God and Country
Various Scriptures
June 30, 2002
Introduction
Let me guess: I’m not the only one here who heard about the Federal Circuit in California declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional because of the phrase, “one nation under God.”
Let me also guess that I’m not the only one, who hearing that, thought, “These judges aren’t exactly the sharpest tools in the shed,” you know what I mean?
Independence Day gives us the perfect opportunity to look at just how this nation depends on and recognizes not just a god, but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the God of the Bible.
And in getting us to start making the connections between God and country, I would like us to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and then the Apostles’ Creed. This can be found in the back of the hymnals, number 513.
Pledge of Allegiance
Apostles Creed
Where do God and country meet? How can we be good patriots and yet good Christians? Can we be both, or do we have to be one or the other? Do we have to sacrifice love of God for love of country?
Well, I think we can be both a good patriot and a good Christian, and I want to show you how that can happen.
I’m convinced that it’s not only possible, but that Christians have a holy obligation to be the best citizens we can possibly be.
Let’s take a look at just how we can be people whose love for God helps us be people who love their country.
To be the best possible Christian citizen we need to first of all…
I. Seek God’s continued grace on us as a nation.
Do you understand that if it weren’t for God’s grace and mercy we wouldn’t be the greatest country in the world?
Maybe I’m biased, but that’s what I think. Nothing against other countries in particular, but I think that if you were to put our country next to any others, especially in terms of freedom and opportunity in just about any area of life, no other comes close, amen?
We are the only real superpower left, since the Soviet Union crumbled, and we are the ones the world looks to when they are in trouble.
But we are only in that position because of God’s grace.
And I think that grace was given to us during the formation of our country, as men sought the face of God in forming a republic that afforded people these freedoms and opportunities.
Even some of our founding fathers, while not Bible-believing Christians, looked to the God of the Bible for divine guidance and providence.
This is similar to the nation of Israel, particularly, when the temple was being dedicated. Solomon declared publicly Israel’s need for God to not just watch, but to act on behalf of Israel. That’s what we need to do.
Let me read Isaiah 40:15 for you real quickly here:
Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
Why do I read that? Simply to remind us that if God chose to, He could blow us away like dust if He were so inclined.
We are familiar with 2 Chronicles 7:14, but I want to read it again, because I want to use it to show us just how it relates to being a good citizen.
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I want to point out something I’ve pointed out before, but it bears repeating: this verse is pointed not at the unbelievers, but to the believers.
We are the ones who need to repent and turn our faces to God for healing.
When we see court rulings like the one regarding the Pledge of Allegiance, we can blame the liberals, we can blame the atheists, but let me say that at the root of it is the church failing to fall on its face before God on a regular basis, pleading for His Spirit to fall on us so we could impact our society with the gospel of Christ.
So, let it begin here, okay? Let this become a church that prays for each other. Let us become a church that prays for the lost. But let us also become a church that prays for the continual filling of the Holy Spirit on His church in America.
And may God be pleased to move His church, and heal our land.
To be the best possible Christian citizen, we need to recognize and seek God’s continued grace on our nation.
Next, to be the best possible Christian citizen, we need to…
II. Obey and support the government.
Here’s where I might step on some toes, but here goes.
Let me begin this section by asking you a question:
When you see a government official, do you automatically think of the negative, or do you automatically think of the positive?
Let me bring it down to a personal level. When you see a police officer, do you automatically think of the protection he or she offers, or does your mind tend to regard this person as someone who has the potential to be a major inconvenience to your plans to drive your car a little faster?
I’m not a fan of certain members of our government and their policies. But I’m glad they are part of the longest standing democratic republic in history, and that I can contact them with my questions and concerns.
Your government provides protection in the form of military, police, firefighters, and freedom to worship.
Some would say that last freedom is under attack. More on that in a moment. Let me read Romans 13:1-5. I would encourage you to read along with me here. If you’re using the Bibles in the seats, this passage is on page 804.
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. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 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. 4 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. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
Apparently, Paul wrote this toward the latter part of his life. He had spent considerable time in Roman prisons prior to writing this. Yet he had the wherewithal to say that Christ’s followers should support the government.
