The Christian As A Citizen

“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21b

In John 6:15, the people wanted to make Christ their king, eyeing His miraculous power as a means to relieve their nation of its political and social problems. Christ withdrew from this. In John 18:36, Christ declared that the Kingdom of God was separate from civil government’s civil matters.

In Luke 13:1-5, Jesus did not take up the initiative to secure social justice for the atrocities committed by the Roman governor.

On other occasions, such as Matthew 22:21, Christ taught that people were to fulfill their obligations to both God and civil government, without neglect to either.

Romans 13:1-7, declares that all mankind, Christians included, are to be respectful of and obedient to civil government, which God ordained for the human race as a whole, not just for Christians.

So when it comes time to choose leaders for civil government, that is what we are to do. When it comes time to ordain leaders in the church, that is what we are to do. The qualifications for these separate positions differ. The best Christian on earth may know little about civil government, while the best civil leader may not be qualified for a leadership position in church. Being a Christian does not make you the best bus driver, the best pilot, the best soldier, the best policeman, the best banker, the best governor, etc.

Granted, if the playing field is level when it comes to qualifications for a secular position, a Christian can, and should be, the better choice based on godliness being superior to worldliness.

We should not expect that we can change the spiritual condition of our nation through civil government. That can only happen through repentance and faith in response to people turning to God and His Word.

But as a citizen, we must choose the most qualified leaders, without directly supporting those who are defying the moral laws of the God who ordained government.

“Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.” 2 Chronicles19:2

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A Holy Establishment

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” 2 Timothy 4:3

The church is not a theater to entertain with sensationalism, to the satisfaction of men. Rather, it is a holy establishment, sanctified for God’s specific use. If you are shopping for clothes, you don’t go to a toy store. If you are looking for car parts, you don’t go to a grocery store, etc. Every establishment has its own designated purpose.

The church is not like a theater, it is like a restaurant, where those who hunger and thirst after righteousness go to be fed.

The church is not like a theater, it is like a bank, where people go to get involved with laying up treasure in heaven.

The church is not like a theater, it is like a work place, where people go to engage themselves with the Lord’s work, and receive their due rewards for their deeds.

The church is not like a theater, it is like a school where people go to be taught the Word of God, for faith and godly wisdom. It is here that self-discipline, respect, and personal application are required with willful absenteeism considered a demerit.

The church is not like a theater, but is like a lighthouse that must be maintained without neglect for the sake of others, regardless of one’s own personal agenda or feelings.

The church is not like a theater, but like an insurance agency where covenant promises are made, based on the faithful participation of all parties involved.

Rather than the church be like a theater where human desires are gratified, it is like a memorial where the glory of God is kept in perpetual remembrance.

Rather than being ‘common ground’ to accommodate and satisfy human preferences, the church is ‘holy ground’, where man humbles himself before God, seeking God’s mercy and grace, with a broken and contrite spirit.

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

“…let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28b

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It’s Elementary…What Son?

“Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not inquire wisely…” Ecclesiastes 7:10

The wrong questions will only produce the wrong answers. An elderly person won’t help themselves by asking the question, “Am I stronger than I was four years ago?” Rather, they need to consider, “What can I do best to compliment my remaining strength?”

Beware of making comparisons, rather than seeking to make personal accomplishments: “…but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 Making comparisons will either produce self-righteous satisfaction, or debilitating dissatisfaction. Rather, “I count not myself to have apprehended…forgetting those things which are behind…reaching forth unto those things…before us” Philippians 3:12.

We must not worry about the outcome with men, but rather seek to be approved of by God: “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” 2 Corinthians 10:18 Thus, “the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4

The wrong questions can be total distractions. For example: “What am I getting out of church?’ instead of, “What am I putting forth for the church?” Or, “I wonder what I won’t like about the sermon today?” instead of, “Have I really prayed for the preaching?” And, “Why is this lesson so boring?” instead of, “Why didn’t I personally study the lesson to develop an interest in it?”

