Citizens of Heaven, Impacting Earth
Matthew 5:14-16; Philippians 3:20
October 6, 2002
Introduction
Today is Faith and Freedom Sunday, a special day of prayer and instruction started by the Alliance Defense Fund, founded by such people as Dr. James Dobson, Bill Bright, and Larry Burkett.
The purpose of this time together today is to give us an opportunity to examine the ways that Christians can be involved in our society.
You see, folks, we are to impact our society with the gospel of Christ, and we cannot do that by just telling people about Jesus.
We do it also by modeling Christ-like behavior, and encouraging Christ-like behavior in our society, including our government.
But some questions come up that need to be addressed when we look at this hot issue.
How do we answer the charge that religion and government should never mix?
How do we answer the charge that you cannot legislate morality?
How do we answer the charge that Christians are just a bunch of right-wing religious zealots?
How do we show ourselves as informed, reasoned, and reasonable citizens who care for the well-being of our wonderful country?
My hope is to answer those questions today as I seek to encourage you to get involved in ways that show the love of Christ and the moral requirements of a holy God.
I operate under the assumption that Christians have a holy obligation to be involved, and I will spend the rest of the message telling you why and how.
So let’s just jump on in, shall we?
The first thing I want to discuss today is…
I. Why Get Involved.
“Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.”
(Edmund Burke)
A. Our rights to freedom of religion are endangered.
It is a common misconception in our country that the first amendment of our Constitution separates church and state.
That is not the case, however. Allow me to read the first amendment to you.
“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Did you hear anything in there that said government and religion should not mix? Did you hear anything about the separation of church and state?
If you did, you didn’t listen correctly.
The Constitution forbids the government from setting up a national religion, and from prohibiting the free exercise of religion.
Let me say this another way: the Constitution is not meant to protect government from religion, but rather to protect religion from the government.
Let me ask you another question: what is the purpose of government?
The answers run the gamut, from defending its citizens, to providing jobs and welfare for able-bodied people who refuse to work.
But according the 1 Peter, the government has just two purposes: to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
I would think that all of us here would agree that our government does WAY more than that.
Folks, as citizens of this nation, we have a sacred duty and obligation to speak out against injustice and insist that our constitutional right of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right of dissent, and the right to petition the government for the correction of injustices be honored and preserved.
These rights are protected by law and cannot arbitrarily denied by those who oppose the gospel and seek to intimidate and silence Christ’s witnesses.
Back to the question of whether or not religion and government should mix. Why can’t we just let the government be the government and we just stay out of it?
Two things: first, the government has involved itself already by including in the first amendment the freedom of religion, and pledging its protection.
Second, the government has involved itself on federal, state, and local levels by abusing and re-interpreting that amendment and intruding into the lives of religious people (and especially Christians).
Let me just give you a few examples:
In Wisconsin, an eight-year-old girl was denied her right to share Valentines in her class because they had the message, “Jesus Loves You.” After an ugly court battle, she was told she could distribute them, but it was well after the fact.
In Colorado, a swim coach was denied access to city recreation facilities because he mentioned Christ to some of his students.
And regarding abortion, the government, in the form of the Supreme Court, decided that the government could allow parents to snuff out the lives of their children in the womb.
Doctor Laura calls abortion “capital punishment for the only innocent party involved.”
Christianity and the government are already inseparably linked. The issue is how to influence our government to govern by godly principles.
Our rights are continually under attack, and we need to stand and defend them.
The second reason we need to be involved is that…
B. We are commanded by God to impact our society.
Matthew 5:14-16
MT 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
As I mentioned before, the gospel is more than the good news of Christ. It also includes the Sermon on the Mount, and the book of James that tells us that if we know the good we ought to do but don’t do it, it is sin.
Here’s a quick history quiz: what issue was the single biggest issue in the formation of the Wesleyan church?
Slavery. Orange Scott, an abolitionist, worked to have the Methodist Church regard slavery as sin. He was basically kicked out of the denomination, and so he, along with others who held a Biblical view of human dignity, began a movement that later became a denomination, The Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America, which we know today as the Wesleyan Church.
It was a social issue, not a theological or doctrinal issue. Doctrinal issues played a major part, particularly issues of personal holiness, but it was the social issue of slavery that got the ball rolling.
Who started the soup kitchens, orphanages, homeless shelters, and such?
The Christians. Christians have a two-thousand year history of working to alleviate social, physical, and spiritual suffering.
Folks, if you are living a life that reflects the love of Christ and the holiness of God, you cannot help but influence those around you, in one form or another.
You may not convince anybody, but you are being noticed.
This leads me to the next point.
C. Examples of godly people making a difference.
D.L. Moody, William and Catherine Booth, Abraham Lincoln, William Wilberforce.
Present-day: Mother Teresa, Billy Graham.
Christians must be involved, because our freedoms are under attack, and because the gospel of Jesus compels us to bring His light to a dark world.
II. How to Get Involved.
A. Understand your real citizenship.
Philippians 3:20
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Peter 2 tells us we are aliens and strangers in this world.
This helps my attitude when I see freedoms being squelched in our country, little by little. The time will come when freedom of religion won’t be an issue, because I’ll be in heaven, where no earthly government can touch me.
Next,…
B. Isolate yourself.
Stay uninvolved, and hope that Jesus comes back before our rights are totally eradicated.
Pastor Martin Niemoller wrote the following in October 1945.
In Germany they first came for the Communists,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Trade Unionist,
And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
And I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me….
And by that time there was no one left to speak up.
You can tell that I don’t think much of the option of burying your head.
So if isolating yourself is not the answer, what is? We can…
C. Do something.
1. Know the issues. Be aware of your rights. Know what the Bible says about things and why the world disagrees.
For example, it’s not enough to know that God frowns on the homosexual agenda.
Know WHY God grieves over homosexuality and why granting special rights is harmful to our society.
By the way, here’s one reason: the role of government has nothing to do with granting rights to special interests groups, according to 1 Peter.
The next thing we can do is…
2. Vote.
3. Use public forums.
(be reasoned, articulate, and respectful)
4. Contact public officials and lawmakers.
(legislating morality)
5. Pray for government officials.
D. Live authentically, as a citizen of heaven living in a foreign world.
2 Chron. 7:14
14 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.
Ask God to make you a living example of the Sermon on the Mount, who can love your neighbor as yourself, and who can treat others as you would have them treat you.
Conclusion
Caution – the kingdom of God is not brought about through government.
But be positive – don’t live a defeatist attitude. The gospel of Christ can win, and it will, in the end.
We live in the country with the most religious freedoms in the world, and we can be grateful to God.
Go and make a difference, in the name of Jesus, to a lost and dying world, and stand firm in the freedoms we have. Don’t allow them to be taken from us by inaction on our part.
May God be pleased to shine His light through His church, as never before.
Shall we pray.
