One thing must be kept in mind: We Christians are Christians first and everything else after that. Our first allegiance is to the kingdom of God. Our citizenship is in heaven. We are grateful for political freedom. We thank God for democracy as a way of life. But we never forget that we are sons of God and citizens of another city whose builder and maker is God. For this reason, we must not identify the gospel with any political system or make Christianity to be synonymous with any form of government, however noble. Christ stands alone, above and outside of every ideology devised by man. He does not join any of our parties or take sides with any of our great men except as they may come over on His side and try to follow Him in righteousness and true holiness. Then He is for them but only as individuals, never as leaders of some political faction. The true Christian will be loyal to his country and obedient to those in authority, but he will never fall into the error of confusing his own national culture with Christianity. Christianity is bigger than any country, loftier than any civilization, broader than any human ideology.
Verse
Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Matthew 22:21b
Thought
We have dual citizenship—God’s Kingdom and a nation of the world. To that country’s government we have responsibility—laws to follow, taxes to pay, duties inherent in citizenship. Being good citizens will mean working to change what needs to be changed while remaining true to our King Jesus.
Prayer
Your Kingdom, Lord, includes followers of Christ from differing ethnic groups, social classes, and political persuasions. Oh God, help me to accept the diversity while rejoicing in family, for Jesus’ sake.