The Truth About Separation of Church and State
Introduction
Few phrases in American political vocabulary are as misunderstood as “the separation of church and state.” The Constitution itself never contains the phrase, and yet modern minds often assume it means that the state must be protected from the influence of the church. Nothing could be further from the original intent. The roots of the expression trace back to ministers, philosophers, and statesmen who understood the church needed protection from state interference, not the other way around.
Roger Williams and the Hedge Around the Church
The earliest articulation comes not from a politician but from a preacher: Roger Williams, a 17th-century Puritan minister and founder of Rhode Island. In 1644, he wrote of the need for “a hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world.”
His concern was clear: the power of civil government, left unchecked, would trample the delicate garden of the church. The metaphor was protective, not prohibitive. Scripture reminds us that the church is Christ’s vineyard (Isaiah 5:7), planted by His hand, not to be ruled by earthly kings but by the King of Kings.
John Locke and Liberty of Conscience
A generation later, John Locke advanced the principle in his Letter Concerning Toleration (1689). Locke argued that the state had no authority over the conscience of individuals, for conscience is accountable only to God.
The Bible makes this truth plain: “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12). Civil rulers may govern bodies, but they cannot command souls.
Jefferson’s “Wall” in Context
When Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptists in 1802, he echoed Williams’ imagery:
“…I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State.”
Jefferson’s reassurance was aimed at a minority religious group fearful that the new federal government might establish a national church. His “wall” was not meant to exclude Christian influence from society, but to prevent government from controlling or privileging one denomination over another.
This principle resonates with Christ’s teaching: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). Caesar has no rightful claim over worship, doctrine, or the conscience.
The First Amendment’s True Direction
The First Amendment makes this clear:
- “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
The text restrains Congress, not the church. It prevents the state from establishing a church and prevents the state from prohibiting religious exercise. It does not prevent believers from influencing government, speaking truth to power, or allowing faith to inform public policy.
The apostles themselves lived this principle. When commanded by authorities to be silent, they declared: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
The Johnson Amendment: A Modern Muzzle
In 1954, a new intrusion entered the garden of the church: the Johnson Amendment. Introduced by then–Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, it added language to the U.S. tax code prohibiting 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
While Johnson’s target was not churches but political nonprofits opposing his reelection, the amendment’s reach fell heavily upon pulpits. Since then, many pastors have lived under a shadow of fear: that if they speak too directly to matters of leadership or policy, their church’s tax-exempt status could be stripped away.
Though rarely enforced, the effect has been chilling. The prophetic voice of the church, once bold in addressing rulers — like Nathan confronting David (2 Samuel 12:7), Elijah challenging Ahab (1 Kings 18:18), or John the Baptist condemning Herod (Mark 6:18) — has often been muted by an IRS regulation.
The irony is profound: the very amendment that forbids “prohibiting the free exercise of religion” has been twisted into a tool that intimidates churches into silence. In practice, it becomes the state reaching into the pulpit and setting boundaries around what may or may not be spoken.
However, in July 2025, the IRS agreed to a legal settlement that limits enforcement of the Johnson Amendment. Under this settlement, churches may endorse political candidates during religious services without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status, provided the endorsements are made through customary channels of communication within the congregation. This change does not extend to other 501(c)(3) organizations and does not permit broader political activities such as public endorsements or campaign contributions.
The Contemporary Distortion
In modern culture, the phrase has been twisted:
- Instead of a hedge to keep the state out of the church, it is now seen as a barrier to keep the church out of the state.
- This inversion silences faith in the public square, as though religious convictions are illegitimate in shaping law, ethics, or culture.
But Scripture affirms that righteousness is essential to national life: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). To deny the voice of the church in public matters is to deny the very source of righteousness that upholds a people.
Conclusion: Recovering the Original Meaning
The separation of church and state was never about removing God from public life. It was about ensuring that government never trampled the garden of the church or dictated the terms of worship. To reinterpret the phrase as shielding the state from religious influence is to distort history and betray the intent of both ministers like Roger Williams and statesmen like Jefferson.
The church must never wield the sword of the state (John 18:36), nor should the state silence the voice of the church (Isaiah 58:1). The hedge was planted to keep the church free, that it might be a light to the nation (Matthew 5:14–16), a conscience to its leaders (2 Samuel 12:7), and a faithful witness to God’s truth.