MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER
RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK
(REVISED: 2022)
(PowerPoint slides used in this sermon are available at no charge. Just e-mail me at mnewland@sstelco.com with your request - #245.)
TEXT: Romans 13:1-7; 2 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Philippians 3:17-21
ILL. A few years ago Dr. James Dobson began his Focus on the Family Newsletter with words as important, or even more important, today as they were then:
“Greetings! Unless you’ve been completely cut off from media access, you … know that this is an election year & that ... the entire 435-member House of Representatives, a third of the United States Senate, & numerous other state & local offices are up for grabs.
“As citizens of a democracy, we have the ability to make our voices heard &, as a result, vastly affect the outcome of this election. I urge you to keep informed about the important issues, & then vote your conscience!
Given the fact that it can take very little time to either pull that lever, or fill in the box, there is no excuse not to vote. Now, more than ever, it is critical that men & women of faith bring their convictions to bear upon the world around them.” (Adapted from Focus on the Family Newsletter, Oct., 2002)
Do you think he is correct, or do you feel that Christians really shouldn’t say anything at all about the direction in which our country is going, or have any voice in the kind of leaders our country chooses?
In other words, can we be good citizens & good Christians at the same time? Or do we have to sacrifice our love for God to show our love for our country?
Well, I believe we can be both good citizens & good Christians. I’m convinced that it’s not only possible, but that, as Christians, we have an obligation to be the best citizens we can possibly be.
PROP. Let’s consider that & see just how we can be people whose love for God helps us to love our country. The apostle Paul speaks about that in Romans 13:1-7, which we'll be looking at this morning.
I. GOD ESTABLISHED CIVIL AUTHORITY
A. First of all, we must realize that it is God who established civil authority. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13:1, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except…" Except what? "except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Now that doesn't mean God appointed Putin or Hitler or Stalin. But it does mean that God has established the principle that a structure of government is necessary for human society. And as Christians, we are to respect governing authorities even though we may not always agree with them.
This principle of respect for authority is repeated throughout the New Testament. Jesus told those who were trying to trap Him with a trick question about paying taxes to Rome, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21)
The apostle Paul told the young preacher 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 to show true humility toward all men." (Titus 3:1-2) Oh, how much we need to heed that today!
And the apostle Peter wrote (1 Peter 2:13-15,17), "Submit you-selves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, (by the way, Nero was emperor at the time Peter was writing) 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 men.... Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."
ILL. Dr. John MacArthur wrote: “Believers are to be model citizens, known as law-abiding not rabble-rousing, obedient rather than rebellious, respectful of government rather than demeaning of it. …a godly people, doing good & living peaceably within an ungodly society… so that the saving power of God is clearly seen.”
B. Going on in Rom. 13:3-4, Paul tells us of 2 purposes God has for government.
1. The first purpose is to do good. Paul wrote, “Rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right & he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good." (Romans 13:3-4a)
2. A 2nd purpose for government is to restrain evil. In vs. 4 Paul goes on to say, "But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer."
ILL. You know that is true. Every time you hear a siren or see red lights flashing, what do you do? Do you look at your speedometer to see if you're driving within the speed limit?
If the answer is "Yes" then you breathe a sigh of relief. But if you've broken the law, then you’re afraid because the government has the power to punish you for your disobedience.
C. We think that a republic based on democracy is the best because it has served us well here in the United States for 246 years. But we must understand that our Constitution was written assuming that the citizens of this land would be moral, God fearing people.
That's the only way a republic based on democracy will work because democracy becomes whatever the people are. If the people become pagan & immoral & violent, then the government becomes pagan & immoral & violent. Has that already happened in our nation?
ILL. You put 5 people on an island, 3 men & 2 women, & the 3 men vote to assault the 2 women, that's democracy. But that's democracy at its worst. So democracy has the capability of becoming an evil form of government if the people are evil - & I'm concerned about America.
D. Once, theocracy was the form of government over Israel. That is, God was their ruler. He gave the laws. The prophets & priests were His spokesmen.
But as time passed, the people began to desire a king like all the other countries. So God finally allowed them to have kings. And it didn’t take long for them to become unhappy about that, too.
SUM. The point is, whatever the form of government democracy, theocracy, monarchy, pagan or godly God has been able to work in or through them all to accomplish His will. And He wants His people to work in them for Him, too.
II. SEEK GOD'S CONTINUED GRACE UPON OUR NATION
Secondly, to be the best possible Christian citizens we can be, we need to seek God’s continued grace upon our nation.
Looking back over the pages of history, I’m convinced that it is only by God’s grace & mercy that our nation even came into existence, & that we lasted long enough to enjoy the freedoms & blessings that seem to be in danger of slipping away from us today.
