Where do citizenship and Christianity meet? Millions have struggled with this question. A vocal minority in our nation seems bent on convincing us that they never should meet – that a person’s religious convictions shouldn’t interfere with his civil life. Should the President talk about his relationship with Jesus? Should judges allow their Bible-shaped morals to affect their decisions? Should you expect city councils to apply Christian standards to a city? Should schools permit students to openly express any view or lifestyle?
Justice Scalia, in a Supreme Court decision involving the so-called “separation of church and state” wrote: “Church and state would not be such a difficult subject if religion were, as the Court apparently thinks it to be, some purely personal avocation that can be indulged entirely in secret, like pornography, in the privacy of one’s room.
For most believers it is not that, and has never been. Religious men and women of almost all denominations have felt it necessary to acknowledge and beseech the blessing of God as a people, and not just as individuals, because they believe in the "protection of divine Providence," as the Declaration of Independence put it, not just for individuals but for societies.”
Oh, yeah, the Declaration of Independence – that document – the one that says, “We hold these truths to be self evident: That all men are created equal; That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…” That document, sealing the foundation of a fledgling nation that was signed by several men who had degrees in theology. It’s hard to separate the church and state when the state was founded by people whose religious convictions shaped their thinking. It’s hard to separate the church from the state when so many vital landmarks of that state are adorned with Bible characters and history. The US Supreme Court building, above the east entrance, has a figure of Moses, in the center, along with other lawgivers. Around the building, tablets are used to represent Law. All over Washington D.C. federal buildings and monuments are etched with Bible verses.
We’ve turned it around in the Church and also unseparated the Church and state ourselves. Why is it that churches typically display the American flag? Why do we have hymnals with songs that are patriotic? I think it’s because we realize that being Christ followers has a lot to do with the kinds of citizens we are.
I’m going to say that you and I should be good citizens. In fact, we should be the best citizens, and that’s the goal Paul has in mind as he dictates this part of his letter to the Christians in 1st Century Rome. So, here’s where your Christianity and your community meet. What does being a good citizen mean?
A good citizen…
I. Grasps the Meaning and Place of Authority
Ancient Rome adopted a symbol of authority that actually appears all over our country today. It’s the fasces – a bundle of rods tied together with red ribbons, around an axe. These rods and axe once were actually used to punish wrongdoers. A man might be beaten with the rods, or his head could be removed with the axe. They were symbols of authority, carried out by a man called a lictor. It reminded people that the ruler had authority over a person’s life. That symbol was on the old dime, is in the House of Representatives, and even is worked into the Lincoln Memorial.
Why? Because it reminds us of the government’s authority. That means the government has the moral right to tell me what to do. That’s what authority is – the moral right to prescribe action, to tell someone what to do.
I look around and I see how people struggle with the nature of authority. Imagine the people to whom Paul was writing. Many of them were slaves. All of them were citizens of an empire that was being led by a corrupt emperor. And Paul tells them…
Romans 13:1-2
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
1. It’s from God
You might not want to hear this news. You might wish that Paul would say something else like, “Since we all know that Nero is a bad guy, let’s not worry about what he has to say. Why should we, anyway?” You might want to hear him say, “Hey, slavery is wrong. Don’t bother being a good slave, because that whole slavery thing is just messed up!” Instead, Paul says you have to submit yourself to the governing authorities. If you don’t, it’s not just opposing people, it’s opposing God.
Jesus made it clear where authority is from during His trial before Pontius Pilate.
John 19:10-11
"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don’t you realize I have power [authority] either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
Pilate didn’t understand authority. He didn’t have it because the Roman state had appointed him. Ultimately, the only reason he had any authority is because God has distributed His authority through the civil governments of men.
Talking about giving up His life, Jesus said,
John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
To help us understand the place that authority should hold in our minds, the gospels share a story with us from the life of Jesus. There’s an army official – a centurion. He has a sick servant at home, and he comes to ask for Jesus’ help. When Jesus offers to go and help, the centurion says he’s not worthy to have Jesus come to his house. His reasoning is interesting, but Jesus’ response to it is even more interesting…
Matthew 8:9-10
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ’Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ’Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ’Do this,’ and he does it." When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
In other words, this guy had a good grasp of authority. It affected his attitudes and words, and Jesus was amazed by his what? FAITH!
Could it be that recognizing how the whole concept of authority begins with God and emanates from God is an indicator of real faith in God? What do you think about authority today? Is it a good thing that someone has the right to tell us what to do? Our text just flat out says that comes from God.
Here’s what else it says…
2. It’s for your good
See it in v4 “For he is God’s servant to do you good…”
“How is authority good for me? Every time I see a police car behind me it makes me nervous. People don’t trust the government. Parents are just here to spoil my fun. My boss is a pain in the neck. Will someone explain to me how authority is good?”
Authority kept you from dying as a child because your parents said NO to eating the rat poison, NO to playing in the street, and NO to jumping into the water that was over your head! If you went to school, authority made sure that there was someone in charge there to protect that environment so that you would learn. Authority helped you arrive here today. Whether you walked or drove, authority protected your journey here to keep it from being complete chaos. Today you’ll sit and eat food, either at home or in a business, with confidence that the food is safe to eat, because authority imposes regulations on the producers of that food to help assure it’s OK. Tonight, you’ll sleep more securely, because there are people in positions of authority who have been granted the right to protect you, even with deadly force if necessary. Some of them are overseas doing that work. They’re organized under a specific chain of command – an authority structure that has to be there for the whole thing to function.
