

sides. Why is this? Because the fear of God and obedience to

His holy Law to such a large extent has vanished in our country.

Our sacred religious liberty, as well as our civil liberty and peace

are threatened in these evil days because so many of our American

people no longer believe in and uphold the Biblical doctrine of

the separation of Church and State. We need to pray for our

government, therefore, every day.

O merciful Father in heaven, who holdest in Thy hand all the might

of man, and who hast ordained the powers that be for the punishment of

evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well, and of whom is all rule

and authority in the kingdoms of the world: we humbly beseech Thee,

graciously regard Thy servants, the President of the United States, the

Governor of this Commonwealth, our Judges and Magistrates, and all the

rulers of the earth. May all that receive the sword, as Thy ministers, bear

it according to Thy commandment. Enlighten and defend them by Thy

name, O God. Grant them wisdom and understanding, that under their

peaceable governance Thy people may be guarded and directed in right-

eousness, quietness, and unity, and that we, with them, may show forth the

praise of Thy name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.