Engaging Our Culture As Citizens of Heaven

Pastor Phil Andrukaitis, July 2, 2023

Sermon Title: Engaging Our Culture As Citizens of Heaven

Sermon Text: Selected Scripture

Introduction                              

This July 4th marks our nation’s 247th birthday when our Founding Fathers declared this nation’s independence from Great Britain.  Timothy Head, Executive Director of the “Faith and Freedom Coalition stated:

            America has the world’s greatest tradition of liberty. We are the first and oldest nation to be founded by and for the free.  On July 4, we commemorate our Founding Fathers’ valiant struggle to protect and preserve our freedom. We should feel gratitude for their victory. 

            But freedom, once gained, is hard to maintain. Over the years, some politicians have tried to use big government to erode our hard-won political freedoms. Today, many Americans are growing up in a political environment that no longer holds sacred some of our most fundamental freedoms, like the freedom of speech or the freedom of religion. And even more alarming, it has become socially acceptable to mock and ridicule people who stand up in defense of these freedoms.[1]

Nevertheless, I fear that “We the People” in our country today are most ignorant of their American history, their Constitution, and civic traditions.  Thanks to the Progressive Movement, concepts like CRT, Anti-Racism, the “1619 Project,” and Defunding the Police,” along with other issues…

  • immigration,
  • the humanitarian crisis on our southern border,
  • the flood of criminals and drugs entering this country,
  • the administration’s uncontrollable spending,
  • the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan 2-years ago destabilized that region whereby 25% of that area is now under control of the Taliban,
  • the war between Russia and Ukraine and the increasing threat from China
  • the cries to restrict law enforcement, while letting criminals continue to savage society,
  • the Green Deal and its plan to curb the climate; no, its plan is to control the people…
  • the transgender movement is destroying our present generation of children
  • and the disrespect for the American flag, our National Anthem, our freedoms

Indeed, these movements and issues are rapidly tearing down this country thanks to the ineptness of the Biden Administration and the political corruptness from both sides of the aisle. 

Sadly, more than half of our congressional representatives are personally responsible for creating legislation and granting approval to its citizens to practice gross immorality and destroy life.  And this ungodliness will only get worse.  Consequently, the principles that established this nation have been dethroned.[2]

What does this mean for our nation today?  What do all of these actions I’ve stated mean?  I believe the biblically minded Christian will conclude that Romans 1:18 – 28 is now in play.  When God abandons sinners and a nation, He allows their choices to bring about the consequences by removing His restraining grace and allowing their sinful freedoms to destroy their lives and culture.

Therefore, I believe God’s judgment IS upon our nation as God has given us (our nation) over to the lusts of our hearts, dishonorable passions, and a debased mind.  And when ungodly citizens desire ungodly leaders, God will give them rulers / leaders they desire (and deserve) who are cognitively impaired, incompetent, and power-hungry partisans.

In their unquenchable quest for increasing authority, power, and wealth, these wicked corrupt representatives abuse our nation’s constitution stripping away the citizen’s rights and liberties. 

I believe the end of our nation is near.  This is not a popularly held view.  In fact, I’m sure some folks are upset with this message and messenger.  I further believe our nation is being conditioned for the future coming of the Anti-Christ.  Nevertheless, God is still working in the midst of our nation’s moral chaos, saving sinners who are telling others of the good news of Christ. 

Transitional Thoughts

As we get together with family and friends for the Fourth of July this year, let us not forget the sacred significance of American liberty.  What does remembering the “sacred significance of American liberty” look like?  ANSWER:  Restore and promote the celebration of our God-given faith.  After all, “real freedom can only abound where faith perseveres.”[3]

God is sovereign over all things, yes, even our lives.  God appointed the time and place of our birth and death and the place (nation) where we would live.  And by His grace, God has called us unto Himself to know Him and serve Him. 

I’ve been reading through the Book of Ecclesiastes.  And from the first four chapters, three lessons have been clearly presented:

  1. God appointed us to live at this specific time and then forever.
  2. Life is most meaningful when lived in a personal relationship with God.
  3. Joy abounds in our hearts when we express thankfulness to God for all of His gifts to us.

