Christian Citizenship | Part 1

Rollover fighting Studios in Memphis Tennessee umpiring Tyler here with Carrie Vaughn, the CEO of Wilbur finding Carrie today.

Adrian Rogers looks at Christian citizenship and our responsibility to great message. What a great time of year, you know, last July 4. I was in the capital. I was in the US capital and it was wonderful. We did a tour through their the choir saying we saw some of the great artifacts and what a great time of the year to be in Washington DC and again you said it is a citizen and as a believer. What should we be doing yeah what the Bible's role specific things to say about Christian citizenship in our responsibility yeah I was reading this article it said Christian citizenship begins with solid systematic theology of biblical worldview that provides understanding about the roles and responsibilities of family, church and government you know and that's why a daily dose of love were finding can help lead the biblical foundation in your life.

To understand this citizenship. Write a good dose will be a remedy for anything not eating any problem. But again, I think to as we think about participating in our government praying for our government not pray for things in my life. I pray for people that I know. But do I pray for my governmental leaders to operate for the president and vice president local leadership drop put that on the front burner of my prayer list to say it's important that I pray for America in the direction of America.

Carrie here liver finding. We always enjoy hearing from our listeners, and we also can receive a response from our Facebook page and we do have a Facebook pages look for LWF ministries on Facebook and you can find a resource there that will be a blessing to you and you can leave messages to us. Here's one we received via Facebook. I love these messages you can tell when a man of God has well researched and dedicated himself in Scripture in order to set the most high God above everything else. Thank you Dr. Rogers victory loves preparedness and Dr. Rogers was always prepared. When he stepped into the pulpit always here probably put 20+ hours into the sermon, but more importantly he had spent time with God and the word of God, and it shows right that shows in the message and and we know that message also is anointed so once it's preached, it is good today as it was 10 years ago or 15 years ago and that word will not return void know it won't. Carrie, would you mind telling our listeners a little bit about conversations like string that we have on Tuesday. I would love to Tuesday night 7 o'clock go to the love were finding Facebook page.

We have conversations that matter in only last about 4045 minutes. We have a guest pastor that always joins us and we kind of unpack or unravel the previous Sunday message in it's a great time of this discussion panel discussion. We invite the audience to send in questions and then we have the time at the very end, is the part I really like Byron that we give the plan of salvation for those it may be do not know Christ will have a chance to pray to receive him and so don't miss on Tuesday night, 7 o'clock conversations that matter will, as we talk today about Christian citizenship to lead us in a prayer for our nation.

Here's Adrian Rogers. Father I pray sincerely that you will help us as a nation, Lord, you are our only hope. And Lord, that we don't necessarily have to come to a place of calamity because God you can send revival you can give protection Lord you can give revival and renewal. You can do God and Lord God help us to believe you and to trust you that revival in our homes and in our churches and in our own hearts and Lord I pray that you would give to men, women voters in euros who may be listening to this, the ultimate peace, to say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man should doing to me, Lord, if you before us who can be against us. Thank you Lord that even death cannot separate us from you, Lord, and you we have ultimate victory in the strong name of Jesus we pray. Amen. What a great prayer.

Some of that's that Romans chapter 8, which Dr. Rogers loved that's true, is not pestering nothing can separate us from the love of Christ and of God before us.

Then it done matter who's against us. That's right. Well, as we learn how to be Christians citizens.

Here's part one with Adrian Rogers, Christian citizenship, the book of Romans is the Constitution of Christianity that I want to tell you it is a solid word for and sure page in our age without the word of God is and unsure a divine speaking. Many people are looking for something solid you're looking for a place to stand and catch you feel like you're walking around on egg shells and Jell-O. Thank God for the solid rock of God word and I want you to see what the Bible has to say about Christian citizenship.

What are our responsibilities, our duties are rights is the Bible oblivious to this God ordained human government and tell his people to stay out of it. What are Christians to do the think and how are we going to behave.

Now I the first contest that many Christians have simply dropped out and let me tell you the reasons that many had dropped out. We generate Scripture, not just a moment, let me tell you why many of dropped out they see involvement.

Somehow, as the social gospel, and I am against the social gospel is much as anybody else because he only one gospel. And that's the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. The blood gospel where Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, but there are some who have substituted culture for calibration and others think that if we get all involved in government. All were trying to do is make the world a better place to go to hell from and so they just simply drop out because they think well when not to get involved in the social gospel now that other people who have dropped out just simply because they have given up hope.

They say that America has crossed the point of no return and so what they've done. They just hunkered down and they have begun to sing the song holding the event just waiting for Jesus to get here and to rescue them and so they just not given up hope now that is who have dropped out. Not that they equate activity with the social gospel are not because they are hopeless because they see politics as dirty, something that would defile them that we as Christians are to be other worldly that dark kingdom is not of this world and so therefore we don't want to get contaminated, so we will just stay away from all of that some folks really believe that and then there are others in a great number like this who have dropped out and don't participate very frankly because they are intimidated they are intimidated.

