OUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone. Ephesians 2:19-20
Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for paying the tax." And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar’s." Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s."
"And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away." Matthew 22:15-22.
Regardless of what part of the world in which a Christian lives, he has, at least, dual citizenship. In some circumstances multiple citizenships. For most of us, we are citizens of our mother country, and, as children of God, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. We are physically born into one and spiritually born into the other. For those of us who are citizens of the United States and have been born from above, we are doubly blessed. Let us consider both of our citizenships.
WE ARE GREATLY BLESSED TO BE CITIZENS OF THE U.S.
In spite of her grievous shortcomings (legalized abortion, mounting budget deficits, uncontrolled “pork-barrel” spending, courts rejecting expression of faith, etc.), this is still the greatest nation on earth! The blessings that are ours as citizens of the United States overwhelming outweigh the negatives one might list. Let us diligently work to correct any deficiency we may find. Exercising the constitutional right of the free ballot is the best way for us to right any wrong we perceive.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS U.S. CITIZENS
1. Obey and support our governing authorities.
“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God…” Romans 13:1-2
If Paul instructed the Christians of Rome to obey the laws of the Roman government and to “be in subjection” to the rule of its murderous Caesar, how much more would the Apostle instruct us to obey the laws of our country and honor our leaders.
2. Pay our just taxes.
“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.” Romans 13:6-7
We may not agree with the existing tax code and we may question how our tax money is spent, but God’s Word instructs us to pay them nonetheless.
3. Pray for our nation and its leaders.
Fervent prayer to God for our nation and its leaders will accomplish more than all the petitions we can write or demonstrations we can organize. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16.
THE GREATEST BLESSING OF ALL IS TO BE A “CITIZEN” OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. We have been…
1. Chosen: “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Thessalonians 2:13-14
2. Called: “God has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” II Timothy 1:9.
3. Changed: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”
4. Commissioned: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
5. Charged: “You know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” I Thessalonians 2:11-12
CONCLUSION
While we as Christians rejoice in the unceasing victory and joy we find in our faith, let us continually pray that our nation will turn again to the God of our forefathers. Samuel Cole in his poem “Washington at Valley Forge” tells us how this strength can be found.
The sun went down o’er Valley Forge
In the cheerless wintry air;
Day after day the sun went down,
And no man seemed to care;
For day and night alike were fraught
With suffering and disease ---
Yet one man rose, when the camp was still,
And went out under the trees.
His heart was heavy, his burden great;
He thought of his hungry men;
He thought of the torn, distracted land
That longed for peace again.
And then he knelt and prayed --- but not
To the gods of wood and stone;
He prayed to the God of truth and right,
There under the trees alone.
The stars seemed nearer than before:
A friendlier light they shed;
Great branches like protecting arms
Were stretched above his head;
Something the spirit of earth and air
Whispered in gentle tone ---
As the father of his country knelt
There under the trees alone.
When morning came, and, as he wont,
He passed from place to place,
They wondered at the look serene
They saw upon his face.
“What keeps the General’s courage up
In doleful days like these?”
They asked, because they did not know
What happened under the trees.
Yes, beloved, in Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s immortal words, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”
AMEN.
