Seeking to be a Good Citizen and Faithful Disciple of Jesus

As we celebrate the birthday of our country on July 4, many have thoughts about how Christians should act, especially when our leaders do not always follow the guidance of the Lord and Creator of all. Actually, God gives much direction to His children. He calls us to be good citizens who are also faithful to Him.

Do you know the words of Jeremiah in chapter 29 of his book? The children of Israel were captive exiles living in the land of Babylonia. Nevertheless, through Jeremiah, the Lord calls the Israelites to live as good citizens in their new, temporary home. Listen to Jeremiah 29:7. “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Some might be surprised at the Lord calling His people to pray for another country.

On the other hand, perhaps you do know God’s promise 4 verses later, in Jeremiah 29:11. “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” You see, in His wisdom God is watching over the nations of the world, in spite of their rebellion and sin, in order to care for His own people. The Lord calls His people to godly citizenship!

Perhaps you know, or maybe you do not know, the words of God through St. Paul concerning how the Christians in Rome should respond to their leaders. Most think Nero was Emperor when Paul wrote Romans. Imagine! Listen to this guidance our Lord gives us in Romans 13. “1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. . . . 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (Romans 13:1-2, 5-7) (You could read the whole section.) At the request of my 12th grade English teacher at Gainesville High School, Mrs. Bell, I read this section of Scripture to the class. I would probably not be asked to read this section of scripture in class today! Maybe we also are surprised today by the call of God.

In 1 Timothy 2, our Lord gives more guidance for disciples of Jesus. I offered the invocation for the Governor’s Picnic in Wasilla Alaska for 3 years when Sarah Palin was governor. Those 3 years I read 1 Timothy 2. 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4) Our leaders have a difficult job, to provide a community where people can live “quiet and peaceful lives, godly and dignified.” Therefore, our Lord calls His children to pray for our leaders, to help them in fulfilling their job. Do you pray for our leaders?

In March of 2019 I attended the Alaska Governor’s Prayer Breakfast with 20 other people from St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, AK. We heard Franklin Graham speak. At that time, first year governor, Mike Dunleavy, asked those gathered to pray to God to give him wisdom for leading. I pray daily that our Lord guides the governor of Alaska with wisdom to work for justice and righteousness.

There are limits to how far Christians follow earthly leaders. Perhaps these limits were best stated by Peter when the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, commanded the apostles to stop teaching about Jesus. “Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” (Acts 5:29)

While we live in this world we have human leaders. But, ultimately, for those who believe in Jesus, our eternal citizenship is elsewhere. “20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)

The bottom line is that God has created authorities in this world so they can provide peace and law and order, so that Christians may live in faith and may share the good news of Jesus. I am not surprised that leaders are sinful. In truth, the Lord’s people suffer the same affliction. So, I pray that God guides our leaders, and that our leaders act wisely. I pray that the government of our nation, and all nations rule is such a way that God’s people may live holy lives as citizens who pray for their leaders, and who seek to follow Jesus.

Are you praying for the leaders in our world that they may follow the guidance of God?