The Bible teaches us that when we are born again by the Holy Spirit we gain a new family with a new Father and we become citizens of a new kingdom.
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, Colossians 1:13 (NLT) But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:20 (NLT)
Declaring allegiance to the king of heaven is integral to being born again.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)
As part of God’s kingdom, we are subject to the king and live by his laws and principles. The law of love is most important.
God does not change. His immutability is one of his defining characteristics. The God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New. Jesus’ commands do not abrogate what is written in other portions of the Bible. Good biblical exegesis takes into account the whole of the Bible and seeks to harmonize seemingly contradictory passages, believing that the apparent contradiction is due to a lack of understanding on our part.
As important as is the law of love, it does not abrogate God’s justice.
The God who loves us past comprehension is the same God who will cast those who refuse his generous offer of reconciliation into hell. Jesus himself taught this.
“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. Luke 12:4-5 (NLT)
Those who reject the God of justice in favor of the God who loves everyone, regardless of their morality or conduct, is serving a false god of their own making.
God’s love does not prevent conflict, either. The term “tough love” was coined to describe taking a stance that creates conflict in the best interest of someone who needs correction. Love does what is best, not necessarily what is easy or conflict free. Sometimes a husband’s or father’s love compels him to do violence to an attacker in order to protect his family. Likewise, nations need defending, too. It is altogether proper for a nation to take up arms in defense of the homeland. Otherwise tyranny would easily dominate. The Bible clearly teaches this. The kingdom of Israel under it’s judges and kings fought often to defend its borders and national integrity. Ecclesiastes teaches that there is a time for peace and a time for war. (Eccl. 3:8)
No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and evil will not deliver those who practice it. Ecclesiastes 8:8 (NASB)
Our citizenship in God’s kingdom does not eliminate the claims of citizenship made by the country in which we live.
The heavenly kingdom transcends but does not eliminate earthly kingdoms, that is, until the Second Coming, at which time every competing kingdom and loyalty will bow the knee to the Lord Jesus.
As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14 (NLT)
Until the Second Coming we must learn to live in the tension created by the competing priorities and loyalties created by our having dual citizenship in God’s kingdom and the one in which we live here on earth.
The kingdom of God is commonly described as being already here but not yet fully arrived. It is present in the lives of those who acknowledge and follow Jesus the Lord.
One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” Luke 17:20-21 (NLT)
Christ’s authority is extended through those who represent him. The more people in a given area who make the decision to submit their lives to him, the greater will be the impact of God’s kingdom there.
As citizens of God’s kingdom become involved in the government of earthly governments, those governments will begin to have traits of the kingdom of God – justice, love, truth, righteousness, mercy, generosity, etc.
The kingdom of God advances through the proclamation of the gospel message, which must be freely accepted or rejected.
At this point in history, when things are done God’s way, there is no coercion at all. The Holy Spirit works in the background, thankfully, influencing people to turn to Christ, but no one accepts Christ’s lordship against his or her will. One day, when time comes to an end, the Bible teaches us that there will no longer be an option to freely surrender. Every knee will bow to Jesus then, not necessarily in adoration, but truly in submission. (Philippians 2:10) Until then, it would be wrong to use weapons and force to coerce people into allegiance to Christ. That is not the way of God’s kingdom because God always works in the heart first.
Freedom is a defining characteristic of God’s kingdom and in all governments that operate as he intends. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36 (NLT)
Jesus understood, as we should, that earthly kingdoms rely on force and weaponry. War has been the sad history of humankind since the Fall of man. Wars of self-defense and wars of aggression and greed have been waged since time immemorial and will continue until the Second Coming. (Matthew 24:6) Our citizenship in kingdoms (governments) of this world may require us to fight in defense of our nation or maybe even in a war of aggression. Some groups of Christians believe that it is wrong to ever fight and have historically conscientiously objected. The majority of believers generally accept this civic responsibility.
Taking a macro view of things, God’s kingdom always liberates people; whereas, satanic forms of government always deceive, enslave, impoverish, and kill. (I wrote an article about godly forms of government, which you can read by clicking here.)
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT)
The purpose of government under God is to protect its people.
The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. Romans 13:4 (NLT)
Since the Magna Carta, English common law has insisted that the role of government is to protect the rights of its citizens. When Great Britain began to oppress its colonial citizens in America, the colonists resisted, insisting that they were being treated unjustly. In other words, Great Britain was failing to keep its own laws. Those who felt strongly about this injustice eventually chose to formally rebel against the King and declare independence, thus launching the American Revolution.
The War of Independence inaugurated a nation built on the belief that a government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. This principle of liberty is built into our Constitution. The principle of liberty is also a distinguishing mark of the kingdom of God.
