Here are ten basic principles for combining God and State that, if implemented, offer a promising pathway to a happy, safe, financially-sound, flourishing and indeed prosperous nation. The age-old maxim that Church and State must be separate has been misunderstood and misused to tragically reject the promise stated in Psalm 33:12, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’
The principles are not complicated but come with challenges. As former U.S. President Ronald Reagan said, ‘There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.’1
Granted, the main source of strength for a nation is its people. But a government can be organized in such a way as to unleash it citizens to help build a prosperous nation.
Avoid the Tempting Proposition
The first principle in combining God and State is to avoid the temptation of thinking that organizing a government can be done effectively without the help of God. One might ask, ‘Since man has advanced so far in his intellect, sophistication and skills, would he not be able, without God, to create prosperous nations?’ Not so.
Whittaker Chambers, a Soviet spy who converted to Christianity and the man whose story changed the life of Ronald Reagan, summed it up nicely, ‘Man cannot organize the world for himself without God: without God man can only organize the world against man.’2 Chambers went on to remind us of the ‘grand’ temptation Satan posed to Adam and Eve with the lie in Genesis, ‘… ye shall be as gods …’
The inability of man to organize the world apart from God is a truth that must be established as a prerequisite to organizing a nation.
Use the Bible As a Guide
The second principle in combining God and State is to use the Bible as a guide. The Bible is the world’s all-time best-selling book with an estimated five billion sold. The Old and New Testaments together serve as the basis for principles and values that are often referred to as Judeo–Christian values. Many admirable people have extolled the value of this book including Queen Elizabeth ll, who said, ‘To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?’
A present-day, positive example is when the Prime Minister of Hungary acknowledged using divine principles as a guide. In the opening speech to CPAC in 2022 Viktor Orbán said, ‘We need to trust our Judeo-Christian teachings. They help us decide what actions are right and what actions are wrong.’
Codify the Connection between God and State
The third principle in combining God and State is to codify a nation’s connection between God and State. Ideally, this is legislated and, in effect, carved in stone for succeeding generations. It is too easy for man without being constantly reminded to slip back into thinking he can properly organize a nation without the help of God.
Before America connected ‘God and State’, objections came in the form of Thomas Jefferson’s Danbury letter.3 But the third American President’s intent was not the creation of a wall between God and State. Nevertheless, secularists seized the opportunity, misrepresented the letter’s content, and used it to strike hard against America’s Biblical foundations. These attacks were followed by other blows, including acts by America’s Supreme court, attempting to create an iron curtain between God and the State. Secularists won major battles; but not the war.
The One-Way Wall
The confusion about Church and State was a misunderstanding of the proper relationship between the two. Interestingly, and with all of the talk in this article about the importance of God and State, there actually should be a ‘wall’, but only a one-way wall. The State should be prevented from intruding on religion, but the State should welcome and even solicit advice and influence from religion and specifically, the Bible. President Ronald Reagan summed up the one-way wall nicely, ‘Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.’ He also said, ‘faith and religion play a critical role in the political life of our nation, and always have…had a strong influence on the State, and this has worked to our benefit as a nation.’4
‘The State should be prevented from intruding on religion, but the State should welcome and even solicit advice and influence from religion’
President Eisenhower to the Rescue
Thank goodness the American President Dwight Eisenhower came along to codify America’s connection between God and State. His administration passed two pieces of legislation that immortalized eight words which serve as a reminder of the importance of the combination of God and State. There are remarkable stories about the origin of each of the following four-word phrases:
‘In God We Trust’: On 30 July 1956 the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution making ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ the national motto. It passed both the House and the Senate unanimously and without debate and replaced ‘E pluribus unum’ , which had existed before as the prior ‘de facto’ motto.
‘One Nation Under God’: On 15 June 1954 the United States Congress passed a resolution adding ‘under God’ to the official pledge of allegiance.
America continues to be under pressure from those who want to eliminate the Bible’s influence on government. But there remain millions of dedicated citizens and numerous government leaders who support America’s two guiding religious phrases officially legislated by President Eisenhower. ‘In God We Trust’ is even printed on all U.S. currency, and together these two phrases have served for over 50 years as a shield to keep America’s God and State connected.
Create the Rule of Law Not Men
The fourth principle in combining God and State is to establish the rule of law, not men. The best example of this was the ‘early’ nation of Israel. From approximately 1146 BC and for about 400 years Israel was governed, not by men but by laws, the Ten Commandments, which were received by Moses from God on Mount Sinai.5 Rule by law seems to be the way that God originally intended governments to work,6 but when the Israelites fervently appealed to God for a king, and after a warning, He gave them Saul, who became king around 1020 BC.
Eventually, governing by laws, instead of kings, became a key foundation for most present-day nations, an experiment that America would be one of the first to champion. Many nations have since followed America’s lead and God’s original guidance.
