Christian Citizenship (Biblical Reasons Why I Want to Be a Christian in a Multi-Faith Nation) Part 3

 

This post is part 3 of a series on Christian citizenship, and why I believe mixing Christian identity with American identity is bad for both. My intent in sharing these short Biblical reflections is not to "prooftext", or just compile a list of unrelated Bible verses to support my argument. Rather, I hope to give you little bite-sized thoughts, which I believe represent themes you'll find throughout the Bible and historic Christian teachings.

I hope they make you think.


Today's biblical reason why I want to be a Christian in a multi-faith nation:

The apostle Paul writes, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20). Paul himself was a citizen of the Roman Empire, but he prized his citizenship in heaven above his national identity. At no point did Paul ever advocate for a Christian Roman empire, even though that happened a couple of centuries later.

In writing to the Church in Philippi, Paul is likely writing to some very patriotic Romans. Though the city itself is in modern-day Greece, at that time it was a Roman colony and military outpost. It is probable that some in this congregation were also Roman citizens, and some might even have been Roman military veterans. This only adds to the impact of Paul's statement that their first and most important "citizenship" was to the kingdom of Heaven, whose only ruler is Jesus Christ.

For an alternative reading of the often-quoted Psalm 33:12, "Happy is the nation whose god is the Lord," check out Monday's post.

For more background information read this statement from the ELCA's presiding bishop, or learn about Christians Against Christian Nationalism.