FIJI should place God above state and not the state above God.
This comment by 58-year-old Reverend Peni Seru, a minister at the Assemblies of God Lami Gracefield Church, comes after the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau urged the nation to be wary of declaring Fiji a Christian state during his Independence Day address.
"The comment is very weak because it puts Fiji to be a secular state," said Mr Seru.
He said a Christian state would lead to a godly nation.
"When we talk about a secular state, we are talking about a worldly state. If it's a secular state, it means state above Christ which is not right."
He said God should be the head of everything as in the US and Britain.
"That is why they are very powerful and strong. This will be good to other religious organisations because God gave people a choice, for people to choose whom they should serve."
He said disagreements and disputes among Fijians would be a constant thing if Fiji was to continue as a secular state.
Fiji Muslim League general secretary Taabish Akbar said he had no qualms with Mr Seru's wish as long as there was a biblical basis on which the laws of Fiji should be based.
"I don't have any problem with Fiji being called a Christian state," Mr Akbar said. "Will there be peace among all the AOG, Methodists, Catholics and Mormons if Fiji is a Christian state?"
Methodist Church general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra said he agreed with Fiji being a Christian state as long as harmony existed between different religions in Fiji.