I think God’s grace was poured out upon us when our founding fathers sought His guidance & protection in forming a republic on this continent unlike any other that the world had ever seen – a nation dedicated to the ideal of being “one nation under God.” Truly, God has blessed America!
But let me call your attention to the words of Isaiah 40:15, “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales…” Now why did I read that? Simply to remind us just how fragile & temporary we really are.
No matter how powerful or rich we seem to be, in God’s hands we’re just a disaster or two away from destruction. And if God chose to do so, He could blow us away just as easily as the wind blows the dust in the street.
We’re all familiar with 2 Chronicles 7:14, but let’s look at it again to see how it relates to the idea of being a good citizen. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves & pray & seek my face & turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven & will forgive their sin & will heal their land.”
But did you notice? This passage of Scripture is not addressed to unbelievers, but to believers. And it is saying that we’re the ones who need to repent & turn our faces to God for healing if His grace is to continue on our nation.
III. MAKE OUR FAITH APPARENT
A. Realize, too, that if our love for God causes us to want to be the very best Christian citizens we can be, then we need to make our faith apparent & our witness relevant to those around us.
We dare not be intimidated into believing that we have to keep our mouths shut. We need to stand up & speak up.
We must encourage people who are guided by Christian principles to serve in government offices & change the direction of our country. We must do it if we are to avoid the curse of God.
The only hope I see for our land is for Christians to get off their seats of apathy & do something to change the direction it is going. Then I believe that God will truly bless America once again.
IV. PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS
In 1 Timothy 2:1-4 the apostle Paul said, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession & thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings & all those in authority,
"that we may live peaceful & quiet lives in all godliness & holiness. This is good, & pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved…”
In beseeching God to heal our land, we need to lift up our leaders in our daily prayers, asking God to give them wisdom & discernment in making their decisions.
Our president needs our prayers. Our senators & representatives need our prayers. Our governors need our prayers. Our judges need our prayers. Our state legislators, our first-responders, the men & women in our armed forces all need our prayers.
And as we pray for them, pray that God will touch the hearts of those leaders who don’t know Him, & strengthen those who do. Pray for their souls & for their families. Lift them up before God & ask God's blessings upon them.
V. REMEMBER WHERE OUR CITIZENSHIP REALLY IS
Finally, in becoming the best Christian citizens we can be, remember where our citizenship really is. Listen again to Paul in Phlp. 3:17-21, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, & take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
"For, as I have often told you before & now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of…Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, & their glory is in their shame…
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who…will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.”
The same way that our freedom in this country was bought with the blood of our ancestors, so also our home in heaven has been purchased by One who died to set us free. Jesus paid the price so you & I could be citizens of a heavenly kingdom.
Folks, the time will come when you & I won’t be facing the hassles of this world anymore.
And if Jesus is your Lord, you’ll be experiencing the glory of heaven in the presence of God Almighty, creator of the heavens & earth, who sent His Son so we could look past the hurts, the anger, the problems, & see what God has for us when we leave this world!
ILL. The Russian novelist Fyodor (Dos-toy-off-ski) Dostoevsky told about being arrested by officials of the Czar & sentenced to die. The Czar, though, liked to play cruel psychological tricks on some prisoners by having them blindfolded & then standing them in front of a firing squad.
The blindfolded prisoners would hear the command to fire & the rifle shots, but they would feel nothing. Then they would slowly realize that the guns were loaded with blanks.
Dostoevsky went through this experience himself. He said that going through the process of believing that he was really going to die had a transforming effect on his life.
He talked about waking up that morning certain that it would be his last day of life. He ate his last meal & savored every bite. Every breath of air he took was precious. Every face he saw, he studied with full intensity. Every moment was etched into his mind.
As they marched him into the courtyard, he felt the heat of the sun & appreciated its warmth like never before. Everything around him seemed to have a magical quality. He was seeing the world in a way he had never seen it before.
Then when he realized that he had not been shot & that he was not going to die, everything changed. He became thankful for everything about his life, & grateful for people he had previously hated. (Adapted from SC)
Dostoevsky was given a temporary reprieve from earthly death. But we who belong to Christ, whose citizenship is in heaven, have been given a permanent reprieve from eternal death.
The only way to become a citizen of heaven is to accept Jesus as your Savior. You did not choose where you were born, but you can choose where you will spend eternity.
INVITATION: This morning we extend His invitation, & pray that you will give Him your heart & your life. We invite you to come as we stand & sing.
(Major portions of this message have been adapted from an excellent sermon,
“God & Country,” by Bryan La Croix on SC.)
