Separation of Church and State

Bible Readings... Acts 18
Highlighted Verse... Acts 18:13 - "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law."
Thoughts... After Paul left Athens, he went to Corinth where he spent a year and a half teaching and preaching the gospel of Christ. Many Jews from the synagogue opposed Paul and his teaching, so he left the synagogue to witness to the Gentiles, but that wasn't enough to satisfy some of the people. Even though the synagogue leader heard and believed, but others brought Paul before the Roman proconsul Gallio for punishment. Gallio would have none of it, but that didn't stop the mob from attacking the synagogue ruler.
How it impressed me... Even though it sometimes seems like a good idea to have civil laws which uphold religious precepts, in almost all cases, adherence to the letter of the law eventually eclipses true worship of God. The fallen nature of man almost always assures that good intentions will degenerate into an ungodly desire to follow man's ways over God's ways.
My response to God... Father God, Author of the true Law, Essence of Love, help me to follow your law in obedience, but more than anything help me to long for and strive to love you more than life itself. Purge all selfishness from me, and help me to withhold judgement from everyone.