Of course, it is important for the elected leaders to acknowledge the importance of God’s influence on them and the government. Thankfully, American Presidents like Lincoln, Jackson, Eisenhower, Reagan and others have understood this important connection.
A key element of creating the rule of law is to establish three branches of government; judicial, executive and legislative as described in Isaiah 33:22. ‘For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.’
Keep Government’s Role Limited to Primarily Restraining Evil
The fifth principle in combining God and State is to keep the government limited, as much as possible, to the primary role of restraining evil. It is easy to understand why the government is called upon to solve all kinds of problems it was not originally intended to solve. It has the power, and it has the money, so why not use it? But we can see multitudes of well-intended government programs that have become ineffective and exorbitantly expensive.
Yes, government is there to support the common good, but many government leaders have taken this phrase way too far. The family, church and individual citizens should be the main source of charity and good in the land.
There is a Bible passage that clearly states the primary role of government. The Apostle Paul in Romans 13 wrote,
‘For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.’
A Sporting Example
A simple example of restraining evil, which works quite well, are the referees who manage athletic contests. They simply enforce the rules so that order is maintained. They do not help either team win, they do not help the injured, they are not partial, and they do not furnish refreshments. Even so, they are critical to the players, the fans, the coaches, the media, and everyone involved. Can you imagine the chaos if the referees refused to enforce the rules? Similarly, we see chaos in countries whose governments refuse, in varying degrees, to enforce legitimately created laws. It is important to note that referees do not make the rules but only enforce them. In the same way the executive branch of government should be enforcing laws, not making them.
Most government officials are well-meaning, but many do not firmly embrace the government’s primary role to restrain evil. There is often a hesitancy to enforce laws, borders, and, although with good motives, allow government to be a major source of charity. Can you imagine football referees bringing water to the players, selling popcorn to the fans, or negotiating contracts with star players?
We do, though, live in a fallen world, and it is understandable why governments have taken on some roles that are ideally handled by citizens, private charities, and businesses. But by acknowledging the ideal we can begin moving in the right direction. One recent positive example is the strong law enforcement actions enacted by the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, which have resulted in a dramatically safer country.
Promote the Common Good
There is a lesser role of the government, as the American Constitution explains, to ‘promote the common good’. The Bible mentions this in Romans 13:4, ‘For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good.’ This would mean building roads, regulating utilities, supporting education and some others. But promoting the common good has too often become ‘supporting the specific good’ that favor specific groups of people. For the United States this has become an incredible drain on its financial resources. Government is mainly there to protect people, not to provide for people.
The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:19 that we should look to God, not government to provide. ‘And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’
Make Laws Consistent with the Ten Commandments
The sixth principle in combining God and State is to make laws consistent with the Ten Commandments. Ten commands are few, and it is mainly only the last five that constitute the commands upon which laws should be founded. Commandments like don’t steal, don’t lie and don’t murder obviously are universal in nature. But others are important as well. Obeying parents and, thereby recognizing authority, is essential for the order of society. Upholding sexual morality keeps a country from falling into decadence. Above all, honoring God is a precept of justice which cannot be ignored if a nation is to be blessed.
‘Interestingly, the Ten Commandments was the only part of the Bible that was not written by man’
Like good rules of sport, these guidelines are there to create a safe environment for a country’s citizens to ‘play’ a good game of life. Given there are only ten commandments, there will be plenty of freedom.
Interestingly, the Ten Commandments was the only part of the Bible that was not written by man. It was inscribed by the hand of God and physically delivered to Moses.
Wonderfully, the Ten Commandments have been universally accepted by almost every civilization. They can serve as the basis for governing almost any person of almost any religion or of no religion. Of course, there will be some issues with other faiths and beliefs, but they have proven to be best foundation for the laws of nations.
The Bible also offers other guidelines besides the Ten Commandments, which help nations prosper. One obvious guideline is the definition of a family as one husband, one wife, and their children.
Make Freedom the Norm Not the Exception
The seventh principle in combining God and State is to make freedom the norm, not the exception. At the heart of Western civilization is freedom. Laws should be created to offer guardrails around society and not to specifically direct society. Within those ‘guardrails’ there can be an abundance of freedom.
There should be additional internal restraints that are not imposed by the state. The classical notion of freedom consists of a positive aspect that allows a person to live without restraint. However, there is also negative freedom that consists of a rule of self-discipline that allows a person to live free of the tyranny of the passions. Together, positive and negative freedom can combine for an ordered liberty, which facilitates a life full of truth and beauty. As the beloved former chaplain of the U.S. Senate, Peter Marshall said, ‘May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.’
Critics might argue that incorporating Biblical concepts puts too many limits on freedom. But, ironically, a few strong rules enhance the freedom of most people. Think of all the freedoms enjoyed in many countries because the threat of evil is reduced due to the strong arm of government. Citizens can go out to eat, travel, create businesses, and even carry bank cards and cash with little fear of being harmed. Of course, dangers remain, but they are less in countries where good laws and enforcement agencies are in place.
