“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.”
—Romans 13:1
As Christians we enjoy a unique dual citizenship. Because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our personal relationship with Him, we are citizens not of this world, but of the next.
We have a heavenly allegiance to Christ and we also have an earthly allegiance to Him, for we’re told that while we’re on earth we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ here and now.
But not only do we have a heavenly citizenship, we also have a citizenship on earth. We have a national and state citizenship. Wherever we may live, and many of us are privileged to be Americans, we have certain responsibilities on the earthly, temporal level.
America was founded by men and women of faith, character, and conviction. The Founders believed in and practiced the principles of God’s Word. Christian faith and godly principles underpin the very documents that brought about the birth of this nation and have seen it succeed these many years.
Because we believe in our God and in our Lord Jesus Christ, we accept seriously the responsibility to be good citizens and to give honor to whom honor is due.
As Christians, we are to influence our government and our nation. The concept of separation of church and state never included the idea that we are to be separated from influencing or participating in the activities of a civil government.
This begins with voting, not based on party loyalty, but to protect our religious liberty and reflect our godly principles.
Don’t put your head in the sand on this issue. Our religious liberty and faith are under attack by elected officials, members of the judiciary, and state and national bureaucrats. Pray for the leaders of all parties, but vote for those officials whom you know will fight for your right to hold your beliefs, freely share your beliefs, and practice your beliefs.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”
Philippians 3:17–20
The Scottish preacher Ambrose Shepherd was forced to begin working at a very young age to help support his family. Already a Christian, he stood out in an ungodly environment. Shepherd wrote, “My earlier years were spent in a Lancashire cloth mill. In it I wrought from morning to night side by side with youths of my own age and men who were older. For the most part, young and old, they were practiced in almost every conceivable coarse and brutal way of casting their existence as rubbish to the void. But I think I can truthfully say, that while I tried to be loyal to the conditions of contract, and as a comrade in the ranks was not unpopular, yet they knew that neither within those grim walls nor without them was I of their world.”
God did not call us to fit in with those around us. Instead, He calls us to live on a different level. It should be apparent to everyone who knows us that there is something that sets us apart from the rest of the world. This does not come about from a hypocritical outward holiness such as the Pharisees practiced, but rather from a heart that is in love with God and longs for the day when we will see His face. If we love the things of this world, we will never love Him as we should.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Our home is in Heaven, and our hearts should be fixed on the things there rather than the things of Earth.
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