Steward Your Christian Citizenship
Politics is the religion of our land. It is comprised primarily of two major denominations (Republican and Democrat). They provide their statements of faith as party platforms. If we follow their plans, the party leaders promise a utopian and hope-filled message of heaven on earth. The prophets and priests (CNN, Fox News, etc.) tell us why we should trust the denomination they represent and distrust those they don’t. And the people given to the religion strive to evangelize and win people to their position.
Unfortunately, this is all just another false gospel of the social variety. That said, just because it is a false gospel doesn’t mean Christians should withdraw or abstain from the political process. In the same way that the social gospel shouldn’t cause Christians to ignore the poor and marginalized, we shouldn’t stop being politically active. However, our reasons for doing so are much different.
Engage without losing our sense of identity
We have been blessed with a voice and the opportunity to participate in our governance. We should be grateful to the Lord for that, as that is not true of most people in history. But we should also steward the responsibility of that blessing well. We should speak the truth in the public square. It is good for Christians to run and hold political offices. And we should be informed, active, and good citizens of our city, state, and nation so that as we engage, we do it wisely.
However, engagement as American citizens is much different than being identified by our citizenship.
In His prayer for the church in John 17, Jesus makes clear that His disciples “live in the world, but they are not of it.” Paul echoes this sentiment in Phil 3:20, writing, "Our citizenship is in Heaven.” The point is that our presence in this world and the place we live are no longer the defining factors of our lives. Instead, it is our relationship to God the Father, through Jesus the Son, as we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Our union with Christ makes us citizens of His eternal Kingdom and subject to Him as our eternal King. This supersedes our belonging to this world and our citizenship to every other governing body. Because of the Gospel, we are not American Christians. We are Christians who happen to be American citizens.
We shouldn’t take this to mean we do not engage in the political arena. Our citizenship in heaven and our allegiance to Jesus the King are the very reasons we must engage to the glory of God and because we love our neighbors. But, we must guard our hearts that engaging does not diminish or displace the truth that our allegiance belongs to our eternal King as the people of His eternal Kingdom.
Participate without prioritizing their mission
The mission of the church is not to “Make America Great Again” or to find “A New Way Forward.” Our mission is much older than any campaign slogan and is assigned to us not by a campaign strategist but by our Savior. The church is to make and baptize disciples (Matt 28:18-20), preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15), and bear witness to our King and His Kingdom (Acts 1:8). To prioritize any other mission is to follow another king.
Since Jesus first began proclaiming the arrival of His Kingdom, died and rose to secure His Kingdom, and then sent His people as He was sent to make His Kingdom known, the preaching and living out of the Gospel has had a radical influence on the world. Now, as we do the work the Lord has commissioned us to do, there may yet be an effect on the broader culture. But that effect is a byproduct, not the end goal. We were not commissioned to build or rebuild Western civilization but to live for Jesus’ fame, making, maturing, and mobilizing disciples so His Kingdom would be multiplied on the Earth.
Again, this shouldn’t mean we stop loving our neighbors enough to vote for good leaders who will make and uphold good laws. But our greatest attention, our greatest efforts, and our highest priority must remain our King and His Kingdom mission.
Cast a vote, but don’t count on it as our great hope
We vote based on what we believe would honor the Lord most. And at times, we think we are going to accomplish His will if we win this next vote. On the other hand, we can’t imagine God’s will being done if we lose. But our votes, though they count for elections, are not that consequential in God’s grand plan. God’s will has been accomplished through nations and kings who never recognized Him as God. So, our great hope is not the next president or winning the next ballot initiative. Our great hope is our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was mentioned earlier, but Paul’s point to the Philippian church was not to prove their citizenship in heaven. He stated that to make a more significant point. Here’s the whole verse:
Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV) — 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Everyone who sets their mind on earthly things will find exactly what those things lead to – destruction. But we have a much greater hope we await. Our Savior will return, and when He does, all whose hope is in Him will be transformed.
If we are going to vote, we are responsible to cast our vote based on what we believe would glorify God the most. It is good to vote for good leaders because we love our neighbors. It is good to strive to bring godly order to our nation even though they would reject it. But none of these are ultimate. Our hope is not in the outcome of an election but in the certain work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So, rather than going into the world to win people with your politics, let’s strive to win people to a Kingdom that will never fail and to a King who is and always will be. Let’s do this while not ignoring the good we can do for others, as we take our responsibility to “do unto others as we would have them do unto us” seriously.
