“Our citizenship is in heaven.” (Phil. 3:20) “Ye are not of this world.” (John 17:14) “Set your affections on things above and not on things of the earth.”
If we have changed our allegiance from this world to heaven, we are aliens and not citizens of this country, and should claim and use only such favors as are accorded to aliens. We should not vote or hold public office, nor in any way attempt to meddle in the affairs of this world.
Would you as a foreigner in another country take for example Great Britain be able to run for office, for Parliament?
No, and why is this, because you are not a citizen of that country. The same applies to the true Christian in any nation in which he may resided, he is no longer a citizen of this world and as such has no business interfering in the affairs of this world, most especially the affairs of its politics and governments.
Now it’s true we are to pray for our leaders and those in authority over us, that they do the best they can, and that they be just and honorable, but praying to sustain the nation itself, which is a part of this present evil world seems a bit counterproductive. As Christians our allegiance is to the Lord alone, our chief prayer is “Thy will be done”, and if it be the Lord’s will that the present order of things be brought to an end, then so be it. We cannot pray to the Almighty with the expectation that he will change His plans to conform to ours.
Now understand just because we know the truth in this regards, that the present order of things is soon to pass away does not in any way give us license to oppose earthly governments in any outward or public manner, we may have an opinion (one which we would do well to keep to ourselves), but that is as far as it should go. The public reproof and overthrow of the present order of things will come from the Lord alone and in his due time (Even now he is mustering his forces, the Lord’s Great Army from the four winds of the earth in preparation for this battle). While our citizenship is in heaven, nevertheless, like all other foreigners, we are to be subject to the laws of the country in which we live, or as the Scriptures so express it:
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Rom 13:1-2
The spirit of submission, rather than of contention, is enjoined upon the whole Church in its relationship to civil ordinances of men. “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord’s sake.” (1 Pet. 2:13)
We may not like some of the various laws and degrees imposed upon us in the land in which we resided, but nevertheless we are to summit to them as being of the Lord.
“It is our business to render obedience to the laws insofar as these do not infringe upon our consciences; but this does not mean that we are to become partisans in the political strife’s and debates amongst men.”
“Frustration with “the kingdoms of this world“--the inequalities, inconsistencies, the unrighteousness (the moral decay)--is understandable. The Christian is to “Lift up a standard for the people” (Isa 62:10) and to “Let your light so shine before men” (Matt 5:16).
Now does holding up a standard and letting your light shine give you authority to work with earthly governments? Heavens No! Christians are not to involve themselves in this world’s affairs, politics, social reforms and etc., but instead to wait for the Kingdom of God when he will set up His kingdom, and establish righteousness in the earth.
This is where the apostate church went wrong it was not willing to wait for the Lord and for his kingdom to come, but rather took it upon its self to attempt to “force” the kingdom upon the world by entering into its governmental affairs.
History shows how well that turned out.
If we have changed our allegiance from this world to heaven, we are aliens and not citizens of this country, and should claim and use only such favors as are accorded to aliens. We should not vote or hold public office, nor in any way attempt to meddle in the affairs of this world.
Would you as a foreigner in another country take for example Great Britain be able to run for office, for Parliament?
No, and why is this, because you are not a citizen of that country. The same applies to the true Christian in any nation in which he may resided, he is no longer a citizen of this world and as such has no business interfering in the affairs of this world, most especially the affairs of its politics and governments.
Now it’s true we are to pray for our leaders and those in authority over us, that they do the best they can, and that they be just and honorable, but praying to sustain the nation itself, which is a part of this present evil world seems a bit counterproductive. As Christians our allegiance is to the Lord alone, our chief prayer is “Thy will be done”, and if it be the Lord’s will that the present order of things be brought to an end, then so be it. We cannot pray to the Almighty with the expectation that he will change His plans to conform to ours.
Now understand just because we know the truth in this regards, that the present order of things is soon to pass away does not in any way give us license to oppose earthly governments in any outward or public manner, we may have an opinion (one which we would do well to keep to ourselves), but that is as far as it should go. The public reproof and overthrow of the present order of things will come from the Lord alone and in his due time (Even now he is mustering his forces, the Lord’s Great Army from the four winds of the earth in preparation for this battle). While our citizenship is in heaven, nevertheless, like all other foreigners, we are to be subject to the laws of the country in which we live, or as the Scriptures so express it:
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Rom 13:1-2
The spirit of submission, rather than of contention, is enjoined upon the whole Church in its relationship to civil ordinances of men. “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord’s sake.” (1 Pet. 2:13)
We may not like some of the various laws and degrees imposed upon us in the land in which we resided, but nevertheless we are to summit to them as being of the Lord.
“It is our business to render obedience to the laws insofar as these do not infringe upon our consciences; but this does not mean that we are to become partisans in the political strife’s and debates amongst men.”
“Frustration with “the kingdoms of this world“--the inequalities, inconsistencies, the unrighteousness (the moral decay)--is understandable. The Christian is to “Lift up a standard for the people” (Isa 62:10) and to “Let your light so shine before men” (Matt 5:16).
Now does holding up a standard and letting your light shine give you authority to work with earthly governments? Heavens No! Christians are not to involve themselves in this world’s affairs, politics, social reforms and etc., but instead to wait for the Kingdom of God when he will set up His kingdom, and establish righteousness in the earth.
This is where the apostate church went wrong it was not willing to wait for the Lord and for his kingdom to come, but rather took it upon its self to attempt to “force” the kingdom upon the world by entering into its governmental affairs.
History shows how well that turned out.
