"Dual Citizenship"

PRAY

I was still pretty young when I first learned that the quickest way to get into an argument was to launch into a discussion about religion or politics.  And if you ever try to mix the two together, bring religion into politics, well, that’s sure to be a recipe for disaster.  However, as people of faith, as followers of Jesus Christ, we have some thoughts on faith and religion and what we profess to believe influences the way we think and act.  Similarly, as citizens of a democratic republic, we live within a political system and to a large degree what we think and do is, at least in part, shaped by the political realities of our society.  So I think it is important for us as people of faith to reflect on what we believe as Christians and how that informs the way we relate to one another in the political environment.

Once every four years we get the opportunity to let our voice be heard in the selection of our president.  The Democrats have just wrapped up their celebration in Denver.  The Republicans plan to meet this week in the Twin Cities.  Concerns about Hurricane Gustav may alter many of their plans.  For the next two months we are in for a no-holds-barred debate as the candidates and their supporters try to persuade the American people who should be the next president.  It’s going to be pretty hard for us to stay out of the fray. 

So, how does our faith influence our participation in the national debate?  What role does our faith play in the political arena?  And what are we to do when faith and politics collide?  That’s the subject of Paul’s discussion in Romans 13, the passage that Brenda just read. 

This is certainly one of the more controversial passages in the writings of Paul.  Scholars have debated it for centuries.  It seems reasonable to submit to a government that is fair and just, that safe-guards the basic human rights of all people.  But what about governments that are oppressive, that disregard the fundamental rule of law?  What about leaders who seem to personify evil?  Are we to believe those, too, are ordained by God?   That is what Paul says.

Listen again to verse 1:  “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.” 

Paul’s position stands clearly in line with the Old Testament and with Jewish teaching of the first century.  The argument went something like this.  First, as ruler of the entire universe, God controls all the affairs of human history.  That includes the governments of the world.  That means no person, no government, can ever thwart God’s will.  No matter how bad (or good) things may look at the present, God is in control.  That is the first tenet of Paul’s argument: God is in control.

Secondly, Paul believed that God’s desire is for order within all of creation.  That’s the message of Genesis chapter one.  From the instant of creation, God brought order out of chaos.  And God’s plan for order among societies employs human authority.  Governments exist to maintain order and provide basic protection for their subjects.  That is completely consistent with God’s desire for the world.  Time and again we have witnessed the fact that when governments fail, chaos reigns. 

Certainly in Paul’s day the government was far from perfect.  The Roman government enslaved and oppressed millions of people.  Historians record corruption at all levels of the Roman government.  However, Paul understood that although the existing government was flawed, it was better than no government at all.  Even though Paul had experienced persecution – more than once he had been falsely arrested and punished – he owed his life to the rule of law enforced by Roman magistrates.  As a Roman citizen he received protection from the state more than once when he had been wrongly accused.

It is also important to note that Paul’s statement about being subject to those in authority flows directly from his comments on genuine love.  Remember what I talked about last week?  When our love is genuine, when our love reflects the love of Christ, we will pray for those who persecute us.  We will seek to live in harmony with one another.  We will not return evil for evil.  It is not our place to seek revenge.  Punishment is God’s business Paul said.  For our part, we are to overcome evil with good.

Then in chapter 13 Paul sets forth his understanding of God’s plan for maintaining order in this present world.  God chooses to invest power in the governing authorities.  As individuals we are not to take matters into our own hands.  That leads to anarchy.  It is the government’s job to maintain order and insure justice.  It is government’s job to protect those who abide by the law and punish those who violate the law.  Paul says, “Whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”  “Do what is good,” Paul says, “and you will receive [the government’s] approval … but if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain.”

Paul argues that, as citizens of an earthly kingdom, as beneficiaries of the protections and services we enjoy, we are obligated to obey the law.  It is what God expects of us.  However, Paul also understands that we are citizens of a greater kingdom, the kingdom of God.  It is God who holds ultimate power.  It is God who permits governments to reign.  Remember what Jesus said to Pontius Pilate?  “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11).  Although Paul understood full-well the need for lawful obedience in order for society to function properly, he also knew his ultimate allegiance belonged to God.  In matters where God’s law is contradicted by human decrees, our first allegiance is to God.

It is also important to notice what Paul doesn’t talk about.  Paul does not address situations in which earthly rulers turn against God and God’s people.  This passage does not deal directly with earthly authorities, intent on perpetuating evil.  Across the ages faithful Christians have struggled to understand how to be faithful to God in the face of such extreme persecution.  In Paul’s day faithful Christians drew the line at calling Caesar “Lord.”  They insisted, often to the point of death, that no one was “Lord” except Jesus Christ.  The main point Paul wants to make to his first readers and also to us is that the way of Christ is not advanced by seeking to subvert the government and returning evil for evil.  The powers of Rome knew full-well how to put down a rebellion.  They did it time after time.  What they could not do was extinguish the Christian Church.  Try as they might, through persecution and executions, the powers of Rome could not stop the movement of God, lived out through law-abiding citizens who loved God and cared for their neighbors.

So, what does all that have to do with us today?  Our political system is so radically different from Paul’s experience that he could scarcely have dreamed of it.  Yet, his words are still valid for us.  We, like Paul, have dual citizenship.  We are citizens of God’s kingdom and we are citizens of this country.  We enjoy the benefits of citizenship in each realm and we dare not shirk the responsibilities that accompany the privilege.

As Christian citizens of this nation, we are called to do more than obey the law and treat those in authority with respect.  We are called live by a higher standard.  We are called to live by God’s standard.  We are called to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves.  If we truly do that we will be exemplary citizens of this nation.  We will do more than merely abide by the law, we will strive for that which is right and just in the eyes of God.  We will do more than respect those in positions of authority over us, we will pray for them and seek to support them.  We will also hold them accountable to the trust we have placed in them.  As Christian citizens we are called to set the example for others.

As we enter into the last two months of this presidential campaign, I pray that Christians will set the example of good citizenship.  This will be one of the most emotionally-charged debates in the history of our country.  There are Christian Democrats, Christian Republicans, and Christian Independents.  I pray that we can all remember that first we are Christian.  Imagine the difference it could make in the eyes of the world and in the eyes of those who are not Christians, if we who are Christian promised to treat all people with love and respect throughout the campaign.  If we disagree on the issues, we should debate them without getting angry.  In all things we should demonstrate love and respect for one another.  Imagine the difference it could make if Christians promised never to belittle another candidate no matter what.  Imagine the difference if we promised to never repeat a rumor.  Imagine the difference if we promised to always seek the truth, to always speak the truth and to always speak it in love.  Imagine the difference it could make in our world.  Do you suppose that’s what Paul was talking about?

Unfortunately, many people, even many people of faith will not accept this challenge.  But you can.

AMEN!