10/18/2020 - Dual Citizenship

CITIZENS OF TWO KINGDOMS: October 18, 2020

With an election fast approaching, we’re bombarded with candidates campaigning for our vote. Naturally, the candidates will appeal to our self-interests. Do you want lower taxes? Are you concerned about the climate or fracking? What about job security, health care in a pandemic, or opening the economy? Although we tell ourselves that we take our fellow man and “the good of the nation” into consideration when we vote, we probably just vote our self interests. One person's self-interests are not the same as another.

Governing is extremely difficult. The amount of people, the diversity of people, the perplexity of the issues, and the competition and multiplicity of needs present a daily challenge to those who govern. Rather than meaningfully engage in problem solving, many hide behind trite phrases like “you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”

Elections cycles provide Christians the opportunity to consider the role of the state and their duty as Christians. After all, we belong to God and his Church and our citizenship is in heaven. But for time being God put us in this nation and invites us to submit to those who govern us. Daniel’s management of that dual citizenship is fascinating. Paul simply tells us to submit to the government. And Jesus quips, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Election cycles also present a temptation for us to miss the forest for the trees. We get so worked up with attack ads and political bluster that we forget that our primary residence is heaven. Our King, Jesus Christ, rules us by his forgiving grace. All his judgments are true. And he genuinely loves all his constituents and meets all their needs. He is not up for reelection, but he sure has my vote!

God bless your worship!

► Readings:

• Daniel 1:3-21: Daniel and friends put God first

• Romans 13:1-7: Submit to the governing authorities

• Matthew 22:15-22: Jesus invites us to support both church and state

• Psalm 96

► Sermon theme on Daniel 1:3-21: “Dual Citizenship”

8am & 10:45am services with accommodations are held on campus.

10:45am service live-streamed on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/RedeemerTucson

This week's service folder. HERE