Philippians - Citizen of Heaven
What does it mean to be a “Citizen of Heaven?” Paul uses that phrase twice in his letter.
This Thursday ( July 4th) – we are celebrating our Freedom! We celebrate our freedom as a nation and we celebrate our freedom in Christ. In school, at the start of every day, a bell would ring, and the entire class would rise, turn to the American Flag, and say the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all.”
I remember as a child, waving the American Flag during July 4th Parades, applauding veterans, police officers and first responders…but the most Patriotic Season that I remember experiencing came immediately after terrorists attacked the Nation by hijacking passenger planes and flying them into the World Trade Center, and the Pentagon.
After our Nation watched the towers collapse. After we saw smoke rising from the Pentagon.
After we heard the heroic story of Flight 93 – and how the passengers fought back and lost their lives when they crashed in the field in Pennsylvania….
America responded.
Neighbors spoke to neighbors they had not spoken to. Families called one another to check on them. People lined up across the nation to donate blood. Spontaneous applause broke out for First Responders and Police as they responded to car accidents and fender benders.
And for weeks, as First Responders searched for survivors among the rubble of the World Trade Center, a Massive American Flag Flew in the background. Even with smoke still rising from the rubble, Americans began packing sporting events and arenas as soon as they could. It was as though we were one. Our Nation stood together and said, “You cannot break the American spirit.”
That SEASON was the most PATRIOTIC season of my lifetime.
Today almost twenty-three years later, the United States of America does not feel as united as we were then.
It feels like people are trying to divide us by hate.
It feels like people are trying to divide us by political party.
It feels like people are trying to divide our country by race.
Honestly, our Nation is more divided than I have ever seen it.
So.
I am an American. I love the freedom we have been given by God. I love that our Declaration of Independence begins with the words:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
I do love my country.
But as followers of Jesus, how do we balance our responsibility as Citizens of the USA and as followers of Jesus living in the USA?
As we look at Philippians, I hope we are each challenged by the Word of God – because I believe he has a particular message crucial for us all to hear and understand.
Let’s read together:
Philippians 1:27 (NLT2)
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.
Philippians 3:17-4:1 (NLT2)
17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. 1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
At this time, Paul was being persecuted by his own Country. It was not just the religious leaders – he was actually being persecuted by the government of Rome. He was upsetting the Roman culture by insisting that Jesus was the one true God and that when a person surrenders his life to Jesus, they are forgiven for their sins and made a new person. The Jewish leaders and the Roman government did not like it.
In fact, a few years later, a Roman Emperor named Nero, would falsely accuse Paul of setting the city of Rome on fire, and he would, as Christian Scholars tell us, have Paul arrested and beheaded. Paul made it clear that if we have indeed surrendered our lives to Jesus, our citizenship is in Heaven. That is where we belong. That is where we are going. Even though I am a Citizen of Heaven – I was born a Citizen of the United States of America, and I am to be a good steward of the Nation that God has entrusted to me.
I think it is important to remember that for followers of Jesus:
WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN FIRST, AND OUR NATION SECOND
Paul stated clearly that we are citizens of Heaven…but he did not teach that followers were not citizens of the countries they belonged to or that followers of Jesus should give up their rights and claims as citizens of their Native Countries.
In Philippians 3:17, Paul writes, “Pattern your lives after mine.” So, let’s examine how Paul balanced his citizenship of Rome and Heaven.
In Acts 16, Paul was in Philippi leading people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus – Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten with rods, and locked up in the inner dungeon. While in Prison, Paul led the jailer and his family to Jesus and baptized them.
The following day, the City Officials ordered the release of Paul and Silas… You would think that Paul would high tail it out of there…but listen to what he said:
Acts 16:37-38 (NLT2)
37 But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” 38 When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city.
Can you hear the defiance in Paul’s voice?
Paul knew he was a citizen of heaven – but he also understood his rights as a Roman Citizen. He knew that He and Silas were arrested and beaten because they were citizens of Heaven – but he also knew it was ILLEGAL for them to be beaten and arrested without a trial, because he was a citizen of Rome. Paul waited until after he was arrested, beaten, and spent the night in jail before he said anything.
