America and Christianity I. Introduction A. All of us here today share in life in America B. As Americans, we have many great blessings that this country has bestowed upon us 1. We have great freedoms not known in other countries 2. We have a great standard of living C. Yet America also presents many stumbling-blocks in the life of a Christian D. How shall we balance our commitment to God and the commitment to the state? E. How do we allow our faith impact our American citizenship, and how can we avoid having our faith unduly impacted by America? F. Let us spend some time examining these matters according the Scriptures II. The Benefits of America A. It is good to begin by showing the great benefits that America bestows upon us B. Freedom 1. America was founded under the principle of freedom for its citizens 2. We have the opportunity to live our lives unmolested by authorities 3. Of great consequence is our religious freedom-- we have the liberty to practice and promote New Testament Christianity without fear of molestation 4. We have luxuries that were not even afforded to the Apostles thanks to our country C. Wealth 1. I recognize that there are some here who may not feel that they are wealthy... 2. ...yet, in comparison to many other parts of the world and the past, we are all indeed wealthy 3. We enjoy a higher standard of living than many can dream 4. Most all of us have roofs over our heads, food in the pantry, and if it got really bad, we might have to get a government handout 5. We should be thankful for these great blessings! D. These are some of the many blessings that we have thanks to our country E. We should be thankful for them! III. Our Responsibility to America A. It is good also for us to consider what our responsibility, as Christians, is toward America B. Obedience and Taxes: Romans 13:1-7 1. As at all times and in all countries, we are called upon to obey our leaders who are set up "for our good" when we do good 2. We know, of course, that if the government were to call upon us to do something against the will of God, we are to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29) 3. Thankfully, our government does not do such things at the moment 4. This means that we should be obeying the government! 5. Likewise, taxes are to be paid so that government can do its job and its service to us C. Prayer: 1 Timothy 2:1-3 1. Paul enjoins upon us the need to pray for all men, and especially those in authority 2. While we may not always agree with the decisions made by the authority, it is good to keep in mind that Paul wrote this to Timothy while Nero was emperor of Rome...we do not have it nearly as badly! 3. Likewise, we are to pray for our tranquility-- a peaceful and quiet life-- from our government! D. Such represents the responsibility we have toward the government IV. Civil and Spiritual Citizenship A. It is also important for us to understand the relationship between our civil and spiritual citizenship B. Philippians 3:20: our citizenship is in Heaven C. Matthew 6:33: we are to seek the Kingdom first D. John 18:36: the Kingdom of Jesus is not of this world E. From these passages we gain the understanding that our primary citizenship is within the Kingdom of Heaven, and such is not of this world F. It is not a sin to have citizenship according to a government; Paul, after all, used his Roman citizenship often 1. Paul's example, moreover, shows how we are to consider our civil citizenship 2. Acts 22:23-29: Paul mentioned his citizenship to spare him from the whip and to gain better treatment from the authorities 3. Acts 25:10-12: Paul's Roman citizenship allows him to appeal to Caesar, and therefore he is presented with the opportunity to go to Caesar and proclaim the Gospel G. Paul uses his citizenship of Rome, then, to give him opportunities to preach the Gospel and to preserve himself whenever possible from harm H. Having seen, then, our responsibility to the government and the way we are to view our citizenship as Americans, let us look at some of the hindrances present in America toward Christianity V. The Hindrances of America A. The view of America as the "Promised Land"/"God's People" 1. Even now there is still a prevalent view, sometimes more unconscious than conscious, but prevalent nonetheless that America is the "promised land" and its people are "God's people" 2. This goes back to the founding of America, and especially the Puritan colonies in Massachusetts, where there were many internal debates regarding whether anyone present was in the covenant group or only those who had a religious experience 3. In the end, the idea that all people could be a part of the covenant group, and the path was made toward looking at all people in America as God's chosen people 4. Likewise, all of these very religious people seeing the land of America as a land of bounty and a land in which they can observe their religion led them to see America as a promised land of sorts 5. After all, since we have so many "religious" people in America, do we not have any right to say that we have an "in" with God? 6. In the end, the problem is that many read the language of God speaking of Israel and applied it to America 7. It was very easy to look at America as the new Israel and Americans as the new Israelites 8. While that illustration might be true in many unintended ways... a. considering how many Americans do not consider God as their God b. considering how despite the good we have here people still do not obey God c. considering that exile would do not a few Americans some good 9. ...America is not Israel, nor are Americans the new Israelites! a. we do not find in the Scriptures any reference of America as the new Israel b. there is no indication that Americans are intrinsically holier than other people c. likewise, there is no indication that God blesses America more than anyone else 10. This is a dangerous view indeed a. how many times are American actions rationalized by religion? b. it is almost as if whatever America does is alright since America is God's land and full of God's people! c. No such government exists today-- no government does exactly that which is right because it has an "in" with God 11. Just because America does something does not make it right-- we must always keep that in mind! 12. We can be thankful that there are many godly people in America, but let us not be deceived: America is full of many more godless people! B. American Democracy 1. Americans also highly prize our democratic-type system 2. After all, we get to elect our legislative and executive branches! 