HoHum:
Young children, a sister and a brother, in a patriotic family were playing church together. The boy recited at the end of the mock church service, “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The girl continued in a strong voice, “and the republic for which it stands.” Their playing church illustrates an issue that we as Christians face. Dual citizenship
WBTU:
Before becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, immigrants must take an oath that says, in part, "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."
Until 1967 dual citizenship (being a citizen of US and a citizen of another country) was illegal. In 1967, the US Supreme Court ruled that the State Department had violated the Constitution when it refused to issue a new U.S. passport to a U.S. citizen who had voted in an election in Israel. The decision overturned a law saying that "a person, who is a national of the United States, whether by birth or naturalization, shall lose his nationality by voting in a political election in a foreign state." Even so, dual citizenship is discouraged in the US and unrecognized by the US State Department.
For years it was recognized in this country that the best citizens were dual citizens: citizens of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ first and then citizens of the US. This quote from Samuel Adams after signing the Declaration of Independence says as much: “We have this day restored the Sovereign to whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven, and with a propitious eye beholds his subjects assuming that freedom of thought and dignity of self-direction which He bestowed on them. From the rising to the setting sun, may His kingdom come!” How sad that things are different today. First allegiance is to the US and if speak up on behalf of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, then unpatriotic
Back to our Scriptures tonight, the Philippians could relate to the idea of dual citizenship. Philippi was over 600 miles away from Rome. Philippi was built by retired Roman soldiers. Though they lived in Philippi in Macedonia, these people were citizens of Rome. They didn’t want to speak the language of Macedonia; they wanted to speak the language of Rome. When they put their children to bed at night, they did not tell them stories of Macedonia; they told them stories of the glory of Rome.
Paul applies this culture to the idea of being a citizen of heaven. He’s telling the Philippians church and us about the characteristics of Christian citizens living temporarily in this world.
Thesis: 3 important truths about being a citizen of heaven
For instances:
Christian citizens imitate excellent role models (Vs. 17)
In my limited knowledge of 12 step programs, an addict cannot recover from their dependency unless they have a sponsor. A sponsor serves as a motivator, an encourager and a source of accountability.
We cannot grow properly unless we have a mentor or guide. We call this discipleship. We need a mature Christian to help us in our journey. I have mentors who pray for me, encourage me, and challenge me. Without them, I would be stunted in my growth as a Christian.
Paul is not being a braggart. Already said in Vs. 12, read it.
“Let’s learn from the elephants.” The article was an interesting story about a herd of African elephants. In an attempt to thin out this herd, the authorities killed off a number of the older males and moved a group of females and young bulls to another area. It was not too long after the move that white rhinos in that area were being killed, not by poachers, but by the young bulls that were trying to prove their elephant-hood. One elephant even organized a gang that began attacking tourist buses. To solve the problem, the authorities shot some of the troublemakers but then came up with a better solution. They released a few old males from another area into the troubled neighborhood. The older males immediately began to bring the young bulls into line. It would appear that the young elephants did not know how to act in their day-to-day living without the example of the older elephants to teach them. Learning by example is not restricted to just the animal kingdom. Just as the elephants needed an example to follow so that they knew how to behave in their day-to-day living, so also we need an example to follow in our day-to-day Christian living.
Christian citizens shun worldly values (Vs. 18-19)
Paul weeps over worldly minded people who profess to be Christians. He isn’t talking about unbelievers but people in the church. Nothing more dangerous than a professing Christian who is worldly in his thoughts and actions.
Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ- This person no longer regards a need for God’s forgiveness. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:7, 8, NIV.
God is their stomach- Paul is talking about appetites or desires. Desire in and of itself is not wrong. We better pay attention to our stomachs or we die. Get older and do not want to eat, nearing the end. The stomach is not the problem, making the stomach God is the problem.
Far from taking up their cross in this life, and living in the light of eternity, these folks are hell-bent for eternal destruction because they are consumed with the present, and not with the future. They are not compelled by Christ and His gospel; they are dominated by their own appetites. Their “god” is their belly. I don’t think it is just the belly and food that Paul is referring to, but their appetites, which includes the whole range of physical desires. They find joy in those things that are their shame. Their value system is upside-down.
Glory is in their shame- America's dead and dying hand is on the threshold of the Church While the spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah vex us all When it gets to the point where people would rather come out of the closet than clean it It's the sign that the judgement of God is gonna fall
Christian citizens primary allegiance is to heaven (Vs. 20-21)
The Greek word translated as “citizenship” is the word from which we get the English word “politics.” This has to do with one’s behavior as a citizen of a nation. Paul is pointing out the characteristics of the Christian whose citizenship is in heaven.
Although the Philippians lived in Macedonia their real homeland was not Rome but heaven. The majority of Philippians held Roman citizenship. Because they had this citizenship, they enjoyed special privileges. They were proud of this too. Different in 1 Peter were most of the readers were not Roman citizens. Aliens and strangers. Paul is making no mistake writing these words with this image of Roman citizenship in Philippi. Just as Philippi was a colony of Rome on foreign soil, so the church is a “colony of heaven” on earth.
We live in a nation which has previously declared itself to be “under God”, and we have been blessed with many freedoms and privileges over the years as a result – but unfortunately things are changing. And when one’s nation – whatever nation that is – commands us to disobey what God clearly says in His word, then if we are a Christian, we must disobey that nation and obey God! That is a difficult choice, but your highest allegiance must be to the Lord. Your ultimate citizenship is in heaven.
Christians in the early church had to make that choice. They tried to live by the Biblical principle of “being submissive to the governing authorities” that Paul wrote about in Romans 13, but when the leaders told them to preach or teach no more in the name of Jesus, they said in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men.” Their ultimate allegiance was to God.
The day we were saved (believed, confessed, repented, baptized) we carry another set of papers with the cross of Christ em blazed upon them. We have temporary visas. We’re just visiting. Could say we are carrying green cards. We are just working here for a while. I love the stars and stripes. I am a patriotic citizen of the US. I love my country. I know many share these strong feelings of respect and pride regarding our country. However, my first allegiance is as a citizen of the kingdom of God. We need to be reminded where our citizenship lies and what our responsibilities are to the kingdom of our first allegiance. Perhaps we need to see ourselves more clearly as immigrants, as strangers in this land, as citizens of another nation, of the kingdom of God.
This has implications for foreign missions. Does God love the US more than he does Zimbabwe or Thailand or China? Does he love America more than he loves Afghanistan or Algeria or Argentina? Some Christians say things like we need to keep the money and resources here in this country. We are citizens of a heavenly kingdom. The kingdom needs money and resources over there then as citizens of that kingdom shouldn’t we want to help.
Because of this there is an eager expectation of Christ’s return. As each day dawns and each evening fades we should be expecting the fulfillment of this blessed hope! One of the primary reasons why Christian citizens allow worldliness to sneak into their lives is because they cease to watch for the return of Christ, our King. “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20, NIV.
When Christ returns we have the assurance of the resurrected body. The word “lowly” points to the body’s weaknesses of diseases, aging, pain and death. At the time of Christ’s second coming, and because we have walked the right path, our bodies will change- they will become glorious, powerful, honorable, spiritual, and immortal- all because of the cross of Christ.