The ACLU and others that have traded so much about this thing called church and state in the separation of church and state that they think because we are Christians. Somehow we have no rights, no privileges, no prerogatives that we have been disenfranchised and they just tell us why don't you shut up and go back inside your little stained-glass prisons and leave it to us to take care of it now. Very frankly, a lot of people who are believers have more or less… Where are we going to get the answers I meditate where we can get the answers right here, right here the word of God and the book of Romans is going to speak very clearly and very plainly about this matter of Christian citizenship again. Now in chapter 13 verse 1B. Every soul be subject unto the higher powers, metalwork powers, there is a translation of the word that means authorities and when he saying higher powers. What is literally talking about is the civil magistrate, the governmental leader.

Let every soul be subject unto the civil magistrate, for there is no power that is no authority but of God and the powers that be.

That is, the rulers, the leaders the magistrates to be our ordained of God. You might think of your ministers an ordained minister may be ever thought of your government as an ordained governor sever therefore resist the power. That is, the authorities resisted the ordinance of God, and they that resist that is written dollars shall receive out to themselves damnation for rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil will thou then not be afraid of the power of the civil magistrate do that which is good, and thou shall have praise of the saying that is of your governor, your ruler, your king, your president, your mayor, your counsel, for he is the minister of God to the four good but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he barracks and not the sword in vain. For he is.

Who is he talking about now. The civil magistrate heat for his the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that with evil.

Wherefore, you must needs be subject not only for wrath but also for conscience sake. For this cause payee tribute. Also, for they are God's ministers attending continually upon this very thing, render therefore to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear on our home now.

That's the Scripture and look at today and we can look at it, basically under three headings and the very first having that we can look at today is the reasons human government and you're going to find and when we get to the bottom line. The big question is not can you be a Christian and be involved in government. The big question is can you be a Christian and not be involved and not be involved.

Can you obey this word of God and not be involved now. One other reason, human government. The Bible tells us that human government is ordained of God. Did you know that God sets up King and God brings Kingsdown that God ordains rulers and sometimes God sets up wicked rulers, does that for example in Daniel chapter 2 and verse 21. Daniel said concerning the Lord. He removed with Kings and Sabbath up King God takes them down and God puts them up. That's what the word of God says he removed with Kings and set a 5K not give you a prime example of that.

One of the mightiest potentates in the Old Testament was a king named Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar rule over ancient Babylon, and Daniel was in the court of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel had a chance to prophesy and testify that Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar where his power came from in Daniel chapter 2 and verse 23 God said through Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar. Thou okay are a king of kings. For the God of heaven have given the kingdom that's Nebuchadnezzar, and he was not a godly king.

As a matter fact he got the rotten full of himself got so full of pride that God judge Damon. He ended up crawling around on all fours eating grass like an ox with long fingernails kick this man was so stuffed full of himself got setting up and got going as Nebuchadnezzar met the king let the king we think of is the arch villain so much of the Old Testament will Pharaoh.

Pharaoh did his kingdom. But God raised Pharaoh up Pharaoh was wicked malevolent anti-God for little babies that listen to this. Romans nine verse 17 for the Scripture safe in the Pharaoh. Even for this same purpose.

Have I raise the I might show my power in God's that I brought you up and I will bring you. I'm going to show my power in you will Pharaoh remember the man that pussyfooting politician pilot. Have the moral rectitude and courage to release Jesus washed his lily white politicians hands and said I'm innocent of the blood of this just man, but it was pilot that had Jesus Christ in front Jesus don't you know who I am. Don't you know that I have the power to crucify you a release you. Let me give you the answer that Jesus gave Pilate in John chapter 19 and verse 11 Jesus said to him, doubtless have no power at all against me, except it were given the from above even time. Even Jesus supply. Jesus said you don't have any authority you don't have any power except it was given to you from above as very interesting thing because of the three illustrations I give you now, all three of these were wicked men, and that God allowed them to have power. The authorities that be are ordained of God was the authority when Paul wrote this whole season, the Roman government was in power.

That was not a democracy. The Christians were disenfranchised had no political power as a matter fact what they believed was illegal because they would not say Caesar is Lord. And yet that Aegis also wrote, the powers that be are ordained of God.

The Bible says if you resist these authorities.

In verse two here resisting God because it is God that set them up. While I know what you're thinking right now it's a safer way to do you mean that some king, some potentates, some fat toad sitting upon a throne, may tell me to do this or that and I am to do it, contrary to the word of the will of God will hold on that thought would get to that thought when I listen to me. I want to get this point down in your heart and your mind that God ordains human government for two reasons.

He tells us right here. Number one to restrain evil look at will. In verses three and four of this chapter he says here for their rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil will thou then not be afraid of the power do that which is good enough to have praise of the same, for he is the minister of God to the four good but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for a bath, not the sword in vain reasonable one that God has given us human government is for restraint to restrain evil listen, you can't legislate morality, law can't make a good only God can make a good government is not here to make you glad can't make you good. Only God can make you good government is here to restraining there is not a law on earth can make you love me so I have to have one to keep you from killing me say there's not alone earth. They can make you honest so we have to have laws to keep you from state not alone. Earth they can keep you from lying.

