9/22/24 — Faithful Christian Citizenship

Introduction

Funny Church signs.

• Opening humor: “Two things you shouldn’t talk about—religion and politics.”

• Acknowledge the tension: Politics is a risky subject, especially for pastors.

• Context: Heightened political tension, particularly in a presidential election year.

• Personal note: You’re three hours away from your church, so you feel more at ease addressing the subject.

• Main question: How do we live as good citizens, balancing our dual identity as citizens of heaven and this world?

• Purpose: Explore what the Bible teaches about being good citizens, not only for the sake of winning souls but also in engaging with community issues and political discourse.

Engage with a Kingdom Mindset

Matthew 5:13–16 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

• Salt’s distinctiveness: Salt preserves and flavors, but if it loses its saltiness, it’s useless. We must retain our distinctiveness as Christians.

• Historical context of salt: Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt, highlighting its value.

• Illustration: Salt dissolving in water, symbolic of Christians losing their influence when not distinct.

• Light’s visibility: Light matters, especially in darkness. Just like a city on a hill, Christians are called to shine in a world that’s morally lost.

• Illustration: Personal experience of being in darkness during a power outage or visiting Pioneer Village with minimal light.

• Moral compass: Christians are meant to shine God’s truth in a confused world where moral lines are blurred.

• Application: We are not meant to live in a compound, but to be visible in our communities, so others see our good works and glorify God. This must be balanced with humility—our good deeds should be evident, but not for show.

Speaking of which, Paul wrote this.

Romans 13:1–7 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Dad said I had to wait until I had been in ministry 10 years to preach on Romans. So in 2022 I got to get started.

Paul reminds the believers in Rome that all authority eventually comes from God. You don’t like our government leaders? Try reading what the Roman government was like during the time of Paul?!

Paul calls Christians to obey laws, pay taxes and give respect when it is due.

Commentary on levels of respect. from Ryan

Now, God doesn’t just call us to passive compliance. But instead we are called to active, respectful engagement.

1 Timothy 2:1–4 ESV

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

we are called to pray for kings and rulers and others in high position and for all people. That we may live a peaceful and quiet life. Godly and dignified in every way. In the church world, we like to think of this just through the lens of salvation and people coming to faith in Jesus Christ, and that is crucial. but the reality is, we don’t just live at the church building. We can’t just raise our children in Sunday school, they have to eat and sleep and go to school. Our prayers should go out to Kings and those in authority. We should pray for our mayor for our city council for our senator and our state representatives.

A few practical ideas to apply:

Pray before engaging in discussions

: Before entering any conversation about politics, culture, or social issues, ask God to guide your words and attitude, so you speak with grace and truth.

Volunteer in your community

: Get involved in a local organization that aligns with godly values, such as a food bank, homeless shelter, or community outreach program.

Support local schools

: Attend school board meetings, volunteer in classrooms, or pray for students and teachers. Be a positive influence in the local education system.

Influence with Integrity and Love

Micah 6:8 ESV

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

live in a world that violently disagrees as to what is good. We live in the world that talks about health problems, but can’t quite defined what is a healthy mind. This passes where the profit Micah shares he tells the people that God has defined what is good. He has defined what the Lord requires and for the Israelites it’s the covenant the law that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

And with regards to other people this is what the Law God gave to His people teaches.

Leviticus 19:18 ESV

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Romans 13:9 ESV

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

And again we go back to this passage the call that God places on his people is to do justice. That first one it takes action to pursue justice. Justice doesn’t just happen. Many times it has to be fought for.

Micah 6:8 ESV

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

What if our lives were marked by simplicity. We do and pursue justice. We love kindness and walk humbly with God. That should define our citizenship and our witness before our world.

1 Peter 2:11–17 ESV

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

he starts off reminding us of our dual identity. That we belong to another kingdom, but we need to live with integrity. We belong to another kingdom so we can’t live like the people in this kingdom.

Here are some practical examples:

Write a letter to a public official

: Send a respectful letter or email to a local representative, expressing your thoughts on a community issue, while affirming their role and offering prayers for them.

Practice listening

: In conversations about divisive issues, focus on listening well before speaking. Try to understand the other person’s perspective and ask questions rather than immediately defending your own views.

