Good citizenship matters
There are many articles and books being written about how the United States is under judgment and how the nation needs to repent. The news media and politicians usually are angered greatly by these assertions. “Certainly, it is those right wing Christian lunatics at it again,” they might say. Everyone and anyone has license to ridicule those who believe that the moral decay of our nation starting at the very top–not only in this particular leadership, but several previous ones–is any reason that our nation is facing sure financial crisis, a breakdown of the family, a marriage crisis, a murder crisis, especially of the unborn, and continuous threat from Islamic terrorists.
In all fairness, perhaps Christians blame God too much for this condition. Much of the problems of this nation have been brought on by ourselves–we, as citizens. There are just certain principles that apply. If you spend more than you take in, you are in debt; if you allow the breakdown of the family structure, your society will reflect it; if your choices go against good wisdom, there are consequences. Enough people doing the wrong things brings an entire society down. There is also a collective nature to a society that God judges as a reflection of the people. Now is when people hit the unsubscribe button and run out of the room screaming, “I’m a good person. I didn’t support these rogues. Its not my fault.”
Examples of God judging the nations is seen throughout the Old Testament. God judges nations because the people of the nation, and His people specifically, are not living righteously. The nation suffers because of the condition of the people, and the nation also suffers because of the condition of the leadership. One good example is found in Ezekiel 22:30, “And I sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Another is Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn.” You see, both people and leaders share responsibility.
Set aside politics and the United States. Let’s look at the Kingdom of God. If followers of the Messiah do not impact their society, what will that society look like? Jesus told us in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” He later says that we are the light of the world, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” These are commands for action. It is those who know Jesus who are to impact the world. Good citizenship in the Kingdom of God translates to good citizenship in your nation. When it is not exercised in deed and in accountability, the nation declines or faces judgment.