So we have to have laws against purge is a you legislate morality. But you do legislate against immorality and I thank God for those who are here to restrain evil to say something else, it's about time we set a good word for the policeman. I'm sick and tired of policeman being put upon. I took this out of my files. Listen to a policeman is many things.

He is a son, a brother a father and uncle and sometimes even a grandfather. He is a protector in time of need and the comfort torn time of sorrow. His job calls for him to be a diplomatic psychologist, a lawyer, a friend and an inspiration. He suffers from an overdose of publicity about brutality and dishonesty. He suffers far more from the notoriety produced by unfounded charges to awful acts of terrorism go unnoticed, and the truth is buried under all the criticism. The fact is, listen to this less than one half of 1% of policeman ever discredit the uniform. That's a better average than you find among clergyman policeman is an ordinary guy who is called upon for extraordinary bravery for us. His job may sometimes seem routine but the interruptions can be moments of stark terror.

He is the man who faces 1/2 crazed gunman who rescues a lost child who challenges him all and risks his neck more than we realize. He deserves our respect and profound things are policeman stands between the law-abiding and the lawbreaker. He is the prime reason your home hasn't been burned your family abused and your business alluded. Try to imagine what would happen if there were no policeman around and then try to think of ways to make their job more rewarding.

Show them the respect you really can offer them a smile and a kind word see that they don't have to be magicians to raise their families own less than adequate salaries. We think policeman a great we thank God for all the little boys who said they would be policeman and who kept their promise.

We hope you feel the same way and we hope you will show it so there will always be enough good policeman to go around. He is the minister of God to the forgot restrain evil and the Bible says that he bears Lasorda saw it as an instrument of data.

Sometimes the government in order to restrain evil must take life. I want to listen to me friend the Scripture that says thou shalt not kill extra step of 20 verse 13 about this Scripture and the 10 Commandments means and the Hebrew translation bears that out, that thou shalt do no murder, thou shall take no personal vengeance but friend the same person who wrote Exodus chapter 20 and verse 13 wrote in Exodus chapter 21 and verse 12 reverently was he wasn't insane. A madman and what did he say Exodus 21 verse 12 he that's my man so that he die, shall surely be put to death the same Bible the same Bible chapter next to chapter 1 chapter says thou shall not kill. That is, don't do murder in the next chapter says if you do, you'll be put today. There is not the sword in vain Lasorda as an instrument of death. Now why is this. Well, the Bible said way back in Genesis chapter 9 in verse six.

Listen to it dissociative man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed all murder is killing but all killing is not murder.

All murder is killing but all killing is not murder. I can listen to it dissociative man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for he that is man in the image of God made he may the God that gives life is the God has the right to take and God has his ordained ministers to do his work for that is the civil magistrate somebody says that is cruel. Pastor Rogers, I thought you were a man of love friend you may not believe what I'm saying is based on love, but I don't want to be more loving than Almighty God and God's infinite love and I'm giving you the word of God and if you don't believe Genesis 96 when you get to heaven if you get to heaven pick up with God. Okay, God is love.

You see, the coddling of the murderer is really cruelty to the community don't think that you're more wiser loving than God himself. People say well love capital punishment.

That's not an inhibition to murder. In some cases it is how I want to tell you that that Henry they partner murder one time and that murderer after having been fired and killed another man they came back to and I said to King Henry him again. His own. He said he killed the first man I killed the second man he will kill anymore and the man died for his. You see, it does inhibit some from killing again sums I will. God is too good to punish sin.

No, God is too good not to punish saying that you don't believe in God believe in capital punishment. I will ask you this question who crucified Jesus we say the Roman soldiers well they would instruments that name into the cross you say will the Jewish Council.

Yes, they were the ones that hounded him to the cross. But if you study the Bible carefully.

You understand that God the son died at the hands of God the father.

He had put in today. That's what the Bible says that God the father poured out his wrath upon his only son. Why, because God's understanding in our place. God was my substitute. Jesus was my substitute.

He took my place and therefore he took the bat that I should die, and the Bible says the wages of sin is that false capital punishment is one of one's really of Almighty God.

That's an important theological point to consider is in a hard truth. The cross was capital punishment that Jesus bore on your behalf in mind. If you have questions about that about receiving the forgiveness of God, go to where discovered Jesus page@lwf.org/radio you'll find resources and materials that can answer questions you may have about placing your faith in Jesus Christ.

Again, go to LWF.org/radio and click discovered Jesus. If you been a good steward of your Christian citizenship.

Are you involved are you informed. What are some things we can do as Christians to hold up a standard of truth in our communities will hear about that tomorrow in the powerful conclusion of Christian citizenship online worth