John and Herod

Mark 6:18-20, Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

This is a story with many lessons and applications.

One is that God allowed the murder of John in a quick way that the full focus might be on Jesus for John was highly regarded and he had also fulfilled God’s role as the forerunner for Jesus.

The story also deals with marriage and divorce, it deals with lust and sensuality, as well as a lesson about giving one’s word for which there are consequences – always – maybe only from God!

It is also a story of church and state with John as church and Herod as state.

You can almost see the first three hundred years of United State’s history of church and state in verse 20.

Note these points:

1. The state respected the church – true Christians and church groups.  The state regarded the church as an important entity worthy of honor and existence.
2. The church was known for being just and holy.  That is, the church served people of all stripes, gave and kept its word, and developed good citizens.  Also, the church was holy, meaning it was clearly known to be fearful of God and striving to obey and honor God. It reminded neighbors and politicians that God was attentive, dealing and to be considered.  The church was worthy of notice and appreciation.
3. Then note that the state protected the church, verse 20.  The state allowed the church to preach, serve, meet and do things in the community without fear of attack, censorship or evil.
4. The state was interested in what the church had to say about the poor, immigration, war and/or justice.  What the church said was not always pleasing nor clear and not always followed, but the state continued to desire to hear the teachings of the church.

Such seems to be the relationship of church and state in the U.S. until the middle of last century.

From about 1960, the state began to openly embrace the thinking and ways of other “religions/harlots” such as Marxism, Freudism, Deweyism and Darwinism.  The state became enmeshed with other “lovers.”   Herod married Herodius who hated the “church” because the church said the state’s relationship with the other lovers was wrong.  So Herodius (the state’s new love) sought occasion to destroy the church or at least to silence the church.

Today in the United States, there are a host of entities that hate the church to the point of silencing the church if not destroying it.  Social media platforms and branches of the government have been “weaponized” to refute, marginalize, silence and even destroy the church.

We have seen this over the past couple of decades with repeated censorship of Christians, attacks on Christians who own businesses and oral and written attacks on the church.

When the church tells an entity that they are wrong before God, it should be no surprise that anger and attacks ensue.

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, I Peter 3:14-16.