There has been a continuous controversy over the separation of state and religion in the United States. The opponents declare that the U.S. has been founded in Christianity where God is the highest authority and his word, the Bible, should be the guiding principles for the government as well as the people. On the contrary, advocates of the separation claim that should be able to enjoy the freedom of religious exercise in a democratic country. The government should not and cannot interfere with a person’s selection of religious faith.

The dividing line seems extremely difficult to draw in terms of this issue, particularly for those in power and authority. Remember when Festus the Roman governor took up Paul’s case he was “at a loss to know how to investigate it.” In his presentation to King Agrippa (Acts 25:13-21) Festus mentioned Paul’s case was religious but criminal. “But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected. Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive,” said Festus as he tried to turn over the case to Agrippa, because for some reason he didn’t want to anger the Jews as well as to violate the Roman’s court system in which the accused should have a change to face his accusers and defend himself.

There are still many Christians nowadays facing ordeal hardships and persecutions because of their faith—faith in Christ as Paul claimed to be alive. Regarding the separation of religion and state, perhaps as Jesus in Mark 12:17 said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” God is almighty and sovereign over the earth, but his kingdom in heaven as well as in our heart.