Unfortunately, this is all just another false gospel of the social variety. That said, just because it is a false gospel doesn’t mean Christians should withdraw or abstain from the political process. In the same way that the social gospel shouldn’t cause Christians to ignore the poor and marginalized, we shouldn’t stop being politically active. However, our reasons for doing so are much different.
Engage without losing our sense of identity
We have been blessed with a voice and the opportunity to participate in our governance. We should be grateful to the Lord for that, as that is not true of most people in history. But we should also steward the responsibility of that blessing well. We should speak the truth in the public square. It is good for Christians to run and hold political offices. And we should be informed, active, and good citizens of our city, state, and nation so that as we engage, we do it wisely.
However, engagement as American citizens is much different than being identified by our citizenship.
In His prayer for the church in John 17, Jesus makes clear that His disciples “live in the world, but they are not of it.” Paul echoes this sentiment in Phil 3:20, writing, "Our citizenship is in Heaven.” The point is that our presence in this world and the place we live are no longer the defining factors of our lives. Instead, it is our relationship to God the Father, through Jesus the Son, as we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Our union with Christ makes us citizens of His eternal Kingdom and subject to Him as our eternal King. This supersedes our belonging to this world and our citizenship to every other governing body. Because of the Gospel, we are not American Christians. We are Christians who happen to be American citizens.
We shouldn’t take this to mean we do not engage in the political arena. Our citizenship in heaven and our allegiance to Jesus the King are the very reasons we must engage to the glory of God and because we love our neighbors. But, we must guard our hearts that engaging does not diminish or displace the truth that our allegiance belongs to our eternal King as the people of His eternal Kingdom.
Participate without prioritizing their mission
The mission of the church is not to “Make America Great Again” or to find “A New Way Forward.” Our mission is much older than any campaign slogan and is assigned to us not by a campaign strategist but by our Savior. The church is to make and baptize disciples (Matt 28:18-20), preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15), and bear witness to our King and His Kingdom (Acts 1:8). To prioritize any other mission is to follow another king.
Since Jesus first began proclaiming the arrival of His Kingdom, died and rose to secure His Kingdom, and then sent His people as He was sent to make His Kingdom known, the preaching and living out of the Gospel has had a radical influence on the world. Now, as we do the work the Lord has commissioned us to do, there may yet be an effect on the broader culture. But that effect is a byproduct, not the end goal. We were not commissioned to build or rebuild Western civilization but to live for Jesus’ fame, making, maturing, and mobilizing disciples so His Kingdom would be multiplied on the Earth.
Again, this shouldn’t mean we stop loving our neighbors enough to vote for good leaders who will make and uphold good laws. But our greatest attention, our greatest efforts, and our highest priority must remain our King and His Kingdom mission.
Cast a vote, but don’t count on it as our great hope
We vote based on what we believe would honor the Lord most. And at times, we think we are going to accomplish His will if we win this next vote. On the other hand, we can’t imagine God’s will being done if we lose. But our votes, though they count for elections, are not that consequential in God’s grand plan. God’s will has been accomplished through nations and kings who never recognized Him as God. So, our great hope is not the next president or winning the next ballot initiative. Our great hope is our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was mentioned earlier, but Paul’s point to the Philippian church was not to prove their citizenship in heaven. He stated that to make a more significant point. Here’s the whole verse:
Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV) — 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Everyone who sets their mind on earthly things will find exactly what those things lead to – destruction. But we have a much greater hope we await. Our Savior will return, and when He does, all whose hope is in Him will be transformed.
If we are going to vote, we are responsible to cast our vote based on what we believe would glorify God the most. It is good to vote for good leaders because we love our neighbors. It is good to strive to bring godly order to our nation even though they would reject it. But none of these are ultimate. Our hope is not in the outcome of an election but in the certain work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So, rather than going into the world to win people with your politics, let’s strive to win people to a Kingdom that will never fail and to a King who is and always will be. Let’s do this while not ignoring the good we can do for others, as we take our responsibility to “do unto others as we would have them do unto us” seriously.