As we respectfully remember America’s 247th birthday today, how do Christians honor God in their worship services and engage their culture as dual citizens – citizens of an earthly kingdom and citizens of a heavenly kingdom?

To help us maintain a balance between our dual citizenship even though our nation is under divine judgment, I submit to you five concepts whose origin and sustainability come from God. 

What are these five concepts?  They are:  nations, liberty, sacrifice, citizenship, and service.  Therefore, let us briefly look at each concept and see how it relates to the cross of Christ and to our country.

I.         NATIONS                  Read Acts 17:26-27. 

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”

When the Apostle Paul was addressing the Greek philosophers in Athens, he noticed that the Greeks had an inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, on the altar to one of the many objects the Greeks worshipped (Acts 17:22-ff). 

At that point, Paul proceeded to proclaim to them the cross of Christ [Christ’s death and resurrection] even though it seemed foolishness to those who were perishing, the message of the cross was most welcoming to those who were being saved.

Because of the goodness of God [the summation of God’s divine attributes], His sovereignty over nations is clear!  The source of all nations lies in the hands of God the Creator and Sustainer.  And His purpose for the nations is that they should seek Him [Christ Jesus the Lord] in the hope that they will find Him. 

Reflecting on our nation’s 247th birthday, let us not forget that during our country’s brief existence, God has used the United States to limit other oppressive nations from expanding their borders at the expense of oppressing weaker nations. 

But more importantly, history has revealed how the LORD of Heaven has designed the United States to play a significant role in expanding the gospel’s outreach so that other lost souls may come to Christ.  Remember, it’s not because God loves countries [Israel being the exception]; rather, God loves people and people need to hear the message of the cross to be saved.

I love this quote from our nation’s second president, John Adams from Boston, Massachusetts.  In a letter to his wife, Abigail, John reflected on the celebration of July 4th.  John wrote:

            “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.  It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty; it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

II.        LIBERTY                  Read Romans 5:12, 18.

“…through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.”

Just as the concept of nations began in the mind of God, liberty was also conceived in the mind of God.  When Adam willfully disobeyed God by eating the fruit from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” the apostle Paul summed up the tragic results in the passage just read. 

And in another portion of Scripture, John records an incident when Jesus was speaking to His disciples.  Jesus said, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). 

The liberty of which Jesus spoke was the liberty from sin’s power, penalty, and presence (Romans 6).  Consequently, only the cross of Christ can break the power of sin, pay the penalty of our sin, and bring eternal life to condemned souls.  

How does liberty resulting from the cross of Christ set a sinner free?  Liberty comes when the sinner believes [places his/her faith] in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ Who died on the cross and was raised from the dead.   

You see, Christ’s resurrection from the grave is God’s statement to all sinners that Christ’s loving and sacrificial payment [His cross] for our sins has been accepted.  Our sin debt has been cancelled.  The price for liberty was paid in full.  Therefore, no other price offered by sinners for the forgiveness of sins will be acceptable.  Sinner, put your faith and hope in Christ alone.

Reflecting on our nation’s 247th birthday, remembering that freedom was first conceived in the mind of God before the foundation of the world was established, the desire for freedom lies in the bosom of every man’s heart.   

And so, when our Founding Fathers [believers, of whom many were Calvinistic, and unbelievers who were not favorable towards evangelical Christianity] sought freedom from Britain’s oppressive rule, their freedom came at a great price, but not as great a price than Christ’s cross. Nevertheless, as we all well know, the cost of maintaining our nation’s liberty and protecting liberty for other oppressed nations has been costly for the United States.

Our Founding Fathers and many other God-fearing political leaders throughout our nation’s history have understood this reality and in times of great distress, have called upon The Almighty to intervene and save our nation and other nations.  If God had not intervened, our country would have been destroyed and become an oppressed nation with diminishing liberties. 

Because we live in a fallen world, spiritual forces continually assault our spiritual and physical liberties.  Some enemies are visible; however, our greatest enemies are demonic forces assaulting the souls of people and politicians across our nation. 

The concept of liberty, especially Christian liberty, has been morally corrupted and redefined.  The very sins from which Jesus freed sinners [e.g. fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous people, drunkards, revilers, extortioners (1st Corinthians 6:9-10) and murder through abortion] have become acceptable; some are even protected by law.  “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…” (Isaiah 5:20a). 

