We live in an age of spiritual darkness of increasing and studied insolence toward God. The realm of Christendom has a name that it lives, but is dead. Spiritual darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people.
But we are children of the light and should not walk in darkness.
Never were the servants of God so privileged as we are, for there is an abundance of evidence on every hand that these are the last days of an age; of a civilization that is doomed to destruction. The words of the Apostle Peter in his second epistle, chapter 3, verses 10-13, while applying primarily to the Israelitish “heaven” of his day, nevertheless point beyond that time and can be just as applicable to the passing away of the Gentile “heavens’ in the near future.
Israel’s power passed away because they did not value their “heavenly” citizenship, they forgot their seperateness, they were unmindful of the very fundamentals of their existence. They were God’s kingdom, His representatives on earth. We as God’s people of today can be like Israel of old.
Trials Ahead
There are many indications that in the near future our young people will again be called upon to answer for their faith. Indeed the whole of the Ecclesial world is involved. We all have an urgent need to re-examine ourselves to be sure that we fully understand and appreciate our position in relation to both earthly and heavenly citizenship.
Our Position Stated
We have a dual citizenship. That which is “heavenly” and that on earth or “earthly”. Certain privileges and responsibilities are implied in both. Of the two, that which is “heavenly” demands our greater allegiance.
The Heavenly Citizenship
Being natural-born subjects of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we nevertheless while having an allegiance to the Crown, have a greater allegiance to Christ. We can serve the State only insofar as its requirements do not clash with the requirements of God.
On the other hand, as God requires that we shall render to Him a completely unqualified obedience, a consideration of the following scriptural quotations is both timely and rewarding.
“They are not of the world . . . I am not of the world” (John 17. 14). Jesus in his prayer in Gethsemane, spoke these words to his Father. His first reference was to his disciples, the second to himself. The words are repeated in verse 16 and mean that the disciples of every age, should keep themselves separate from worldly influence even as he did. He took no part in the political struggle of the time. He had no worldly ambition such as could be provided by wealth, or the dedication of personal endeavour in commerce. The word of God was the guide to be used (verse 17). His word absorbed into our lives will separate us from surrounding influences.
“That they all may be one”. Neither race or colour can separate the true servants of Christ. How then can they be against their fellow servants in other countries? Wherever these servants are found their primary function is to witness for God (see verses 18-23) .
“To take out of them a people for His Name” (Acts 15. 1 4 ) . James declared that true believers were being “taken out” from among the nations. How then can their heart’s desire be with warring, faithless, disobedient mankind?
“Ye are bought with a price” ( 1 Cor. 6. 19-20). We are not our own, our particular function is to glorify God.
“Present your bodies a living sacrifice” The underlying idea of sacrificing anything is to give up something we have. Our whole life is to be “given up” to the worship and service of God. How then can we serve mammon with its wilful disregard of God?
“Set your affection on things above” (Col. 3. 2). Our affection or heart’s desire to be toward those things which are of God, and are to be found only in His Word.
“Our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 1. 27-29). The King James Version uses the word “conversation”, but a reference to Young’s Concordance shows that citizenship is intended. Hence the word citizenship is used in the Revised Version.
“Here we have no continuing city” (Heb. 13. 14). This verse is a natural outcome of the position stated in Philippians just quoted. Our aims and ambitions are not to be, indeed cannot be, centered in this present order. We are pilgrims who daily walk the road to the kingdom of God. This heavenly kingdom will supersede the kingdom of men.
Our Earthly Citizenship
Jesus in John 17. 15, does not seek that His servants should be “taken out” of the world, but that while in the world, they would be kept from evil. Matt. 22. 21 shows that we are at liberty to serve the laws of man only insofar as they do not conflict with the requirements of God. If there is conflict “we must obey God rather than man”.
“Be subject unto the higher powers” (Romans 13). Paul shows that we are to be law abiding; to practise everything that is good and righteous; to “walk honestly”; to give honour where it is due. Elsewhere the Apostle said “Fear God, honour the king”. The King of Paul’s day was probably Nero. We cannot have anything to do with movements of any kind which are against the government of the day.
Concerning Wars
War should not be entertained in any way whatever in Christ’s household. As has already been stated neither colour, nor race, can separate Christ’s brethren.
“Whence come wars” (James 4. 1-4). The writer examining the causes of wars declares that they come as a result of following fleshly lusts or desires, and emphatically states that believers cannot do such things.
“That ye love one another” (John 15. 12). How can Christians in Germany or elsewhere fight Christians in Australia; if they did they could not say they “love one another”, or that they are all one.
“None render evil for evil” (2 Thess. 5. 15). While this is undoubtedly one of the hardest of Christ’s teachings for our human nature to come up against, it must be obeyed. Whether in times of war or peace, we cannot render evil for evil, either among ourselves, or those not in the fold of the truth.
“Love your enemies.” This teaching of Christ is without either peer or parallel.
Undoubtedly the hardest of all his instructions, it nevertheless demands our obedience, even unto death. Christ’s requirements are all embracing, our very life is to be a witness for him, who should say of his murderers, “Father forgive them”.
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (2 Cor. 10. 3-4). Our brother Paul explains that we are not to war in the way of the flesh. We are expressly informed that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Could instructions be clearer? Jesus said, “He that taketh the sword shall perish by the sword”. The Christian warfare, the weapon of which is the word of God, is mighty to the pulling down of things mighty and strong. God’s word has declared that “The earth will be filled with God’s glory”. “He shall speak peace to the nations.” “They shall learn war no more.” Jesus said on one occasion, “Behold I send you forth as sheep among wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves”.
Bro. J. B. Norris in his book “The Christian War” (p. 14) wrote: “In the event of a genuine moral cause being at stake, the christian does not ask that it shall be secured by fighting. He does not look to the government or its troops for his wellbeing, but to God. He is entirely in the hands of God, and if it should happen that his country is invaded or devastated, he is to submit to what God permits to take place, knowing that he has in heaven a far more enduring substance and that in the end faith and obedience are better safeguards than steel and explosives. The prosperous christian with a considerable financial, industrial or landed stake in the country of his sojourning may find this teaching difficult to accept. If so, a careful spiritual stocktaking may be timely; there may be some worldly shelves to write down or even clear.”
Finally the same author wrote “When therefore in refusing military service the sound reason is advanced that we cannot serve two masters, it is well to be sure we are fully serving the one. The declining of military service should not be a convenient tenet of the faith, but a logical outcome of complete devotion to Jesus Christ.”
Herein is the crux of the whole matter of the true Christian’s relation to the State.
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