It’s for your good, my good. Should we be surprised that something that comes from God, that He gives to us, is also good for us?
When something’s good for us, we treat it that way. We don’t put it down. We don’t fight it. We don’t encourage each other to avoid it. We appreciate it and thank God for it.
Our current age needs for us to be people who take a healthy view of authority into our day to day. When we do that, we make a statement about what we understand and believe about our God. People need to see us caring about keeping the law because the concept of a civil government comes first from God.
Titus 3:1
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good
A Good Citizen…
II. Doesn’t Fear the Government
I’ve met more than one person who’s just afraid of the government. They can’t be trusted! They’re out to get us, I tell you! They’re probably listening right now! And, in general, those same people are people who’ve done something that ought to make them afraid of the governing authorities!
1. Good behavior is very freeing!
Some people speak against laws and rules and keeping them. They feel restricted. After all, isn’t this the land of the free? See what Paul writes to the 1st Cent. Romans…
Romans 13:3-4
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Ill - There’s a device invented some time back commonly called a “fuzzbuster.” Its purpose is simple – to alert car drivers when a police radar gun is being used in the area. In other words, it’s to help you break the speed limit. Otherwise, you will worry a lot, looking over your shoulder and constantly slowing down and speeding up again. So, you put a fuzzbuster on your dash, and it warns you…usually. Some states outlawed that device, so they started making them removable. That way, if you were pulled over, you could quickly put it away and not get caught. Sounds like a lot of stress and a lot of work to make sure you don’t get a speeding ticket, doesn’t it? Here’s an easier way: Don’t speed!
Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right!
Imagine the way it will free you from stress! Imagine never suddenly hitting the breaks and gasping if you already know that you’re going the right speed! Imagine how much easier it is to walk down the street when there are no warrants for your arrest; to drive your car when your license isn’t suspended; to answer your phone when you’ve paid your debts.
Good behavior is a very freeing thing! Here’s something else this tell us about being good citizens:
2. Bad behavior deserves punishment
V.4 says that the person in authority is God’s servant to do you good – it’s the same word where we get our word “deacon.” The person in authority is a minister for God, to do you good, so don’t be afraid…unless; unless you do wrong. Then what should you do? V4? Be afraid! Because he is also God’s servant to bring you God’s wrath. He doesn’t have the ability to punish for no reason. In context here, Paul is most likely talking about capital punishment.
The fasces were mostly for show, but at some point in their history, they were for punishing guilty people.
Now, Whose idea was it to punish people who do wrong? Who suggested that bad behavior deserves punishment? That would be God, Who issues authority in the first place.
When the authority punishes a guilty person, Whose punishment is he really giving? It’s God’s punishment, God’s wrath. It’s how He gives out justice – through the civil authorities: punishment for the guilty and protection for the innocent. That’s how it’s supposed to work. So, when oppressed people are being freed by the work, even the war, of a military power, when they’re punishing the guilty and protecting the innocent, Whose work are they doing? That’s God’s work, and that’s a good reason to be thankful today for those who’ve committed themselves to it for you and me.
3. Bad governments need not be feared
What about bad governments? What about corrupt leaders? What about when the government is leading a country to do evil, like Hitler did?
I don’t have time to address the whole subject of civil disobedience here today – there is a right time for that. But let me just say this much – when you find that someone in a position of authority is corrupt, that doesn’t mean authority is bad. It doesn’t mean that you just throw out the whole idea of authority.
Imagine saying, “Well, I’ve met a couple of bad school teachers, so you know how teachers are. That’s why I don’t trust any of them!” or “You know how they caught those CEO’s in fraud. That just goes to prove you can’t trust any CEO’s!” or “How about those soldiers who committed crimes against a family in Iraq. That just goes to prove that the military is bad and we shouldn’t be there!” No, it just goes to prove that sometimes there are corrupt people in positions of authority. The solution is to get those people out of those positions, not to get rid of authority!
A good citizen doesn’t fear the government. Doing what’s right is a very freeing thing. But there’s an even greater reason for doing what’s right.
A good citizen…
III. Is Good for Higher Reasons Than Fear
Romans 13:5-7
Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
1. We should do what’s right just because it’s right
I’m afraid that too often we ask the question “does it work” to make our decisions for us. The first question ought to be, is it the right thing to do?
1 Peter 2:11-15
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
There are more important reasons to do what’s right than just not getting in trouble. Not getting in trouble is good, but there’s that person in the mirror you have to live with. There’s also your unchristian friends who don’t need you to provide them with excuses to ignore Jesus any longer.
So…
2. We should help the government be what it should be
Pay your taxes. Respect those who lead. One of the purposes of paying taxes is to free up those who lead so that they can devote themselves to being good leaders.
Christians ought to be the most informed about issues that are facing our nation. We ought to be those who turn out in the greatest numbers to vote. We also ought to be praying for those who lead.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Conclusion:
The kind of citizens we are goes way beyond being patriotic; beyond being US citizens. After all, in Jesus we’re actually citizens of a different country. Our visas for this stay are temporary. While our government argues and quibbles over what to do about making illegal aliens accepted citizens, or workers, or something, I’m trying this morning to make sure that we conduct ourselves like we’re aliens, not to just this country, but to the whole planet; longing for a better country--a heavenly one.
