New Church-State Liaison Appointed for Belize

NEW CHURCH-STATE LIAISON. Belize recently added a cabinet position called the Minister of Religious Affairs. Hon. Henry Charles Usher, also the Minister of Public Service and Constitutional & Political Reform, accepted the appointment with these words: he seeks to “merge the public service with the Christian fundamental Christian principles upon which our country is based.”

In doing so, he was citing the Belize Constitution which begins thus: “Whereas the people of Belize affirm that the Nation of Belize shall be founded upon principles which acknowledge the supremacy of God…”

In response, the National Evangelical Association of Belize said this landmark event was fitting for Belize. Also, NEAB pointed out the last census showing 73% of Belizeans self-identifying with a Christian church. And that the Constitution says our “freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values…”

This brings up the subject of what kind of relationship the church should have with the state. I wrote about this when NEAB started in 2015. Here’s an updated version:

How should the church relate to the state?

As evangelicals we hold that the Bible is our highest written authority (Mt. 5:17-20). In a similar way that courts seek to understand and apply the law, we seek to understand and apply the Bible. However, while we can change laws, we cannot change the Bible (Rev. 22:18-19). Therefore, when the Bible is clear on an issue, we must take that biblical stance and always hold to it.

At the same time, the Bible tells us that we must submit to the governing authorities (Rom. 13:1). The governing authorities in this nation are the Constitution and the legislative, executive, and judicial authorities. They operate according to the Constitution. Yet the Constitution affirms a compatibility between the church and the governing authorities. Its first sentence states “that the Nation of Belize shall be founded upon principles which acknowledge the supremacy of God.”

When the supremacy of God is an issue, the Christian church is best positioned to interpret it. Why? Because we represent the faith of a large majority of Belizeans, both now and when the Constitution was written.

Moreover, in its Preamble, the Constitution goes on to “recognise that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and upon the rule of law.” Lawyers and judges serve as the best interpreters of “the rule of law.” But churches serve as best interpreters of “moral and spiritual values”, which are found in the Bible (1 Cor. 6:2-3). Therefore, when moral and spiritual issues arise, the church should advise the government on them (Prov. 25:5).

Obey God more than man

We hope that the government will take our advice on these issues. However, even when the government does not, we must maintain our biblical stands. Yet we must submit to the government when it enforces any legal consequences on our stands (1 Pet. 3:13-17).

For instance, if the government would ever order us to perform same-sex marriages, we would refuse. We would take our stand on the Bible, on the supremacy of God in Belize, on our religious freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution, and on the moral and spiritual values which are the foundation of those freedoms. In addition, we might take legal recourse if necessary to protect our religious freedom. We expect that the vast majority of Belizeans will continue to agree with the church against the legitimacy of same-sex marriage.

Yet if the government’s order to perform same-sex marriage stood, we would submit to the consequences of noncompliance enforced by the government. At the same time we would submit to God by performing one-man one-woman marriages only (Mt. 19:4-6).

We cannot force faith, but we can influence a nation’s course

The government alone has the right to use force to compel submission (Rom. 13:3-4). No church should ever advocate that its members try to force submission to its faith (Mt. 26:52; 2 Cor. 10:3-6). Because we define faith as voluntary. We cannot force faith (Rom. 3:28).

Thus any organization which seeks to compel submission by force is not a faith or a religion. It is a militant association at odds with legal government force. Constitutional freedom of association does not extend to any organization which seeks to take away others’ freedoms by militant force. Such an organization would become illegal and unconstitutional.

Yet the government must at times use force. Therefore, the church should not support any political party or political candidate for government positions. Churches can stand for biblical truths on issues, but not for political parties or candidates. Because parties and candidates may change, but biblical truths remain the same (Isa. 40:7-8).

Representing God and men

Individual Christians have the right to support parties and candidates and to run for office. But we should do so as citizens and not as representatives of a church. When Christians get elected, they must represent their entire constituency, and not just the church (Mt. 22:21). The church must stay impartial and nonpartisan (James 2:1). For that reason, the church should seek an advisory role on moral and spiritual matters with all political parties, while it submits to the elected ruling party.

The church’s influence on the nation and the government consists in faithfulness to biblical beliefs and practice, in moral persuasion, and in prayer (1 Pet. 3:10-18). The better the church fulfills these roles, the better its influence. So let us serve our nation in this way, and work with stakeholders for the best interests of Belize. And let us remain accountable to all people to be what the Bible says the church should be.