Unless our nation repents of its wickedness and turns to God Who is full of grace and mercy by embracing the message of the cross, our nation’s remaining liberties will be destroyed.  Remember, God has determined the length of our nation’s life, its boundaries, and its influences. 

III.      SACRIFICE              Read John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The concepts of nations, liberty, and now sacrifice have their origin in the heart and mind of God.  Without sacrifice, liberty is impossible.  

Scripture teaches that everyone is a sinner.  Every sinner is spiritually dead; a spiritual POW held captive by the power of darkness.  Sinners without Christ walk according to the desires of the devil and fulfill their fleshly desires.  Consequently, no sinner is ever able to free himself from sin, let alone pay the price of redemption (Ephesians 2; Colossians 1).

Before creation came into existence, God chose sinners to become saints and predestined them to be adopted into His family through the redemptive cross of Christ.  The results are incredible!  Because of His abounding grace, God has forgiven sinners of their sins, made known His will to them, and promised them a heavenly inheritance (Ephesians 1:3-14). 

But how is this possible???  According to His eternal plan, God the Father offered His Son, Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (Isaiah 53; John 1:29).  But why?  Since everyone is a born a sinner [thanks to Adam’s sin of disobedience in the Garden of Eden] and by nature sins against God and others, there was no way a sinner could satisfy heaven’s righteous demands.  Therefore, the entire human race stood condemned to everlasting judgment by The Holy and Righteous God.  Oh, what a hopeless future all sinners. 

Ah, but praise God for the cross of Christ!  Because of the Father’s love for sinners, His Son became the perfect God/Man Who would satisfy the Law and redeem sinners unto salvation.

Reflecting again on our nation’s 247th birthday, I remind each of us again that the origin of sacrificing one’s life for others is rooted in the heart of God.  Consequently, the sacrifices men and women have made to secure and maintain this country’s liberty are also rooted in the very heart of God.  Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). 

Remember, people are made in the image of God.  In other words, God has stamped His imprint of His nature upon our souls.  Besides experiencing the ability to think, feel, and decide, other concepts such as, liberty, sacrifice, love, discerning the difference between good and evil – and the list goes on – are part of our spiritual DNA. 

Therefore, as followers of Christ, let us give our lives away for the sake of others, sacrificing our comforts, our resources, and even ourselves that others may enjoy the liberty from man’s wicked oppression [not the liberty to sin] and the liberty that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as Savior. Follow the Spirit’s lead wherever He calls you to serve.

Moreover, let us never forget the sacrifices men and women have made on behalf of our nation, for those who fought next to them, and for our great liberties we have in this country.  Honor them always. 

Perhaps you have come across a POW bumper sticker which reads, All gave some, but some gave all.  It’s true.

IV.       CITIZENSHIP                      Read Philippians 3:20.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul reminded fellow believers that their citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).  Yes, while we are also citizens in this country, Peter reminds us that we are sojourners and pilgrims.  The United States is not our final home.  In addition, when Jesus prayed for His disciples [the remaining eleven disciples and future believers], Jesus asked the Father not to “take them out of the world, but…keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). 

What two conclusions can we draw from Paul’s reminder and Jesus’ prayer? 

  1. As Christians, we are to live our lives reflecting heavenly values (1st Peter 2:9-10) because the believer’s heavenly citizenship is of infinite value over their earthly citizenship.  Like the apostle Paul who used his earthly citizenship to advance the gospel by proclaiming the message of the cross, what are we doing with our earthly citizenship – building little kingdoms unto ourselves or diffusing the fragrance of life with the Gospel of Christ among those who do not know the Lord Jesus as Savior (2nd Corinthians 2:14)?
  • When Christians gather to worship Jesus Christ, it is important to remember that Christ has torn down the dividing wall that separated the Jew and Gentle (Ephesians 2:14-22).  Therefore, every believer in Christ, no matter their country’s citizenship, their race, economic standing, or culture, is united in Christ. 

