Christian Books on Church and State .

I thought First Freedom: The Beginning and End of Religious Liberty by Jason G. Duesing, Thomas White, and Malcolm B. Yarnell III (Editors) looked good and I have purchased it. However, I have not yet read it, so can't make an actual recommendation. Here is a blurb at Amazon:

 

anything by Francis Schaeffer top notch, as while a premil, did advocate being godly influences into culture and society!

 

Pick up "THEM" by Ben Sasse.

 

Revolution Within the Revolution: The First Amendment in Historical Context, 1612-1789
This is an outstanding book, easy to read and gives clear history and has lots of footnotes so you can check things out for yourself. This comes from a Baptist perspective, unlike some of the others mentioned here.

Liberty of Conscience: Roger Williams in America
I read the original version of this biography and analysis in the early 1990s. I have not read the 1999 edition, but the original was a page-turner. The legacy of Roger Williams led to the creation of the First Amendment in the United States. This is critical background knowledge.

Separation of Church and State: Founding Principle of Religious Liberty
I haven't read this one, but it is on my wish list. It has excellent reviews and may be helpful as you engage in reading from other perspectives.

 

Oops, yes, the books I suggested don't necessarily apply to Mikey's situation, although the biography of Roger Williams would be extremely relevant to Baptist views and the struggle during the colonial era for Williams to obtain a charter from the King of England to "establish" the colony of Rhode Island, even though he has purchased the land from the Native Americans (the only colony established by agreement with Native Americans).

It should be noted that Thomas Jefferson was actually referencing Roger Williams, when Williams wrote in 1644 about a "hedge" of separation between church and state. He knew the Danbury Baptists would understand the reference. Moore's brief article is excellent, BTW.

 

Speaking of Williams, an edition of The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution, for Cause of Conscience, Discussed in a Conference between Truth and Peace can be found on Google Books.