Citizenship Matters (It’s Not What You Think)

Introduction

In a few short weeks, we will be going to the poles to elect a new president. Every time I think about that, I find myself asking—pessimistically—”In a nation of 300 million people, are these really the two best people we could find?”

Regardless of our opinion of the two main candidates, we have a decision to make. It’s an important decision; it always is.

As important as this decision is, churches across America are frequently told, and just as frequently feel compelled, to stay out of politics: “Separation of church and state” is the common advice.

This statement prompts several questions:

Question 1

What does the separation of church and state mean?

According to the National Park Service (https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/church_state_historical.htm#:~:text=What%20does%20“the%20separation%20of,of%20the%20affairs%20of%20religion.)

The earliest mention of the separation of church and state comes from Roger Williams, a Puritan minister who founded a new form of government based on this idea. Williams referenced ‘a high wall’ between church and state to keep the ‘wilderness’ of governments out of the affairs of religion.

Historically, the separation of church and state has been the principle of keeping the government out of the church. Not sure that really applies to churches talking about politics.

Question 2

Aren’t most “political issues” really moral issues?

Most of the hot-button issues facing our country today are either directly, or indirectly, moral issues. What are the top issues? That depends on who you ask, so let me ask you.

What, in your opinion, are the top political issues in our country right now. And, are they purely political or is there a significant moral issue embedded in them?

Question 3

Since most, if not all, “political issues” are significant moral issues, shouldn’t the church, teaching biblical moral truths be allowed to comment?

Question 4

Do you really mean you to keep biblical truths out of the public square, and as far away from your opinions as possible? I can actually respect the courage of that request, even though I don’t think we should honor the request itself.

Christians should absolutely bring biblical truth to bear in the making of our political decisions. But how do we do that? That is what I want to explore over the next several weeks. I don’t think these ideas will be all that surprising to most of us, but sometimes we need to be reminded of what we know.

Transition

I think the first reminder that we need is that citizenship matters. That already sounds politically scandalous, but I don’t mean what you think I do when I say it. I am not talking about immigration, per se, nor do I wish to address the political and moral underpinnings of the immigration debate. What I do want to talk about is my citizenship—and yours— and the implications of that.

Illumination

We are citizens of another kingdom

We began our service with a reading from Philippians 3, allow me to highlight one verse from that reading.

Philippians 3:20 NKJV

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

And there is a similar verse in Ephesians 2.

Ephesians 2:19–20 NKJV

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

The Apostle Paul, a Roman citizen himself, said that he and his readers had their citizenship in a kingdom ruled by Jesus Christ and peopled with citizens from around the world and the clock. Our citizenship is voluntary, but no less real than any nationalistic concept of citizenship.

This is all something explored even more fully in Hebrews 11.

We are aliens in our own country

Hebrews 11:13–16 NKJV

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Our Confession

We are strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Strangers = outsiders, guests

Pilgrims = people sojourning through one land, to another land

Our Declaration

We seek a homeland.

Our native country is the place we are going to not the place we are coming from.

Even though we have never physically been to Jesus’ Kingdom, it is our homeland and the source of our identity and culture.

Our Destination

Our destination is our heavenly country.

If we focus too heavily on the country we are from, we will find ourselves returning to it.

It is only through focusing our attention and desire on a better land that we inherit the identity of that land.

Conclusion

”This world is not my home, I’m just passing through.” It is more than lyrics to a song. It is the truth of Scripture for us. It is a description of our experience.

When next we engage in the political process of this country, we need to remember where our citizenship really lies. Jesus is our King. His laws are the laws that we follow. His promises are the promises we cling to. His principles are the principles we promote. Yes, it will ensure we are seen as outsiders. Not only is that ok, it is preferred, or should be.

America is an interesting, sometimes conflicted land. Once upon a time, a group of people combined biblical principles and political acumen to create this country. It is a great country and I am glad to be from it. I believe its greatness is a result of the biblical principles upon which it was founded. I also believe that its woes, from the earliest days, were a result of the political acumen upon which it was founded.

Because of the biblical tenants in our history, tenants that match those of our real citizenship, we have felt homey here, maybe too much so. As the politics separate further and further from those biblical tenants, we feel much less homey. And that may be a good thing. It forces us to recognize that this is not really our homeland.

Application

How do we apply this truth? I cannot say what the direct application would be: no simple go there, do this proscription here. But it is truth that should undergird our whole existence and engagement with this world, this country, and this election.