How Do You Exercise Your Citizenship?
How do you exercise your citizenship as a Christian? Here is a little bit of a morning devotion to get your day on track.
The Apostle Paul was proud of his Roman citizenship and valued it highly. There were freedoms and protections concomitant with his status and he used them wisely in the furtherance of the Gospel. Please consider this little vignette from Acts 16:
Acts 16:36-40:
36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”
38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.
39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.
40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.
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It was a serious crime to beat a Roman citizen without a trial. Rome was very, very concerned with protecting the dignity and sovereignty of their empire, and as an extension to that - the dignity and sovereignty of their citizens. So much so in fact that a Roman citizen could travel through Roman territory (native and conquered) and have at his disposal the full support of Rome. A Roman citizen didn't even have to submit to local legislation (local laws) unless he chose to, and he didn't have to submit to local law enforcement or courts. If an event transpired where a trial was required by local authorities, a Roman citizen could put down his foot and demand to be remanded to Rome for trial to be tried by his fellow citizens - even Caesar Himself. Such were some of the benefits of a citizen of Rome in the ancient world.
So why here in Philippi did Paul and Silas allow themselves to be beaten like common criminals even though they had done nothing wrong? Why were they singing in the local lock up when they had been treated so unjustly?
The answer I think, is because they now had the local authorities exactly where they wanted them: over a barrel and in deep, deep trouble. I'm sure if the local authorities had inquired into their citizenship Paul and Silas would have answered truthfully. Apparently they weren't asked and they chose not to offer the information. Why?
Well, the local authorities were in the process of being swayed against Christianity by various elements in the city that didn't approve of what Paul and Silas taught, or the influence they were bringing to the region. These elements had now succeeded in having the disruptors publicly beaten and then tossed into the local jail to teach them a lesson. And the next day they would be run out of town on a rail with their tail between their legs.
But that isn't what happened is it? Paul and Silas knew exactly what they were doing. They were heeding the desire of Christ:
Mt 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Paul and Silas, through the mechanism of their Roman citizenship exercised in a shrewd, yet innocent way, had turned the tables on their detractors. It was quite a victory they had won! The two men in chains were the real winners, and the local magistrates in their comfortable beds at home were getting ready to have their whole future put into doubt. They just didn't know it yet.
Paul and Silas had been wronged under Roman law, and in a very, very dangerous way for the ones that had committed the crime. They now had this over the heads of the local authorities in Philippi. Paul and Silas were to leave and continue on with their missionary endeavors, but the local authorities in this city would always have to wonder if these two men might show back up and decide to exercise their rights as Roman citizens and press charges against the local magistrates. I am quite certain the local authorities treated the little fledgling band of Christians Paul and Silas left behind with all deference and respect.... all on the account of Paul and Silas who gave their backs to some government leaders so that in turn they could take those leaders lives in their own hands. Innocent? Absolutely! They did nothing wrong. Shrewd as snakes? Even more so!
Why don't we have more Christians today like Paul and Silas? I think it's because of weak and miseducated pastoral leadership, and lazy Christians who don't do their own study of God's word. We often hear: tone it down, don't offend, don't exercise your rights, sit down, lay down, and shut up. Don't be one of "those" Christians.
But that wasn't the way of these two men was it? You might even say they were quite contentious in this circumstance (wink at a new friend here) Indeed, they were as contentious as all the Godly men who had come before them. Men like Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Amos, Isaiah, John the Baptist... even Jesus Himself. Contentious in Godly ways, from Godly motives, for Godly purposes. That's always okay folks. Don't let anyone teach you differently.
May we as Christians ignore the voice of liberalism in our churches that would have us be ineffectual, nonverbal doormats. May we use all the rights and privileges of our citizenship in this great nation for the furtherance of the Gospel. We have the right to free speech. We had better defend it and use it. We have the right to bear arms. We had better protect it. We have the right to freedom from unlawful search and seizure. We had better insist upon it. And there is nothing at all wrong with doing these things.
Be absolutely innocent in what you do in regards to your citizenship, but with equal dedication seek to be shrewd as snakes for the cause of the Gospel. Judgment day is coming and the Gospel is the only thing that will save those around us from God's wrath. Preach it. Highlight God's wrath on sin and His saving grace. They may hate your guts and despise God as well. But at least you will have been obedient to Christ and told them about the Gospel. In that, although you may be hated - you will be innocent of their blood and pleasing to the One Who spilled His blood for you.
