“The Role of A Citizen” (Part Two)

We are looking this week at what the Bible says about citizenship. Yesterday we saw from Romans 13:1-5 that it begins with a right attitude. Today it continues with…

THE RIGHT ACTIONS (Rom.13:6-7; Mark 12:14,17)

• Taxes, Customs (including the vote)

This is the activity of supporting the government. In fact, Paul uses the same word for “pay, render” that Jesus does in Mark 12. It means “to give back”, and presupposes that the reason for giving of the taxes is because the government that the taxes support is giving some tangible value in return. Specifically…

Taxes- are tribute levied on people or property

Customs- speak of import duties, tolls, etc.

Both Christ and Paul declare this to be a non-negotiable duty that gives support to the government because of the service it provides. While rendering to the government what is due, many Bible scholars include the idea of the vote. It too is giving back to the government- our desires and input- with a desire for some return on the investment of that input. Yet, unfortunately, far too many Christians double dip in their lack of duty…

They do not exercise their right to vote,

They do complain about the results of the election they chose to not participate in!

What folly!

• Fear, Honor- this speaks of the attitude behind the actions. It is an attitude that supports human government, and it is expressed two ways…
  • Fear- Again, it is respect borne out of understanding that the government has the right to inflict punishment;
  • Honor- Beyond fear, however, is the need to honor the office of government- even if we feel that the person occupying that office is not worthy of honor.

We need to have an attitude of respect and honor for those who serve in the government, just as we should for others who serve in the public sector (police, fire, etc.). It is part of the right activity to those who render service in our behalf, for that deserves our respect.

THE RIGHT IMPACT (Matt.5:13-16)

Daniel Webster said, “Whatever makes men good Christians makes them good citizens.” It is true! What better input can we give to the society around us than a testimony of godliness and the message of the Gospel? This is how we impact the culture around us…

• Salt- ancient use as preservative, curing device.

• Light- exposes wrong and guides in the right.

The Christian community is to be salt and light in the world. That means we are to be a preserving influence that retards the decaying influence of sin and moral decadence. It also means (“light”) turning the spotlight of the Truth on the world so that sin is exposed and righteousness is expressed. This is vital, and is easily moved beyond the bounds of what is appropriate- sometimes by doing too little, others by doing too much. Some dangers to beware of…

• Confusing biblical issues and political issues
• Substituting political reformation for spiritual transformation
• Creation of relationships that could backfire (Frame, “For cobelligerancy means two human beings side by side, waging a common struggle, rejoicing together in victory and weeping together in defeat. This relationship can make it extremely difficult for one to maintain his theological convictions if so doing entails believing that his comrade is ultimately disillusioned and bound for hell.”)
• Identifying God with a particular party and/or candidate
• Failure to understand that you cannot solve spiritual problems with political solutions
• A loss of compassion and concern for people on both sides of a particular issue (“The art of politics is the art of destroying your enemies.”)

We do not have those luxuries- any more than we have the luxury of crawling into a cave and holding out for the Rapture. We have a biblical responsibility to affect the culture- but to do it through clear vision and the biblical means of the Gospel and the truth.

We’ll see how when we conclude tomorrow…