Religious people in secular nations, would you prioritze the interests of the church or the state more highly?

Question

In the event of a conflict of interests between your chuch and your country, which would you support? Please note I am clearly stating a conflict of interests, so please don't try to say both.

Answer 1

You said, CHURCH, so I'm assuming you mean the building, congregation, leadership, or institution, which is separate from the saying "your beliefs" which then I would assuming you are talking about faith/Religion

So assuming you are talking about a 'conflict of INTEREST" between country and the local CHURCH INSITUTION, here is my answer:

Jesus said, "Give to Cesar what is Cesar's, give to God what is God's"

In regards to Taxes, Building structures, penal codes, etc.
These type of things are the domain of the Country/State, so I would yeild to the law of the land that the Church resides in.

In regards to the Country/State trying to dictate or control religious belief or change my morals/ethics -- I would NOT follow the law of the land, and instead follow the teachings of my church.

So maybe you should add more detail to your question to specify what TYPE of "conflict of interest" do you mean.

If you mean "interest" as in code of law or taxation -- then the Church should give to Cesar what is Cesar's and absolutely comply.

Answer 2

I live in the US, and here it is legal to kill your unborn children, watch porn on library computers, hand out condoms to 4th graders take a 12 year old across state lines to have an abortion without her parents being asked. but you cant have that same child say a prayer at graduation. So since I live in your secular nation, I will tell you this, No law made by man, over rules the laws of God.

Answer 3

We are told in the Bible to follow the laws of our country as long as they do not conflict with God's laws. In the even that there was a conflict I choose my faith.

Answer 4

Give to Ceaser the things that are Ceaser's and to God the things that are Gods.