The Responsibilities Of A Christian Citizen

PUBLIC SERVANT APPRECIATION SERVICE 2004

The past 8 weeks have been somewhat trying for those of us here in Florida. During that time we have been hit by no less than 4 hurricanes. It has gotten so bad that I can tell you the number for the Weather Channel on our TV, and have even formed an opinion about which of our local weathermen is the most accurate. During the past few weeks I was reminded that many of our weather people don’t have enough sense to get in out of the rain.

There is something else I was reminded of over the past few weeks, and that is what a “God-blessed” country we live in.

Tell me, what other country has the resources and the heart to station troops in nations around the world to protect freedom-loving people everywhere? What other nation, while shouldering that responsibility also has the strength to simultaneously fight terrorists in two other countries? What other nation has the strength to meet those obligations while enduring and helping its citizens recover from the devastation of 4 hurricanes? What other nation can do all of that, while at the same time sending money and supplies to Haiti to help them recover from a hurricane, and all of that while its citizens continue to support thousands of missionaries around the world?

Oh my friends, the United States of America is a God-designed, God-created, and God-blessed nation. It was planned by God, founded by Christians, and protected and blessed by God. The Psalmist was so right when he said in Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

But, my friend, a nation is not blessed by accident. It does not happen in a vacuum. God has laid out for us, His plan for a God-blessed nation.

- Read Romans 13:1-7

Our government doesn’t get much respect these days. It seems that no one is happy with it, except perhaps the people living under other governments and trying to get into this country, and yet the Bible says, here in verse 1, that God established government. God is so concerned for us that He established government authorities to help our society operate according to His plan. Our nation would be spoiled, even more than it is, if sinful man was allowed to engage in all manner of evil, even everyone was allowed to do what was right in his own eye. So, God established government to punish evil and to reward those who do right.

Evidently the founding fathers understood that for they wrote in the preamble to our constitution that they were forming a new government: to establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and to secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.

In the first 6 months of this year, 82 Law Enforcement Officers, and nearly as many firefighters gave their lives doing that very thing. In the last year, over 1000 of our soldiers have given their lives defending us. During the recent hurricanes, most of our public servants worked days on end, sometimes around the clock protecting and serving us.

Are our public servants perfect? No, and neither is our government, but with limited time and limited resources, most are doing the best they can to take care of you and me. The question we come to address today, is what is our responsibility to them? What is required of Godly citizens?

GODLY CITIZENS ARE:

1. Obedient people – v1

Verse 1 says, let every person be in subjection. In other words, we are to obedient. We are to be law-abiding citizens. That means we are to obey traffic signs. That means we are to obey zoning ordinances. That means we are to pay our taxes, all of them. Verse 2 says to break the law is to stand against God’s authority. My friend, when you break the law, you are not only going against man’s law but you are going against God Himself.

Let me ask you, do you obey the law or do you take the law into your own hands, deciding which ones you will obey and which ones you won’t? Do you allow your children to do that? Do you believe God wants His children to? Unless the government commands you to do something which goes against God’s commands, you are to obey the law. Godly citizens are obedient people.

2. Teaching people –

> Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed. Not only are Godly citizens obedient, but they teach others, to be as well. Let me ask you, do you teach your children to obey the law? Do you teach them to be respectful of authorities? … Let me ask you, are your children riding their 4-wheelers where they have no business riding them? … I ride as a chaplain in this district, in Geneva, Choleota, and Oviedo. I know. People who have something, who have built something, have trouble with children and such tearing up their stuff …