Chapter III
Heaven's Citizens Remain Separate
Our citizenship is in heaven; from whence we look for
the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.15 Philippians 3:20 |
Every Christian's citizenship is in heaven. The Authorized Version
is, "Our conversation is in heaven"; but that word "conversation"
does not mean simply our words and the conversation which we have
one with another in talking about neighborly affairs, but our manner
of life, our course of conduct, our walk, is in heaven.
Now as our citizenship, the citizenship of every Christian, is in
heaven, what has any citizen of heaven or of the heavenly government
rightly to do with the political or governmental affairs of any other
government or any other kingdom? In fact, what has a citizen of any
government rightly to do with the political concerns or management
of any other government?
We read about people who profess to be citizens of the heavenly kingdom,
but they are constantly involving themselves in the political workings
of the governments of this earth. They profess to have a citizenship
in heaven, and yet they manipulate the affairs of the kingdoms of
earth! They profess to be citizens of the kingdom of God, yet they
propose to regulate the affairs of the governments of men. But that
is a thing that never can rightly be done.
If a citizen of Great Britain should come into the United States,
still retaining his citizenship in the government of Great Britain,
and should take part, or attempt to take part, in the political affairs
of this government, his action in that respect would be resented by
every citizen of the United States. It matters not with what party
he might wish to ally himself and work; they would not have it. They
would say to him: That is none of your business; you do not belong
here. You are a citizen of another government. If the laws of this
country do not suit you, that has nothing to do with the case. The
political systems of this country suit us. If things do not suit you,
just let them alone, or else change your citizenship from the government
to which you belong, and bring your citizenship here. Then
begin to discuss the laws and how they should be made, and what they
should be.
You know that is so. You know that is the way a citizen of another
country would be treated by all the citizens of the United States,
if he should undertake to manipulate, to control, or have any part
in the political concerns of this country. That is not denying his
right to live here; he may do that. But all do deny his right, and
his very citizenship in another country, denies his right to have
anything to do with the citizenship of the United States, or her political
affairs.
As the Christian's citizenship is in heaven, the very principle
of it, prohibits him from taking part in any of the political concerns
of any other government, even though it be the government of the United
States. And that is so; it exists in the very nature of the case.
It lies in the very principle of citizenship itself.
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