Reflecting again on our nation’s 247th birthday, you will notice that on the platform the American flag is deliberately placed in subjection to the Christian flag.  Why?  Jesus Christ does not bow to the Unites States flag; the United States bows to Jesus Christ.  In fact, every person and every nation will one day bow their knee to the King of kings and Lord of lords (Philippians 2:10) because Jesus “became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Here is an application for every Christian who is a U.S. citizen:  God has entrusted each believer with this sacred trust of dual citizenship.  Our citizenship in this country is truly a gift from God; part of His eternal plan.  However, this sacred trust does not mean a Christian must blindly endorse every policy adopted and advanced by political party or our nation.  Therefore, when our nation’s policies and laws violate Scripture, Christians are to identify our nation’s sins, call its leaders to abolish wicked policies, and pray for their God-appointed authorities.

V.        SERVICE                  Read 1st Timothy 2:1-4.

“Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet land peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

We now come to the fifth concept, service.  God has sovereignly brought our lives into existence.  He has appointed us to be citizens in this great nation.  He has also determined the number of days that we should live.  Therefore, as citizens of heaven, whose salvation was purchased by Christ’s death on the cross, we have been enabled by the Spirit of God to experience the fullness of God’s power to engage our culture.

While there are many ways to serve our nation, I believe the priority of prayer is our highest duty, as noted in Paul’s words to Timothy his protégé.  In fact, Jesus commands all Christians to pray and not faint (Luke 18:1-f).  It’s a comfort to know that there have been times when God has preserved nations, especially when His people have prayed for their nation (2nd Chronicles 20).

Concluding Thoughts

As I said in the beginning of this message, the LORD is bringing His judgment upon our nation.  And yet, He is still patient and showing us His grace as He has moved upon the Supreme Court to issued the following rulings this past week:

  • Affirmative actions were struck down.  A person’s race will no longer be considered.
  • The LGBT movement cannot force Christians (or any other religious entity) to provide services that would violate their religious beliefs.
  • Biden’s student load forgiveness program was struck down.  Only Congress has that right, not the president who acts like a dictator.

While there are other rulings that hinder the conservative movement, we can still praise God as He has allowed His people to see His grace at work in the midst of judgment.

Indeed, Lamentations 3:22-24 is true.  Read the passage as it was given to the people of Israel while Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonian Empire.

Dear church family, our hope does not rest in ourselves, in our government, or in any charismatic personality to lead this country.  Our hope rests in God alone.  His mercies are new every morning.   Therefore, whatever today, tomorrow, or the next day brings, remember to…

  • Praise God for His sovereignty over your life and our nation.
  • Praise God for the liberty Jesus Christ has secured for us.  After all, our celebration on this July 4th weekend is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not a nation’s revolution against its oppressor.  “For the freedom in our country, I am extremely thankful; but for my freedom in Christ, I am eternally grateful.” [Ed Stetzer]
  • Praise God for the sacrifice Jesus Christ.  His was the ultimate sacrifice – greater than all sacrifices men and women combined who gave their lives on behalf of others down through the ages.  Remember, America did not die on the cross for our sins.  Jesus did.
  • Praise God for our dual citizenship and the blessings we receive from the hand of God.
  • Praise God for the privilege of serving Him and others with our earthly visas. 

…Rejoice with those who rejoice.
…Weep with those who weep.
…Render therefore to all their due…customs to whom customs…honor to whom honor.
…Whatever things are true, just, pure, lovely, good report, and praiseworthy, think on these
   things.

May the meditations of our heart bring much pleasure to God’s heart!  Amen.

[1] Timothy Head, On the Fourth of July, We Commemorate American’s Freedom – But We Should Also Celebrate America’s Faith, [doc online]; from On the Fourth of July, we commemorate America’s freedom | Voice | The Christian Post; accessed 2023 July 1.

[2] Jeremy S. Adams, The Defining Question for America This Fourth of July, [doc online]; from The Defining Question for America This Fourth of July (readnews.us); accessed 2023 July 1.

[3] Timothy Head, On the Fourth of July, We Commemorate American’s Freedom – But We Should Also Celebrate America’s Faith, [doc online]; from On the Fourth of July, we commemorate America’s freedom | Voice | The Christian Post; accessed 2023 July 1.