Model forgiveness and grace

: If you’ve had a falling out with someone over a political or social issue, take the initiative to forgive, ask for forgiveness, or reconcile, showing Christ-like love.

Be a voice for the voiceless

: Get involved in causes like supporting the homeless, advocating for the unborn, or working for racial reconciliation—speak up for justice in areas where others are being mistreated.

Promote unity in your church or community

: Organize or participate in efforts that bring together different parts of the community, such as inter-church gatherings or neighborhood clean-ups, focusing on shared values rather than division.

Trust in God’s Sovereignty

Daniel 2:20–21 ESV

20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

People say the only thing certain is death and taxes.

The reality is, we should add another thing to this list. Change.

People change.

Governments and rulers change.

Countries come and go

And God is the one who changes kings and kingdoms.

Our ultimate hope is not in an earthly king or kingdom. It is in God.

Philippians 3:20 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

That's how we live as Christians. We live hoping and waiting for or true home. For our citizenship in heaven. That means that our priorities our identity should come far more from our relationship with our behavior than our political strain.

Revelation 11:15 ESV

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

Let go of political anxiety

: Each time you feel stressed or anxious about current events, remind yourself that God is in control and pray for peace, choosing to trust Him rather than worrying about outcomes.

Begin and end each day with scripture

: Start and end your day by reading the Bible, focusing on verses that remind you of God’s sovereignty (like Psalm 46 or Daniel 2:20-21) to ground your thoughts in His control.

Limit news consumption

: If the news is causing you stress or fear, limit your intake and instead focus on what God is doing in your life and your community.

Share testimonies of God’s faithfulness

: When someone shares concerns about the world, remind them of a time when God showed His faithfulness in your life, pointing to His sovereignty in difficult circumstances.

Surrender your worries in prayer

: If you find yourself worrying about the future, take those concerns to God in prayer and ask Him to help you trust in His ultimate authority.

Conclusion

Tug of War Rope Illustration

Explanation and Tie-In:

Step 1: Dual Tension (Our Dual Citizenship)

• Start by explaining that each side of the rope represents a different aspect of our dual citizenship: one side represents our heavenly citizenship (being salt and light, living for God’s kingdom), and the other side represents our earthly citizenship (engaging in community, following laws, participating in the world).

• Ask the volunteers to start lightly pulling the rope, illustrating the tension we feel as Christians—pulled between these two roles.

Step 2: Engaging with a Kingdom Mindset

• Explain that living as citizens of heaven means we must engage with a kingdom mindset. Point out that the “heavenly” side of the rope represents our calling to be salt and light in the world.

• As they tug, emphasize that if we only pull toward heaven (i.e., isolating ourselves from the world or focusing only on personal faith), we miss the opportunity to influence the world and live out our mission. The tension would be unbalanced, and the rope could slack on the earthly side.

Step 3: Influencing with Integrity and Love

• Next, explain that living in this world requires us to influence with integrity and love, engaging with the world and community.

• As the “earthly” side pulls, explain that if we only pull toward earthly engagement (i.e., getting overly absorbed in politics or social matters without grounding ourselves in God’s kingdom), we lose sight of our higher calling and compromise our distinctiveness. The rope would slack on the heavenly side.

Step 4: Trusting in God’s Sovereignty

• Finally, demonstrate that the key to holding this tension in balance is trusting in God’s sovereignty. Both sides of the rope must remain in balance, reflecting our need to engage with both worlds without losing trust in God’s ultimate control.

• Ask the volunteers to find a balance where neither side is pulling too hard, but both are applying equal effort. This shows how we should maintain our faith in God’s plan, participating actively in both realms without being overwhelmed by either.

Conclusion:

• Explain that, like this rope, we are often pulled between the tension of heaven and earth, but by engaging with a kingdom mindset, influencing with love, and trusting in God’s sovereignty, we can live faithfully as good citizens in both realms.

• The tension on the rope represents the balance we must strive for, but remind the congregation that God is holding the rope. He ensures that, no matter how we feel pulled, His sovereignty keeps everything in balance.

Thank you.

Let’s live out faithful Christian citizenship by engaging in culture, influencing others through Christlike love, and trusting in God’s Ultimate plan.