Where do your loyalties live Christian? How do you exercise your citizenship?
The Apostle Paul was proud of his Roman citizenship and valued it highly. There were freedoms and protections concomitant with his status and he used them wisely in the furtherance of the Gospel. Please consider this little vignette from Acts 16:
Acts 16:36-40:
36 The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”
37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”
38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.
39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.
40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.
-----------
It was a serious crime to beat a Roman citizen without a trial. Rome was very, very concerned with protecting the dignity and sovereignty of their empire, and as an extension to that - the dignity and sovereignty of their citizens. So much so in fact that a Roman citizen could travel through Roman territory (native and conquered) and have at his disposal the full support of Rome. A Roman citizen didn't even have to submit to local legislation (local laws) unless he chose to, and he didn't have to submit to local law enforcement or courts. If an event transpired where a trial was required by local authorities, a Roman citizen could put down his foot and demand to be remanded to Rome for trial to be tried by his fellow citizens - even Caesar Himself. Such were some of the benefits of a citizen of Rome in the ancient world.
So why here in Philippi did Paul and Silas allow themselves to be beaten like common criminals even though they had done nothing wrong? Why were they singing in the local lock up when they had been treated so unjustly?
The answer I think, is because they now had the local authorities exactly where they wanted them: over a barrel and in deep, deep trouble. I'm sure if the local authorities had inquired into their citizenship Paul and Silas would have answered truthfully. Apparently they weren't asked and they chose not to offer the information. Why?
Well, the local authorities were in the process of being swayed against Christianity by various elements in the city that didn't approve of what Paul and Silas taught, or the influence they were bringing to the region. These elements had now succeeded in having the disruptors publicly beaten and then tossed into the local jail to teach them a lesson. And the next day they would be run out of town on a rail with their tail between their legs.
But that isn't what happened is it? Paul and Silas knew exactly what they were doing. They were heeding the desire of Christ:
Mt 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Paul and Silas, through the mechanism of their Roman citizenship exercised in a shrewd, yet innocent way, had turned the tables on their detractors. It was quite a victory they had won! The two men in chains were the real winners, and the local magistrates in their comfortable beds at home were getting ready to have their whole future put into doubt. They just didn't know it yet.
Paul and Silas had been wronged under Roman law, and in a very, very dangerous way for the ones that had committed the crime. They now had this over the heads of the local authorities in Philippi. Paul and Silas were to leave and continue on with their missionary endeavors, but the local authorities in this city would always have to wonder if these two men might show back up and decide to exercise their rights as Roman citizens and press charges against the local magistrates. I am quite certain the local authorities treated the little fledgling band of Christians Paul and Silas left behind with all deference and respect.... all on the account of Paul and Silas who gave their backs to some government leaders so that in turn they could take those leaders lives in their own hands. Innocent? Absolutely! They did nothing wrong. Shrewd as snakes? Even more so!
Why don't we have more Christians today like Paul and Silas? I think it's because of weak and miseducated pastoral leadership, and lazy Christians who don't do their own study of God's word. We often hear: tone it down, don't offend, don't exercise your rights, sit down, lay down, and shut up. Don't be one of "those" Christians.
But that wasn't the way of these two men was it? You might even say they were quite contentious in this circumstance (wink at a new friend here) Indeed, they were as contentious as all the Godly men who had come before them. Men like Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Amos, Isaiah, John the Baptist... even Jesus Himself. Contentious in Godly ways, from Godly motives, for Godly purposes. That's always okay folks. Don't let anyone teach you differently.
May we as Christians ignore the voice of liberalism in our churches that would have us be ineffectual, nonverbal doormats. May we use all the rights and privileges of our citizenship in this great nation for the furtherance of the Gospel. We have the right to free speech. We had better defend it and use it. We have the right to bear arms. We had better protect it. We have the right to freedom from unlawful search and seizure. We had better insist upon it. And there is nothing at all wrong with doing these things.
Be absolutely innocent in what you do in regards to your citizenship, but with equal dedication seek to be shrewd as snakes for the cause of the Gospel. Judgment day is coming and the Gospel is the only thing that will save those around us from God's wrath. Preach it. Highlight God's wrath on sin and His saving grace. They may hate your guts and despise God as well. But at least you will have been obedient to Christ and told them about the Gospel. In that, although you may be hated - you will be innocent of their blood and pleasing to the One Who spilled His blood for you.
Where do your loyalties live Christian? How do you exercise your citizenship?
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