Dual Citizenship

What is our responsibility as citizens of the United States of America? Are we as a local church responsible to uphold social justice, and speak out about social injustice? Is it the goal of the church to bring in righteousness through legislative means? If so, wouldn’t it be fair to posit that the church and the government must seek to join hands in the fight for peace, order, and equality for all within our borders and worldwide? This aim would lend itself to the church becoming a political, economic and domestic force for change. Also, the government could and would, in turn, have equal share in church operations with an exertion of control. Is this the cause of Christ for His Church? We must carefully consider the ramifications of the church and state roles as ordained by God, for it will have major consequences and give guidance for the clear purpose of the church in society.

  Christ’s own statement in Matthew 22:21 gives us clear insight into the direction for the church and its distinction from government affairs, when it says, “. . . render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” The church has its purposes in this world separate from the government’s purposes. The government exercises authority over external acts of its citizenry while the church wields an influence extending to the the internal workings of man. The latter brings spiritual constraints as opposed to the formers physical constraints. This is not to say one is more important than the other, for both must be present in society for there to be a good outcome in our present day. The church, as citizens on earth, needs the government, and the government needs the church, as ones who are citizens of heaven. If the church fails to produce a citizenship that demonstrates genuine change of heart resulting in changed lives, then the government will become corrupt with consequent unjust laws and unjust decisions which ultimately will undermine the churches ability to function as a free and independent enterprise. The church, on the other hand, needs the government to uphold God-given rights of freedom of speech, worship, assembly, press etc., in order for the voice of God by His Word to be published and heard in the public arena.

  Governments enforcements of laws, and the churches proclamation of grace through the gospel are necessary components in our nation and world as ordained by God. As was presumably noted by Alexis de Tocqueville years ago, “America is great because she is good, if America ever ceases to be good she will cease to be great!”

The church is the force that moves in hearts of people for inward submission - The government is the force that moves in minds of people for outward submission.