Direct Answer
David Bercot says these are the things you are going to have to accept if you combine church and state. The message does not speak directly to modern politics, so the group will need to reason from the history he gives.
Support from the Message
- Before Nicaea, Christians said they would not persecute others, even those who disagreed with them. - They refused work such as being a jailer, because torture was contrary to the spirit of Jesus. - After the union of church and state, the state became the major player and could put you to death for disagreeing with what it said was true. - David says that once doctrine had the muscle of the state behind it, those judged wrong faced severe consequences. - He also says the church should have turned down state support so that it would not be tied to the state.
Discussion Follow-up
What does a church give up when it depends on the state for support or protection? Where might Christians today be tempted to rely on state power in place of the way of Jesus?