3. While American democracy is well and good, we must remember that Christianity is not a democracy! 4. Christianity is not a democracy; it is a monarchy, and Christ is its King (1 Timothy 6:15) 5. Elders of churches are appointed as God's shepherds to work in a fold (1 Peter 5:1-4), agents of the King if you like, but in the end we all look to Jesus as our King 6. We may not like everything that has been commanded, we may not think that everything is "fair", if we had a vote things might be different...but in the end, Christ is our King, and He and He alone has the right to determine what we are to do! 7. American democracy also hinders us in the sense that we as Americans have to look at no one as a "superior", since we are all "equals" in the eyes of America 8. In Christianity, however, we are all under the rule of the King, and need to learn subjection and obedience to Him (Romans 6:12-23) C. American View of Liberty 1. Americans have a strong view of liberty, a value that is worth preserving to the death 2. Liberty is highly prized in America, and there is good reason for it 3. That love of liberty is excellent as an American citizen... 4. ...but it does not have the same place in Christianity 5. While in America, liberties are to be prized and fought for... 6. ...in Christianity, liberties are to be sacrificed without question (Romans 14-15:3) 7. Christian liberties are practices of no great concern to God where we have freedom in determining the way things are done, and if some have difficulties with certain liberties, we should be willing to forsake them for the unity of the faith (1 Corinthians 10:23-24) D. American Capitalism 1. Americans have also, on the whole, done well in a capitalist system 2. We must remember, however, that many of the characteristics that capitalism rewards do not have any place in the church 3. Self-seeking, greed, knocking others out of your way-- all things capitalism rewards, but not for the church nor for the Christian (Galatians 5:19-21) 4. Likewise, while American businesses may have good methods of making money, the church is not a business! 5. Christianity is about people and about souls, not about money (1 Timothy 6:13-19) E. American Selfishness and Pride 1. Likewise, Americans, especially these days, tend to be rather selfish and very proud about their country 2. While there is good reason to have pride, overweening pride leads to destruction (Proverbs 8:13, 11:2), and has little place in the Christian life (2 Corinthians 11:16-30) 3. Likewise, selfishness is not a godly attribute; selflessness is what we are called to be (Romans 15:1-3, 1 Corinthians 10:23-24) F. Complacency 1. In a sad irony, the security that we have in America from violence in many ways leads to a laxity in spiritual matters 2. The persecutions of the early church strengthened the believers and led them to focus on the unity of the faith (cf. 1 Peter, James 1) 3. With peace and security, however, many have time to dwell on other matters, and the impetus is weakened and the divisions are heightened 4. We must not allow the security that America provides us to cause us to slacken in the spiritual battle we are waging (Ephesians 6:10-18) G. We can see, then, that certain traits of Americanism can lead to hindrances in the faith 1. It is not that American ideals are automatically hostile to God inasmuch as many American ideals are imposed on spiritual matters where they do not belong 2. As we have seen earlier, our spiritual citizenship is to inform our civil citizenship, and not the other way around 3. We can survive in America and have the right attitude toward the government and our citizenship and do very well... 4. ...we just need to constantly keep diligence to not conform to America, but continue to transform according to our renewal in Christ (Romans 12:1) VI. Conclusion A. We have looked into the relationship between America and the Christian B. We have seen that America does provide the benefit of liberty and wealth C. We have seen that we as Christians are called upon to obey the government and to pay taxes, to pray for our tranquility, and that we are to consider our spiritual citizenship as primary D. We have seen that America can present many hindrances to faith, including popular ideas about America as the chosen land of God's people, and imposing American values of liberty, democracy, capitalism, and other attributes upon Christianity E. Let us then recognize that we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven first, and America second, and keep that priority in our lives F. Invitation/songbook G. People will be saved by Christ not on the basis of their nationality but on the basis of their obedience 1. Have you obeyed Christ? 2. Come to faith in Christ today and gain salvation (Romans 6:23) H. Perhaps you have obeyed Christ but have some spiritual need I. However we can help, please allow us to do so; come to the front as we stand and sing