Why did he do that?
I think it is because Paul understood that:
OUR FREEDOM SHOULD ADVANCE THE GOSPEL, NOT HINDER IT.
Paul knew his pain could lead others to find freedom in Jesus. Paul believed God had allowed his suffering so he could share HIS HOPE IN JESUS with those he encountered. As citizens of the United States, we believe that we have been granted unalienable rights directly from God.
Right to Worship, Right to free speech.
We are FREE to align with a political party, and support the candidate that we want. But we can learn from Paul’s example that we are not free to be jerks. We should never allow our freedom to hinder the Good News of Jesus. Rather, we should use our freedom to advance the Good News of Jesus Christ.
We see this is Paul’s life again in Acts 21.
Some Jewish men caused a riot and made loud accusations against Paul. The whole city was in an uproar. A mob gathered and they tried to kill Paul. A Roman commander arrested Paul.
As the commander was trying to lead Paul away the crowd followed close by, yelling to KILL HIM. As Paul was about to be taken inside, Paul asked the commander if he could speak to the crowd that had gathered. A deep silence fell over the crowd, and Paul spoke to all of them and shared the story of Jesus and how Jesus had changed his life. After Paul shared the gospel of Jesus with the crowd, the commander took Paul inside and ordered him to be beaten and whipped. They tied Paul down to lash him, and Paul said,
“Is it legal for you to whip a Roman Citizen who hasn’t even been tried?” (Acts 21-22)
This frightened the Roman soldiers. They kept Paul under arrest…but they did not beat him. Paul understood that HIS RIGHTS as a Roman Citizen should advance the Gospel NOT hinder it.
When we elevate our RIGHTS higher than our RESPONSIBILITIES to Love God and Love our Neighbor as follower of Jesus – we will hinder the good news of Jesus. People will not want to hear from us. In fact, when we “set our minds on earthly things” we actually become more like those that Paul described in Philippians 3:19.
Philippians 3:18-19 (ESV)
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Did you catch the significance of those last few words? Paul was describing people who lived their lives as enemies of the cross of Christ. In the last few words, he said that enemies of the Cross of Christ “Set their minds on earthly things.”
“Setting our minds” on earthly things and “thinking about” earthly things are not the same thing.
It might surprise you, but
I think about eating. I think about brewing coffee. I think about my wife.(Not in that order…I should have listed my wife first.) I think about my children. I think about my future. I think about earthly things every single day.
I think about the government. I think about our local school board and the decisions they are making. I think about Public education. I think about America and the Political divide.
And I think to myself, wouldn’t it be amazing to have born again followers of Jesus, running for office at the local, state and federal levels? Wouldn’t it be amazing if people understood that God has blessed them as Citizens of the United States to point more people to Jesus? Wouldn’t it be amazing to have followers of Jesus defend our freedoms, establish justice, show mercy, and walk humbly with God?
If you are a follower of Jesus, you are called to advance the Kingdom of God first.
But - when we set our mind on earthly things – we live as enemies of the Cross of Christ…
When we set our mind on earthly things – it means we are obsessed and devoted to Earthly things. Our mind is non-flexible. Like concrete when it sets up – our minds become so focused on earthly things Jesus will for our lives does not matter.
The question I ask myself is this…
IS MY MIND RIGHT?
Is my mind right? Does the BORDER of our Nation matter more than expanding the Border of God’s Kingdom? Am I living more like a Citizen of Heaven than a Citizen of the USA? Do I place my political kingdom above God’s Kingdom?
Our Patriotism is best demonstrated by being good stewards of the Nation that God has entrusted to us. Let’s live with gratitude to live in the best Nation on the planet – and use our freedom to tell other’s about Jesus.
God can heal divided families.
God can restore broken marriages.
God can unify divided churches.
And I believe, if we seek God’s Kingdom first, God can unify our divided Nation.
May God truly Bless America, and may America be a Nation that blesses God.