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.
