The True Christian Nation

Most people want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Public, political or social service can fill the desire for some, while civil or military service fills that need for others. Many of those who serve are Christian. God bless them. I have friends who have served in the Marine Corps, the Peace Corps and the Army Corps of Engineers. All of them devout to the core. For many people, just knowing they are American citizens satisfies that yearning.

But if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are part of something bigger than everything. You are a citizen of what St. Peter called, “ a holy nation.”  Paul put it this way, “Your citizenship is in Heaven.” Any earthly alliance is secondary to this. Scripture instructs us to “Honor the King” (for us that means “respect government authorities”) and, "Let every person be in subjection to governing authorities...and also pay taxes" (for us it means “fulfill your obligations as a citizen of your country”) Regardless of the honor we render or the duty we fulfill to the nation, Jesus teaches us to “Seek first the Kingdom of God.” The posture of our service must to be “as unto the Lord”.  (Which puts our leaders in a sobering position.) When our first alliance is with heaven, our second nation benefits.

When we get these turned around we end up with witch trials, inquisitions, forced indoctrination of the First Nationals, crusades, hundred year wars and protestant-catholic bloodshed in the emerald isle of my ancestors. But Jesus told Pilot, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight.” Oh, we are to fight for Him, but the weapons of our warfare are not physical, they are spiritual. They are things that operate by Love, like prayer, faith, mercy and sharing the Gospel, things that bless whatever country in which the sojourners of heaven live.

God blessed Egypt with the gift of His chosen people in the person of Joseph. His people blessed Babylon with the service of Daniel and Nehemiah. He blesses America with your expression of His Love. Mathew Henry describes us as “a people distinct from the world: of another spirit, principle, and practice,” even though we are also citizens here. The Spirit who indwells us makes us (In the language of the King James Version) “a peculiar people.” I know that does not mean “weird,” but it fits.

We are a nomadic people on this earth, what Peter calls strangers (foreigners, aliens) and pilgrims. We’re just passing through. Spiritual Gypsies. We have no lasting roots in this world.  Jesus has a parable about a field of wheat that is over-sown with tares by the owner’s enemy. He says, “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.” One physical difference between the two plants is the root structure. The tare has a deeper root. Where does our heart take root? In the Kingdom of Heaven or a nation of this world? If we sink our roots too deeply in this world, we will produce useless fruit and be of no help to America. Let us take care for where we place our first affections and orient our loyalties, let us hold tight to our “first love.”

Though God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; He warns “whosoever … will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” We best love the world as Jesus did: by presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Father.

Our Nation is everywhere and in every country. As Jesus said “You are the salt of the earth.” You, my fellow believer, along with your brothers and sisters around the globe, give the flavor of holiness to every Nation in the world.

My heroes of the faith come from all over. Watchman Nee from China, Ravi Zachariah from India, St. Augustine from North Africa, Andrew Murray ultimately from South Africa, Pope John XXIII from Italy, Pope John Paul II from Poland, Madame Guyone and Brother Lawrence from France, Karl Barth and Martin Luther from Germany, Charles Spurgeon and the Wesley brothers from England, and many others from many other places. Add to these, the Jewish Apostles and Prophets of Israel. All were first committed to the King of Kings and then to their land.

This is the lyric of a new song they sing to Jesus in heaven: “You have redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”  Again, Peter says that Christ purchased our Holy Nation with his blood “that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

But don’t expect this world to bask in your light. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Choosing Christ over Caesar landed early Christians on the floor of the Coliseum. The world sees you as an American who happens to be Christian. That is so. You are so blessed. But God sees you as a Christian who happens to be American. You are part of a nation with citizens in every nation on earth, whose King is Jesus Christ.