We must not substitute observations for considerations: Observation: “I wonder why we are not growing?” Consideration: “When was the last time I labored together with the Lord in the fields that are white unto harvest?” Observation: “Some people are quitting church.” Consideration: “Who changed, them or the church?” Observation: “I’m not feeling blessed here.” Consideration: “As ye sow, so shall ye reap”, and, “According to your faith, be it unto you”, and, “Not the hearer, but the doer shall be blessed in his deed.”

And before one jumps to the popular, feel-good religion–lean on ‘restrictions’–ask the question, Is it really God’s grace, if it is not teaching, “that denying ungodly, worldly lusts…live soberly, righteously, godly,…a separate, peculiar people…”? Titus 2:11-15

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The Law’s Status According To The New Testament

“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.” 1 Timothy 1:8

Thus, the law is not to be cast out, but used for God’s intended purpose. Not being under the law is not about abandoning the principles set forth by the laws, but no longer being under the legal systemof applying the principles of the laws that God imposed upon the nation of Israel under the old covenant.

Jesus set forth that the New Testament is not about destroying the law, but fulfilling it=”to carry out something promised; to fill the requirements of; to complete; (and in the case of the legal system) to bring an end to. Matthew 5:15 – “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” And in Matthew 5:19, He affirms that the fulfillment is not a license to breaking the law, but is to be the aligning of our teachings with the law.

The Book of Hebrews rightly divides the Word of Truth on this great subject: how that even though we are not under the legal system that imposed the law under the old covenant, that everything that the Old Testament set forth, was the foreshadowing of the truth of Christ, His great work of redemption, and the doctrines of God.

From the principles of God’s law, the New Testament says: Romans 7:7 – “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law.” 1 John 3:4 – “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

By applying the principles of the law, we are able to discern what is spiritual from what is carnal, Romans 7:14.

By the law, we are able to recognize God’s standards for what is holy, Romans 7:12a.

We develop (grow) our understanding about what is just and good from the law, Romans 7:12b.

The principles set forth in all scripture, which necessarily includes the law, are the correct principles that true New Testament doctrine are based upon, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

The law is what the Holy Spirit uses to bring about real repentance, unto faith in Christ – “…the schoolmaster that brings us unto Christ…” Galatians 3:22,24. To be told that one is a sinner, without knowing what sin is, does not afford the needed realization of the personal guilt of sin, which is essential to real repentance unto: “God, be merciful, unto me a sinner…” Luke 18:13-14

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Harden Not Your Hearts

Psalm 95:8-11

The hardening of one’s heart toward God, His Word, will and way, doesn’t happen accidentally, but rather develops by one’s own permission. It is like two puppies playing tug-of-war with a rag. The process is to keep grabbing more and more of the rag as the opponent gives it up, little by little, until one has taken it away from the other. Where God’s will is concerned, one either holds onto it, while trying to take on more, or they keep on giving it up, little by little, until they have let go of it altogether.

When one lets go of God’s will by decision, this makes way for the concept, the habit, the purpose, the determination, the loyalty and the desire for serving God to be all overthrown in one’s heart. This permissiveness to let go of God’s will, unto allowing that which is contrary to God and His will, is the conceiving of hardness in one’s heart toward God and God’s will.

Once the allowance is made in the heart to deny the doing of God’s will, this resistant attitude toward doing God’s will becomes the resistant attitude toward any and every call to return to the doing of God’s will. Not only that, but by being resistant to God’s will, there is a resultant resistance to that which advocates the doing of God’s will.

Now the sum of these: What started out to be just a letting go of God’s will on some issue of life, has now consumed one’s whole life in that which is in resistance toward God, God’s will, and God’s ministry, which advocates the doing of His will.

The sad part of it all is that hardness of heart is self-afflicting: “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29:1

A person’s resistance to God’s counsel for life, results in their failure to follow the right course of life, leading to suffering great loss in life (and maybe of life.) The hardness of one’s heart toward God’s will, means their heart is hard toward God’s Word–thus shutting their heart’s door to God’s mercy and grace, which is man’s only hope of deliverance. So, hardness of heart not only results in the wreck of one’s life, but it also prevents the coming of God’s Life Squad to the rescue.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:18-20

“…IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS…”

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