I Just Became A Citizen!

Scripture: Philippians 3:17- 4:1

Theme: Citizenship

Title: I Just Became a Citizen of Heaven!

This sermon deals with what it means to be a Citizen of Heaven. 1. Born from Above 2. Filled with God’s Holy Spirit

INTRO:

Grace and peace to all of you this morning from God our Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

In some part of our country there is a passionate debate going on concerning citizenship. Some people don’t care so much about becoming a citizen of our country as much as they care about the freedom and opportunities for a good life that they feel like they can experience here in the United States. They just want to live here. They don’t care how they get here they just want to live here in the United States. That is especially true for those who live under difficult circumstances in other countries.

In many ways, I don’t blame them. If I found myself or my family being under the rule of an oppressive government and knew that I could in some way come and experience the freedom found in here in the United States then I would do everything I could to get here. I would do everything I could to get my family here.

Actually, that is how many of our ancestors did get here. Both the Puritans and the Pilgrims came here in the 1600’s to avoid persecution and be able to enjoy a life of liberty and justice in the New Country.

The Irish people started coming to America in large waves as early as 1820. When their crops started failing in 1845 (the Potato famine) that wave got larger and larger. Over time, almost 5 million Irish immigrants landed on our shores to find a better life. Today, one in 10 people in our country have Irish roots (over 33 million).

The same could be said for the Germans, the English, the French and other Europeans. All in total there were more than 30 million people who escape Europe to come and live here in America from 1836 to 1914. Almost 40% of the people living in the United States in 1914 were not native born citizens of the United States but immigrants.

We know today that people are still trying their best to come to the United States. And they come for all kinds of reasons – for jobs, better family situations, to escape political and religious persecutions etc…

And while 120 years ago all you had to do was to land on our shores and over time just become an American Citizen, today we have a rather complicated system. There are some hoops to go through to become an American Citizen.

Step 1: Check Eligibility for US Citizenship – get a visa or a green card – which can cost somewhere between $ 1,250.00 to 6,500.00

.Step 2: Complete Form N-400 – US Citizenship Application

Step 3: Obtain 2 Color Photographs

Step 4: Photocopy Documents – Your Green Card/Other Documentation

Step 5: Send In Your Application Package – minimum cost of the package is $725.00

Step 6: Get Fingerprinted

Step 7: Attend Naturalization Interview

Step 8: Take English and Civics Test and Pass It

Step 9: Wait for a Decision

Step 10: Take the Oath

From the time you get your first visa, your green card, take your classes and pay for all the documents (usually some additional lawyer fees) it usually runs on average around 6,000 to 8,000 American Dollars (https://www.doughroller.net/smart-spending/costs-of-becoming-a-us-citizen/) to obtain citizenship.

Then, once all the forms are filled out and you past that last test on U.S. History and the Constitution you are ready to take the final step – Taking the Oath.

This is what you say:

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

Once those words are spoken your life is forever changed. Not just paying taxes changed. You now have all the rights and privileges afforded being a citizen of the United States.

Now, that was a great history lesson on what it means to be a citizen of the United States. Something that most of us probably take for granted since we were born into citizenship. We did not have to get a visa, a green card, apply for an application, get fingerprinted, study US history, the Constitution and pass a test. We didn’t have to stand up and take the oath of citizenship. All we had to do was to be born on what is called American soil or have a parent who was already a citizen.