How To Be a Good Citizen
What does it mean to be a good citizen?
Citizenship is described as a legal understanding between a country and its people with the required documentation (i.e. birth certificate, passport). The citizens have specific rights or duties in their countries, such as voting, serving on a jury, holding public office, and defending the rights of other citizens.
Christians as Citizens
Christians are responsible both as earthly citizens and as heavenly citizens. Jesus emphasized this when teaching “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caeser’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21; see Mark 12:17). Dual citizenship (earthly and heavenly) is a mark of Christians, which requires participation in their country as well as honoring God as members of His kingdom.
We Are Earthly Citizens
As earthly citizens, Jesus taught the requirement to pay taxes to the governing body and its leader Caesar. Similarly, Paul taught, “Render therefore…taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:7). Paul also instructed citizens to obey “governing authorities…[as] appointed by God” (Romans 13:1) as well as to pray regularly for those in the country’s leadership (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Obedience to the laws created by the authorities is a reflection of obedience to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:13-14). However, it is a Christian duty to stand up against laws that disobey or dishonor God’s law (Exodus 1:15-22; Daniel 6:10-17). In fact, Peter and the other apostles on trial emphasized their allegiance to Christ over that of human government (Acts 5:29).
We Are Heavenly Citizens
As heavenly citizens, Christians are to obey earthly authorities but also focus on what pleases God, knowing that the eternal citizenship is more significant (Ephesians 2:19-20; Philippians 3:20). Jesus declared that this world is not the Christian’s final home, and He was leaving earth “to prepare a place..that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). Paul said that heaven is the Christian’s ultimate residence, and each one should live as anticipating that final destination (2 Corinthians 5:1-8; Philippians 3:20).
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Content in this article is taken from the Evangelical Study Bible.
To be an evangelical means to believe in life-changing truth. Truth that gives us the key to eternal life in Jesus but also the truth in how to live today. The Evangelical Study Bible teaches you how to experience the truth that transforms, refreshes, and empowers us in the Scripture.