The ten commandments serve as a remarkably small number of rules resulting in enormous freedom. Another of Whittaker Chambers quotes applies, ‘Political freedom as the western world has known it, is only the political reading of the Bible. Religion and freedom are indivisible.’7
Maintain a Financial Surplus
The eighth principle in combining God and State is to maintain an annual financial surplus. Spending less than your income is a basic financial principle that is obvious for families and businesses. It is also important for governments. A country that maintains a financial surplus will, in the long run, have lower inflation, a healthier economy, and a more stable country.
The Bible’s support for this concept is found in Deuteronomy 15:6, ‘For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.’
An encouraging example is Argentina, a country that had large deficits and high inflation. In January 2024, his first month in office, the new President, Javier Milei’s administration recorded a budget surplus. He admitted it was going to be painful, but had the moral courage to implement the spending cuts that made it happen.
Encourage the ‘Golden Rule’
The ninth principle in combining God and State is to encourage citizens to live by the Golden Rule. This comes from Matthew 7:12, which states, ‘In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.’
This is not to be a law that is enforced, but a guideline to be encouraged. If everyone acted with the welfare of their neighbor in mind, many laws would not be broken or even needed. Embracing this principle will help citizens behave well voluntarily rather than being forced, resulting in the government having much less trouble accomplishing their primary responsibility of restraining evil. A policeman, for example, is not needed if citizens, out of concern for others, continually obey traffic rules.
‘If everyone acted with the welfare of their neighbor in mind, many laws would not be broken or even needed’
Enabling and protecting the free exercise of religion is an important ingredient to help encourage the Golden Rule.
Encourage Compassionate Capitalism
The tenth principle in combining God and State is to encourage, by using minimal laws and regulations, a marketplace full of compassionate capitalism. Economies flourish in freedom, so the marketplace should be predominantly free; governed by a limited number of laws that restrain evil. Obviously, there should be laws to protect consumers against wrongdoing like fraud and theft. But laws should not mandate businesses to go above and beyond to deliver exceptional products and services. The marketplace is a great example of where private businesses can, on their own free will, deliver products and services that help build a prosperous nation.
Admittedly I am biased, but believe that America is the number one economy in the world because so many businesses use their freedom to deliver exceptional products and services to their customers. As an investment firm, our research has uncovered many public companies going the extra mile to deliver exceptional products and services to their customers. These American companies are helping build a prosperous America.
Of course, in addition to American companies, there are thousands of businesses and corporations around the world going the extra mile for their customers to help build prosperous nations.
Examples from Past and Present
History has examples of national leaders who tried, though not always perfectly, to combine God and State. In addition to Moses and America’s Founding Fathers, there were leaders like Saint Stephen of Hungary; Constantine and Charlamagne, both emperors of Rome; Abraham Kuyper of the Netherlands; and others.
Today, notable world political leaders are taking up the banner of combining God and State by instituting Biblical principles. As mentioned, Viktor Orbán, Javier Milei and Nayib Bukele are making notable progress in Hungary, Argentina and El Salvador. Donald Trump, the newly elected American President voiced his support of putting the Ten Commandments in school rooms. The new PM of Italy describes herself as a Christian conservative, and wants to defend ‘God, fatherland, and family’.
Other signs of progress include Dusty Deevers, a Senator from Oklahoma, who introduced legislation to make it harder to get a divorce. Six of the nine U.S. Supreme court justices voted to strike down Roe V Wade, the flawed decision that gave women the ‘right’ to abortion (murder). In a recent interview Mike Johnson, America’s newly elected Speaker of the House, said, ‘I am a Bible-believing Christian’. In Tennessee State Senator Rusty Crowe introduced legislation to include ‘In God We Trust’ on the state seal.
Governments can enable their countries to become prosperous by properly combining God and state. It starts by admitting that God’s help is needed and then seeking answers in the book above all books, the Bible.
As a final question to consider, ‘Does God really expect man to create, on this side of heaven, vibrant, peaceful, and prosperous nations guided by His principles?’ Maybe He does, given that His son taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10, ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’
The views expressed by our guest authors are theirs and do not necessarily represent the views of Hungarian Conservative.
- Ronald Reagan, Speech: A Time for Choosing, 27 October 1964. Internet History Sourcebooks: Modern History
- Whittaker Chambers, ‘Letter to My Children’, in Witness, Regnery History, 1952.
- Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Danbury Baptists, Library of Congress, 1 January 1802. https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html
- Ronald Reagan, Dallas Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast, 23 August 1984. https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/remarks-ecumenical-prayer-breakfast-dallas-texas
- Bible, Exodus 24:12: The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the teachings and the commandments I have written for the people’s instruction.’
- Bible, 1 Samuel 8:6-9: ‘But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”’
- Whittaker Chambers, ‘Letter to My Children’, in Witness, Regnery History, 1952.
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