Background Passages: I Peter 2:11-17; Titus 3:1-2; Matthew 22:37-40 and Micah 6:8
“We the people of the United States of America, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America.”
Mr. Watts, my history teacher back in Ropes High School, required us to memorize the Preamble to the Constitution. Despite it being over 50 years since I committed those words to memory, most of them came easily during this 4th of July week as I prepared to lead a discussion with a group of young adults from my church on the topic of politics, government and Christian citizenship.
The opening words to the Constitution seemed a good place to start since they pretty much establish government’s responsibility to its citizens. This curious group of men and women who gathered at my house had questions about our responsibility as Christians in a world that does not often reflect Christian values. Given the divisive tone echoing in most political debates today, it seems a good question.
The early history of the church was a tangled mess of politics and religion. Once the Roman emperor Constantine gave Christianity legal status in 313 AD and Theodosius declared the Christian faith the official religion of Rome, the next 1400 years found the political leaders across the centuries engaged in a constant battle for power with the Church, each dominating the other at various times through history.
As European culture expanded into the New World, ostensibly searching for religious freedom, each British colony established an official church and restricted religious freedom to that specific denomination or sect while ostracizing or persecuting those who believed or worshipped differently.
When the founding fathers drafted the Constitution, there was only one reference to religion in Article VI that prohibited any religious test as a requirement for public service. Those early colonies with their official church limited public service to members of the official church.
Interestingly, it was a couple of Baptist pastors who pushed Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to include a statement on religious liberty in the Bill of Rights which were later amended into the Constitution.
The First Amendment, known as the Establishment Clause, declared that “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
In its strictest interpretation, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prevents the federal government from establishing a national church or religion and more broadly says that the federal government cannot adopt a stance in favor of or against any religion. Nor can the federal government prohibit the free exercise or expression of religion. It gives everyone the right to believe and practice one’s religion or to have no faith at all.
It wasn’t until the late 19th century that the 14th Amendment placed similar restrictions on state governments. Until that time some states still provided public support to the state’s officially recognized church.
Jefferson wrote that the First Amendment “built a wall of separation between church and state.” As he introduced the First Amendment, Madison said the amendment would make it possible for “each individual to decide for himself whether or not he wants to be religious, and if he does, what religion best suits his conscience.”
We could engage in very real conversations about whether the government is making it harder to practice one’s faith, but that conversation ultimately leads to a discussion about what Christian citizenship should look like. The biblical writers provide a glimpse into what God desires of his people as they wrestle with the balance between politics and faith.
Jeremiah certainly understood this tension between government and religion. He proclaimed God’s word in a time when the people of Israel had been conquered and taken into exile by Babylon. He wrote a letter to the elders, the priests and the people carried away by Nebuchadnezzar telling them how to live as God’s people while in exile.
He encouraged them to settle down, build houses, plant gardens and have families. He told them to live life to its fullest even under these extraordinarily difficult circumstances. He wrote,
“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Jeremiah 28:7)
God’s people found themselves in a foreign land, one that lived and believed differently than they did. Yet, God put them there for a purpose. (…I have carried you into exile…) He told them to pray for the peace and prosperity of the city that took them from their homes because in its welfare they would find their own welfare.
It seems then that the first order of business for a Christian citizen is to pray for those in power and for the welfare of the nation because if it prospers, we too will prosper. The writer of 2 Chronicles added to that element a need to make sure our hearts are right when we pray.
…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Given that we aren’t always privy to God’s purpose and plan and that we need to be acting within God’s purpose and plan, it seems proper to pray and trust his providence no matter how long it takes for that to be realized. God’s timing is not always our timing.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 28:11)
Christian citizenship also requires us to put a little trust in our leaders…to a point. If you believe that God is in control, then no one rises to power without his allowing it. Living under authority of Rome, Paul urged the people of the early church to be subject to the governing rulers for there is “no authority except that God has established.” (Romans 13:1)
It was an idea echoed by Peter in one of his letters to believers, many of whom were facing some level of persecution at the hands of the Roman authorities.
Dear brothers, I urge you as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority, whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. (I Peter 2:11-17)
That doesn’t mean that Christians give blind obedience to those in authority. There may be times when obedience to Christ calls us to put our lives at risk as we oppose evil. I’m thinking about necessary Christian opposition to all that Hitler and a host of tyrants like him represented.
I also don’t believe that Peter suggests that we should not question and even speak against policies and laws that we believe run counter to what is morally and spiritually right. However, I think both Paul and Peter would agree that there is a Christ-like way of dissenting against those who rule over us.