This was the same Roman government who persecuted Christians, often burning them alive and crucifying them.
And we think we’ve got it bad! Yes, some of our freedoms are being slowly eroded. But you and I worship here today without the fear of being arrested by national forces because it’s against the law to be a Christian.
Why should we support our government? Paul answers that back in verse 1:
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.
God Himself has established the governments, including this one, with all its faults and flaws.
The question then becomes, “what about when the government acts against biblical principles?
Then we must put the known will of God ahead of the government. He is still the possessor of our ultimate allegiance.
But let me give you a quick caution: there is a difference between what the government allows and what it commands.
For instance, the government allows abortions. It does not command or require them, like China’s government does. If it did, we would be forced by biblical conviction to disobey the government.
Our government allows gambling; it does not command us to gamble. If it did, we would be forced by conviction to disobey.
You see the point. Work to eliminate the evils it allows, but make sure your actions take into consideration what is involved.
I bring this up to say this: it’s my opinion that civil disobedience is called for only in situations where the government commands us to break the known law of God.
Some of you may disagree with me on this, but that’s okay – this is America, after all!
Jesus acknowledged this submission to earthy authority when He stood before Pontius Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus if He understood that he had the power to set Jesus free or crucify Him. Jesus replied that he only had that power because God the Father had granted it to him.
Even Jesus placed Himself under the authority of men, trusting the Father to make it alright.
This is further evidenced in Matthew 22:15-22, where we read the following:
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"
21 "Caesar’s," they replied.
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
Now I know that taxes are a touchy subject for many people, and I admit that I don’t like to pay more than my share, but let me tell you something: I like what my taxes get me, for the most part.
Remember that protection I mentioned earlier? You know, police, firefighters, military – all that stuff?
Your taxes and mine go to pay for that stuff.
I realize our taxes go to other things that don’t serve essential purposes, and even things that are immoral, but aside from that, I’m glad for our protections. I hope you are, too.
Pay your taxes. All that you owe; no more, no less, and thank God it’s not more than it is.
By the way, one way to help in the lowering of your taxes is to take my next piece of advice regarding how to be the best possible Christian citizen, and that is to…
III. Get involved in the process.
I don’t have any Scripture for this, but bear with me.
There’s any number of ways to be involved in the process of helping our country.
A. Run for office. Lord knows we need godly people in all levels of government.
Government in the US was never meant to be only for the career politicians; it was meant to be for the regular guy who loved his community and the people he served as much as he loved his country.
The second way to get involved in the process is to…
B. Use the public forums to let your opinions be heard. The most obvious is our local newspaper. Submit letters to the editor that are well thought out and well-written. If you need help with that, I would love to do that.
Utilize your first amendment right of free speech in public places.
Here’s another way to get involved in the process– let’s see if you’ve heard of it:
C. Vote. That’s right – vote!
This is one of your most fundamental rights, and precious few people use it.
We have some rather important elections coming up this fall. We will be electing or re-electing a senator and a new congressman, as well as voting on certain other issues.
And vote the issues, not the party, okay? Vote for issues that benefit more than your pocketbook. Vote to protect and promote life and morality. Vote to allow greater freedom of religious expression. Vote for candidates who uphold Biblical values.
But whatever you do, at least vote. You have no right to whine and complain about our government when you don’t exercise the most fundamental right you have when it comes to being involved in the process.
Use your vote to get involved in the process.
Let’s move on to the next way to be the best Christian citizen possible.
IV. Pray for its leadership.
Please turn with me in your Bibles to
1 Timothy 2:1-6. This is found on page 839 of the Bibles in the seats–
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.
I became convicted about something during our last president’s term in office. God showed me that I was too busy praying against the president, when I should have been praying for him.
You know what I mean; I’m not the only one in this room who asked God to get him out of the way. But God showed me that I needed to be praying for his soul more than for his politics.
Our president needs our prayers. Our governor needs our prayers. Our county government needs our prayers. Our mayor needs our prayers. Our leaders and all their support staff, the legislators, and all in authority over us need our prayers.
In our seeking of God’s face to heal our land, we need to bring to him our leaders, asking God to give them godly wisdom and discernment to make decisions that reflect godly values.
