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When The State Plays God… And Why Christianity Says No
From The Tyranny Of Ancient Classical Philosophy to True Christian Freedom
When it comes to philosophy, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. That’s why it helps to step back and look at the big map.
The story of how modern thought developed isn’t just about dusty old books… it’s about the ongoing tug-of-war between the individual and the state, and where ultimate truth really comes from.
Ancient Philosophy and the Worship of the State
The Greeks and Romans didn’t see God as the supreme ruler, the way Christianity does. Instead, they treated the state as the highest authority.
Roman gods were often political mascots, approved by the Senate, while emperors were declared divine through official decrees. Heroes could be worshiped as semi-gods.
Philosophers like Aristotle argued that the state was the ultimate good, the final reality. If the state was godlike, then rulers became untouchable… embodiments of truth and justice. Sound familiar? That idea still pops up in modern systems like Marxism, where the state or party is treated as the highest power, leaving no room for God.
Unity, Mysticism, and the Elite
Ancient thinkers also saw the universe as one continuous fabric where gods, people, and the cosmos were all “divinity-linked” in the great chain of being. Christianity shattered that idea by teaching a sharp distinction: God is uncreated, and everything else is created.
But the old way of thinking encouraged secret, often occult teachings and elitist inner circles. Only the “insiders” got the real truth. If that rings a bell, it’s because the same mindset shows up today in intellectual and political elites who claim to know what’s best for everyone else.
Truth by Decree
For Plato and Aristotle, truth was something the ruling class defined. Their dream was that philosopher-kings… the intellectual elites… would decide what justice and morality looked like.
For Plato and Aristotle, truth was something the ruling class defined. Their dream was that philosopher-kings… the intellectual elites… would decide what justice and morality looked like. Aristotle even said man is a “political animal,” meaning our identity and morality flow from the state itself.
This thinking laid the groundwork for totalitarianism. Whether in governments, courts, or universities, the idea that power grants authority over truth still lingers. The truth is clear: genuine reform only comes from recovering a Christian foundation.
The One and the Many
Another puzzle ancient thinkers wrestled with was the balance between unity and individuality—the “one and the many.” Push unity too far, and you get totalitarianism, where the group crushes the individual. Push individuality too far, and you get chaos or anarchy.
The Cynics in ancient Greece leaned toward radical individualism, rejecting all social norms. On the other side, tyrants demanded absolute conformity. Both extremes still play out in modern culture and politics.
Rome’s Religious Politics
Ancient Rome took the Greek ideas and ran with them. Religion became a tool of the state. Gods were chosen by officials, and emperor worship was mandatory. Christians got in trouble because they refused to bow to Caesar as the ultimate authority. Their loyalty to Christ was seen as rebellion against the state.
Christianity’s Radical Answer
Early Christian thinkers like Tertullian, Athanasius, and Augustine responded with something revolutionary: the doctrine of the Trinity. One God in three persons… Father, Son, and Spirit… equally divine yet distinct.
This wasn’t just theology; it was a profound philosophical concept with significant social consequences. The Trinity, with its unique structure of one God in three persons-Father, Son, and Spirit-equally divine yet distinct, offered a model that demonstrated how unity and individuality could coexist without suppressing either.
It provided a solution that avoided both tyranny and anarchy, inspiring the roots of Western liberty, where freedom and order coexist under the divine authority.
Why It Still Matters
The history of ideas, almost always ignored in modern education, remains profoundly relevant today.
The stakes are high. If the state dictates what’s true, freedom is at risk. If individuals break away from all order, society is in peril. Christianity’s answer… the balance found in the Trinity… continues to be the foundation for real liberty, engaging us in this timeless, ongoing debate. Christians need to be prepared for this debate. Are you ready for this discussion?
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