When Paul tells the Roman believers to submit to authority, he does so within the context of words spoken in Romans 12. He talks about “blessing those who persecute you,” “living in harmony” with those outside the faith, “repaying no one with evil for evil,” but give thought in what is “noble in the sight of all.” He urged them, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Both Paul and Peter teach that a Christians response to government ought to advance the cause of Christ. That cannot be done if we behave like someone who doesn’t know him.
Peter’s idea of good Christian citizenship was to live such good lives that those in authority would see a difference in how they lived compared to the rest of the empire. He wanted their lives to serve as a guiding testimony that might lead others to know Christ. They could do that by showing proper respect to all, loving each other, revering God and honoring the emperor. It was a tall order.
Lest you think it was just Peter’s opinion, Paul wrote a similar thought to Titus.
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always be gentle toward everyone. (Titus 3:1-2)
It’s a Christ-like attitude he describes when he talks about obedience, doing good for others, and talking badly about anyone. He wanted them to live in peace, being considerate and gentle in their dealings and their disagreements with their fellow man and the authorities. Expressing our opinions and beliefs in ways that advance the cause of Christ rather than diminish it.
In his book Back to Bedrock: Messages on Historic Baptist Faith, Dr. Paul Powell, dean of Truett Seminary at Baylor University, suggests that if we truly believe in religious liberty, that everyone is free to receive or reject the gospel, our opposition to laws we believe run counter to God’s law must be expressed, as Paul suggested to Titus, in love and gentleness, peaceably and with respect and consideration for the beliefs of others.
Powell wrote, “This was Jesus’ style. He never coerced, bribed, deceived or threatened people. He made his position known and respected their freedom of choice.” He said, “We are to share the gospel, not shove it.”
In a time when many Christians feel the government is shoving new laws down their throats, the natural human reaction is to shove back. Ramp up the rhetoric, vilifying the laws and those who support it. The conversations become rancid and rancorous…wholly un-holy.
That’s not to say Christians should not oppose issues that go against what we believe. However, there is a Christ-like way of doing so. One that glorifies God. One that keeps the door open for healing and redemption. One that expresses love for others.
In our group Bible study this week, we talked about some of those pressing cultural issues like abortion, sexuality and gender issues, gay marriage, race relations and divorce. A whole host of societal questions. They wondered why the church does not speak out more about things many Christians might think of as issues that definitively run counter to Christian teaching.
I don’t know if I had the right answers. The older I get the more I struggle with things I once thought of as black and white issues. The shades of gray become more prominent with each passing year. Most issues seem more nuanced now than the simple right or wrong of my younger years.
I know Christian people who have had an abortion. I know Christian people who live an alternate lifestyle to my own. I know Christian people whose views of many of these critical issues of the day are tempered by their own personal experiences. Judging those perspectives is not my call.
Every individual is God’s creation, one who the father in heaven loves. Someone with whom God desires a relationship. If my opposition to a lifestyle or issue gets in the way of God’s redemptive work, I’ve probably failed in my responsibility to love. I’ve failed to leave the door open for God to be at work in my life and the one who believes differently than I.
What I know with certainty, if my words and actions amid the debate over these critical issues push people away from Christ, my sin is more egregious. Jesus embraced those who would not embrace him. He never pushed them away. He loved them anyway. He ate dinner with them. He offered his friendship.
He talked to them gently about the living water he offered while encouraging them to be set apart and different than the world around them. That ought to be my model for every relationship and on every topic up for debate.
George MacDonald, a Scottish poet and pastor, called Christianity a “two-handed religion.” He said Christians are to “hold fast to God with one hand and open wide the other to your neighbor.”
Think of what Jesus taught in his parable of the Good Samaritan. Life is like the Jericho road. It is a place where people get wounded. We, as Christians, play the role of the Samaritan, people who help others in need, whether they find themselves tossed into a ditch or have fallen into it by their own choices. No accusations. No name-calling. Just a willingness to open wide a hand to a neighbor.
The church ought to be like the inn in Jesus’ story. A welcoming place where the lonely, confused and hurting can be accepted, helped and healed.
I believe Christians ought to be knowledgeable and involved in government, politics and social action. There is a clear call in the Bible for Christian citizenship. It’s how we approach these things that makes the difference. Will we be reactionary or redemptive? I think God calls us to be the latter.
In Matthew’s gospel he tells of a time when a Pharisee tried to get the best of Jesus by asking him to name the greatest commandment.
Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
If all of God’s law hangs on these two commands from God, including those Christians use to support our arguments against various laws of our land, then my response to those issues needs to be tempered first and foremost by my love for God and my love for my neighbor. These commandments will change the way I talk about these issues and change the way I relate to those who think differently than I do.
Then, I fall back on one of my favorite verses in the Bible that outlines clearly what God demands of me as a Christian citizen.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)
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If nothing else, it’s something to think about during this Fourth of July week.