Religion and Government

“We have no King but the emperor” (John 19:15). In reading John’s account of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, we see the danger of an alliance between religion and government. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day wanted the Roman Government to enforce their expectations. The result then and now is that truth is crucified. True religious belief and behavior comes from the heart; it is not and cannot be enforced from outside of a person.