Separation Church/State

Augustine believed the State could compel subjects to comply with Catholic doctrine. In America this would violate the doctrine of separation of Church and State. Many religions like Catholic and reconstructionists, who want a Church state, deny separation of powers.

Christ himself actually formulated the doctrine of separation, showing that powers of State and Church were different. 

Mar 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

Christ made a distinction between God's things and Caesar's. Just because all authority came from God, does not mean he vested states with his supreme powers. States were never vested with the authority to force people to accept Christ. Augustine dismissed these differences so that he could enforce Catholic doctrine on the masses.

Augustine in argueing his right to persecute in religious matters argued against them in this manner,

Donatists argued Catholic persecution against them was a doctrine removing self-determination.

        "God created man free in his own image. How, then, am I to be deprived of that by human lordship which God has bestowed on me? What a sacrilege, that human arrogance should take away what God has bestowed on me, and idly boast of doing this on God's behalf? "It is a great offence against God, when he is defended by men. "What must he think of God who would defend him with outward force? Is it that God is unable to punish offenses against himself? "Hear what the Lord says: Peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. "The peace of the world must be introduced among contending nations by arms and the force of war. The peace of Christ invites the willing, with wholesome mildness; it never forces men against their wills."

In reply to this eloquent and forcible argument of Gaudentius, in defense of a primordial principal of the Donatists, Augustine, with entire unfairness, reasoned in the following style: According to these most fallacious and most vain reasonings of yours, said he, the reins would be relaxed, and all classes of transgressors might sin with impunity, without restraint, and without correction; and the king would have no power or control over his kingdom, for the correction of any offenses; the general over his army; the judge in his province; the master with his servant; the husband with his wife; the father with his son. In the midst of this controversy, Augustine said to his opponent that he knew not the scriptures nor the power of God, which induced him to contend so strongly for man's free will, and against coercion in religious concerns. 

Augustine incorrectly tied the King's powers to God's sovereignty in religious matters. He argued restricting powers to enforce Catholic thought was keeping the state from correcting offenses.

Of course, Catholic thought was an offense.

Catholics do recognize separation of Church and state when it pleases them. Such as the Popes right tocreate diocese.

Catholic Encyclopedia

Fifth, theoretically the consent of the civil power is not required; this would be contrary to the principles of the distinction and mutual independence of the ecclesiastical and civil authority.

Augustine's argument was an example of Catholics arguing the joining of powers when they please to benefit themselves. Then keeping them separate when it benefits them.

Augustine also took a page out of Satan's handbook, arguing the extreme "all classes of transgressors might sin with impunity", mimicking the garden of Eden where Satan argued against God,

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Keep in mind, correcting offenses had been carried out from creation, long before the Gospel was revealed. Allowing freedom to obey the Gospel or not did not restrict correcting moral offenses such as theft or murder.

One parable Augustine used actually disproved Augustine's beliefs.

Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

Mat 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Mat 22:4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things areready: come unto the marriage.

Mat 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

Mat 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

Mat 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Notice the king did not send his armies when they refused to come, only after they murdered his servants, who were sent to invite them.

This example shows the state should have avenged the Donatist persecution,the Donatists were calling people peacefully, Augustine was the murderer.

The state should protect those preaching peacefully.

Augustine's doctrine violated many Christian doctrines.

Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Jas 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Augustine violated the method by which the Gospel was to be spread.

Augustine also violated God's directive that the Church should teach the Gospel, not the state.

The Church made known the Gospel to principalities, not principalities dictating to the Church.

Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Plus the king is not head over the church in spiritual matters.

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

It seems Augustine never gave up all of his Manacchean Gnostic past.

Remember, after the Donatist persecution by Catholics, Muslim armies moved through Catholic cities, it seems fulfilling Christ's parable.