We need to pray that God will draw those leaders that don’t know Him, and strengthen those leaders who do know Him.
Pray for their souls and for their families. Lift our leaders to God. Pray for our government, not against it.
Let’s review:
To be the best possible Christian citizen, we need to recognize and seek God’s continued grace on us as a nation.
We need to obey and support the government.
We need to get involved in the process.
We need to pray for our leaders.
And lastly, and most importantly of all, we need to…
V. Remember where our citizenship really lies.
Folks, do you understand that if Christ is your Savior, you have a home where you will spend eternity?
I want you to go to one other passage in the Bible and read along. Turn to Philippians 3:17-21, found on page 832 –
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.
Listen closely here:
Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
We need an eternal perspective on this stuff of earth!
Yes, our world is full of hurt. Our country is not only far from perfect, it’s right close to being downright depraved at times.
Yes, our government can be corrupt.
Yes, it seems that the evil people are getting the upper hand sometimes.
But ladies and gentleman, the time is coming when we won’t be facing the hassles of our world anymore, but rather facing the glory of heaven, in the presence of the Lord God Almighty, the creator of the heavens and the earth, who sent His Son so we could look past the hurts, look past the anger, look past the problems and see what God has got for us when we leave this world!
Yearn for your real home in heaven. When Marcin (my foreign exchange student) lived here, he liked it. He enjoys America, and he’s coming back to America for college.
But you know what? Sometimes he got homesick for Poland. Why? America has more opportunity than Poland, right? What does Poland have to offer that America can’t offer in greater abundance?
It goes without saying that they don’t have the Minnesota Twins or John Wayne! Why would he want to go back there?
Because that’s where his heart was. He lived in America, but his heart lived in Poland.
We live in America, but as Christians, our heart lives for heaven.
If you want to be the best possible Christian citizen of the US, then become a great citizen of heaven, and you will make an impact on this world.
Conclusion
There’s a saying that goes, “Freedom’s never free.”
Folks, you and I live in a country that cost men their lives to make free. They paid the ultimate sacrifice, and some are still doing it, so you and I can be free citizens of the greatest country on earth.
You can have a home in heaven because Someone else died to make you free. Jesus paid the ultimate price so you and I could be free citizens of a heavenly kingdom.
I said just a few moments ago that citizens of heaven can be the best citizens on earth, and the main reason for that is because we can look beyond the troubles and problems of our country to see the wondrous joy of heaven that waits for citizens of heaven.
So in closing, let me ask you – are you a citizen of heaven?
If you were to die today, would you have a home in heaven? What would you say if God asked you why He should let you into heaven?
It won’t be good enough to say you were an American. It won’t be good enough to say you gave to charity. It won’t be good enough to say you went to church, even in America.
The only way to become a citizen of heaven is to walk across the bridge of life that Christ made with His blood.
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus said that if you hear His Words and believe the Father, you have crossed over from death to life.
You see, you are a citizen of one of two places: heaven or hell. There is no other choice, according to God’s Word, the Bible.
You did not choose where you were born, but you can choose where you will spend
eternity.
Choose to be a citizen of heaven, by turning from your sins and trusting in Christ to bring you to heaven. I will be praying in just a moment, and if you want to become a citizen of heaven, then you will have that opportunity.
For the rest of us, I want to pray that God would prompt each of us to be the best Christian citizens we can possibly be, for His glory and for the advancement of His kingdom.
Shall we pray?
(Prayer)
If you prayed with me to take Christ as your Savior, you have become a citizen of heaven, but more importantly, you have become a child of God, with access to the Father for every need and care.
What a wonderful privilege!
If you prayed for that today, I need you to do me a favor. On your response card, I would like you to write on the back that you prayed to trust Christ as your Savior.
Just write, “prayed the prayer,” or “trusted Christ,” or whatever. I’ll know what you mean. I have a booklet I want to give you to help you in your life for Christ, so make sure you leave your name and address on the card, or better yet, tell me or Lowell.
We would love to pray with you before you leave here today, and we will give you the booklet right away.
God bless you.
As we close, let’s stand and sing, “God Bless America.”
