Church, family, and state

What is the relationship between the state, the church, and the family?

God established each of these to facilitate human fellowship. Each was marred by the Fall. One could speak of a chronological order of priority in Genesis, where the family was formed first, along with a primitive form of church with 2 members, Adam and Eve. The state followed later, after the Fall (indicative references are Gen 4:16; 10:10). As our redemption is accomplished and applied we find a slight shift of emphasis to the church from the family (Mark 3:31-35 again), though the family is esteemed and regulated (Heb 13:4). The state is also honored and regulated (Deut 17:14-20; Rom 13:1-7).

The Church has the keys of the Kingdom, and the moral authority to proclaim God’s rule and hold the world, including kings, accountable to His Word. Church leaders carry out this authority over their members, including kings and magistrates. This means a government leader could (should!) come under church discipline for endorsing immoral actions or passing unbiblical laws in carrying out his office. The Church does not have temporal, political power, however. This remains with the state, to punish evildoers and to determine laws for the general welfare. As much as possible, civil laws should honor the authority of, and not interfere with the operations of, the other two institutions: church and family.