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:36 (NLT)
Even though the United States has never perfectly fulfilled this noble aspiration, the idea has served as a guiding light for over two centuries. If our founding fathers, many of whom were Christians, believed that such a government was worth risking life, fortune, and reputation to obtain, what should be our attitude as Christians toward preserving it?
David Caldwell was one of the most famous preachers from the Revolutionary era from our area. He was a pastor of two Presbyterian Churches, an educator, farmer, and physician. His sermons were so influential that the British agreed to pay a bounty of two hundred pounds for his capture. One of his sermons escaped being burned when General Cornwallis seized his farm in the lead up to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The title was “The Character and Doom of the Sluggard,” which I have published in its entirety. Here is an excerpt.
We have therefore come to that trying period in our history in which it is manifest that the Americans must either stoop under a load of the vilest slavery, or resist their imperious and haughty oppressors; but what will follow must be of the utmost importance to every individual of these United Colonies; and should be the hearty concern of every honest American.
Caldwell makes a convincing case that being a patriot in defense of our God-given liberties, even to the point of armed conflict, is a natural result of being a good citizen of the kingdom of God.
In other words, to submit to tyranny without a fight because of laziness or fear is a sin which will impoverish and enslave the one who refuses to take a stand, as well as his offspring.
Just as the Lord Jesus has his followers; so, does the devil. Just as God has a plan to bring the entire world under the government of his Son; the devil has a plan to establish his own one-world government. Jesus’ rule will bring life abundant, but Satan’s will create slavery, poverty, and death.
Today globalists, many of whom quite literally serve Satan, have an agenda to bring the entire world under a despotic and enslaving form or government which will strip away basic human rights and freedoms.
We have seen a sample of this tyranny since the imposition of unreasonable and unscientific restrictions and mandates following the outbreak of Covid. Those who champion a woman’s right to choose what she does with her own body turned against those who refused the MRNA experimental injection because of concern for the health of their bodies. Pro-abortionists care nothing for the welfare of the unborn baby and care nothing for the welfare of the unvaccinated. In both cases all the really are concerned for is their own well being. Currently the Biden administration is working toward transferring sovereignty to the World Health Organization, thus stripping our citizens of more rights and freedoms.
Just as the truth sets people free (John 8:31-32); deception enslaves people.
This has been the case since the Garden of Eden. Every despotic government engages in proliferating misinformation because no one would willingly submit otherwise. Once tyrants gain control through deception and intimidation, it is difficult to throw off their chains.
All tyranny must be fought either before or after it gains control. It is much easier to do it before.
Fortunately, in our country, we have a system of government that allows the governed to get rid of tyrants and replace them with honest government representatives, that is, if the system is not rigged. Until now, except during the Civil War, we have been able to settle our differences at the ballot box. Now, however, that system is being threatened. Increasingly, evidence shows that we have not had fair elections for quite some time. Until and unless this problem is remedied, we are and will be under the thumb of tyrants to some degree or another.
Getting to the main thrust of this article, globalist propaganda has managed to convince large numbers of people who call themselves Christians that it is unchristian to be patriotic.
The mantra that I have heard over and over is that we must distinguish between the gospel and Americanism. I agree with that in principle, but I do not agree that being a Christian prohibits us from being a patriotic American. If we equate being a Christian with being an American, that is wrong. If we think American values necessarily reflect the kingdom of God, we may be deceived. However, we have a dual citizenship with dual demands.
It is possible to be good citizens of both realms, if we can properly navigate competing priorities and loyalties.
Satan is trying to establish his one-world government before King Jesus sets up his. Until the coming of the Lord, we will have nation states to which we owe allegiance. Since these nation states, particularly America, gets in the way of h is plan. Satan is working to topple all such allegiances to bring us under his one-world despotic rule. The Christian, who understands that Christ will usher in a benevolent world order and unity, may be duped by Satan’s counterfeit. The devil always makes his plan seem good, when actually his intent is always to enslave and kill us. We cannot surrender to him. We must stand against all forms of tyranny until the coming of the Lord. Only Jesus will be able to properly govern the world. All others are imposters with evil designs.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)
In our nation, we still have hope that the electoral process set up by our founders will properly realign America, but, if it does not, it is conceivable that patriotic Americans may be called upon once again to resist tyranny to preserve the Republic. As Christians I believe we can and should do this since all tyranny is antithetical to the gospel.
It is inconceivable that Christians would roll over and submit to despotism without a fight, especially American believers who understand the value of freedom. If we fail to do so, history will judge that we were unworthy recipients of the heritage passed down to us by the sacrifices and courage of our forefathers.
