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Understanding Citizenship
By Loren M. Chamberlain
Human and Divine
“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:27-28 NIV).
Dominion Mandate
These verses in Genesis we have just read in its primeval form, is a mandate from God, called by some the “cultural mandate,” or “Adamic mandate.” However, we must understand that man’s “dominion” is as God’s steward, not as one that is given license “to destroy the earth.” “The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great—and for destroying those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18). Though God retains ownership, man has been given the responsibility of the earth and all its systems, living and nonliving. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters” (Psalm 24:1).
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, every living creature that moves, and He created man in His own image. These three creative acts of God can be divided into the physical sciences, the life sciences, and the socio-humanistic sciences (or the social sciences and humanities), respectively.
Since the “dominion mandate” was given to man by God another serious factor has been added, one that was not present when the responsibility of dominion was given to man. Sin entering into man’s nature through Adam and Eve’s rebellion and its pervasive effects in all areas of life, bringing God’s curse on the earth and death into the world. “Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).
The Impact of Sin
There would have been no need for men created in the image of God to exert dominion over one another until sin entered the picture. No organized study of man’s nature or the control of his activities was necessary. Disciplines such as criminology, psychology, sociology, politics, jurisprudence, military science, and numerous others would never have been necessary if sin hadn’t entered the world. Think of a world free from the need of doctors, hospitals, mortuaries, and other vast industries such as insurance, along with the many entertainment industries which feed man’s desires, lusts, and greed.
However, since sin did come to the earth, it has been necessary for God to modify and extend His primeval mandate to include the institution of human government. This is the reason the apostle Paul wrote, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1).
Citizenship
Obviously as Christians, our first allegiance is to Jesus as Lord; however, this does not free us to disobey human government except when they clearly require us to violate the moral standards revealed by God. We should never allow government to force us to disobey the law of Christ Jesus, however if we are forced to disobey human government in order to follow God we must be willing as the apostles were to suffer the consequences. As Peter stated, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Because we are God’s people, we are foreigners on earth and our real citizenship is a heavenly one. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Still, we must be responsible citizens and cooperate with the authorities just as an ambassador to another country would do in order to represent well the one who sent him, Jesus Christ. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). The apostle Paul made clear numerous benefits of citizenship that are available to believers through Christ. “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13,14).
We are fortunate that we live in a democratic country in the United States, and as citizens have the privilege to vote for officials that will allow us, hopefully, to continue to live in peace and worship God as the Scriptures tell us. Many Christians around the world do not have that right. It is not the purpose of the author of this article to tell people to vote or not vote. However I will say this, when good men stand by and fail to do good when they have the freedom and opportunity to make a good contribution, nothing good is what they will get.
Conclusion
In the Scriptures God rewards His people according to His justice. In the Old Testament, obedience often brought reward in this life. Our true reward, as believers, in this present life is God’s presence and power through the Holy Spirit. Later, in the Kingdom of God, we will be rewarded for our faith and service. If material rewards in this life came to us, the citizens of the coming Kingdom of God now, we might be tempted to boast about our achievements. Now in this life we must be faithful ambassadors and citizens of the soon coming Kingdom of God and obedient and responsible citizens of human government setting the right example. Jesus said, “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities” (Luke 19:17). i
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