Render unto Caesar
Biblical Steps to Good Citizenship
Jesus told Jerusalem's leaders that, in spite of their discomfort with Roman policies, they must still "render unto Caesar" what is Caesar's (Matthew 22:21). This concession to civil law infuriated many of the Jews who were hoping for Jesus to lead a violent, messianic revolt against Roman rule.
The principle of rendering unto Caesar is indeed a Christian one. Christians are called to good citizenship. Paul makes this clear in his letter to the Christian church in Rome when he writes that God "ordains the higher powers" and that Christians must be "subject" to its authority (Romans 13:1-7).
How then can Christians take these principles of Scripture and apply them to today? Here are a few very practical and biblical steps you can take to be a good Christian citizen in the 21st century:
1. Be a GOOD citizen
Both Paul and Peter emphasize law-abiding citizenship in their epistles. They also encourage believers to honor and pray for those in authority.
Do you respect the institutions of your community and country? Does your life reflect that of a respectful, law-abiding, tax-paying, constructive citizen? Are you the kind of citizen that adds to society or takes away from it?
Does this mean you can't protest or object to government policy? Hardly. Daniel refused to honor King Darius' policy that people could only pray to him - and was thrown (briefly) in the lion's den for it. Don't forget the three Hebrew young men thrown into the fiery furnace for openly defying King Nebuchadnezzar. They too survived.
In the New Testament, the tradition continued. All twelve of the apostles were imprisoned, persecuted, and ultimately executed for practicing and proclaiming their faith against the policies and wishes of the governing authorities. The exception was John. But, according to Eusebius, they tried killing John. When they failed, they exiled him to Patmos.
Bottom line...civil protest and even civil disobedience is a biblical tradition. BUT...in each case, respect and honor was nevertheless shown to the governing authorities. AND...the protest and disobedience was based on a HIGHER calling, namely the call to serve God.
Oh, and they made sure they were in God's will when engaging in civil disobedience. They didn't just do it to defy the government or advance their own agendas.
2. Know who your elected officials are – at each level of government.
The Bible teaches stewardship. Accordingly, you should know your government. Call your local Registrar and verify the political districts of your residence along with the elected official that serves each of those districts.
For example, each state has two U.S. senators and a governor. Get their names, office numbers, and addresses. Find out what U.S. House of Representatives or congressional district do you live in? Get the district number and then the name and contact information for your U.S. Representative. Repeat this process for the state legislative districts you live in - you should have a state-level senator and a state-level representative or delegate.
Then, go to your city or county level and finally, if you live in one, your town. Once you know your elected officials, the levels in which they serve (national, state, or local) and their contact information, you're ready to start contacting them - and influencing them.
3. Stay informed on the issues
Get to know the issues that your elected officials at their respective levels of government are facing. That means you must follow the news. In this Information Age, there is no excuse for being ignorant. For federal-level issues, you can listen to the radio during your commute to and from work, watch TV at night, read one of the major dailies each morning or at lunch, or read through any number of news websites.
Don't be an ignorant voter that's easily manipulated by bumper stickers and sound bytes. Be informed.
4. Affirm Tradition and Bedrock Values
There is a repeated tradition of remembering the "days of old" and guarding the "landmarks" in the Old Testament. And in the New Testament, Paul and Peter each emphasize that we should render honor where honor is due.
Therefore, KNOW YOUR COUNTRY'S HERITAGE. If you're a citizen of the United States, you should know why we have a country to begin with. Study American history, especially the founding era - where it all started.
In addition, read books on faith and philosophy - things that help explain the world we're in. As a Christian, read the Bible daily. Always get to the foundation of what you believe and why. That will fuel your passion and make your a citizen-leader of purpose and conviction.
5. Master the framework of your government.
As the old saying goes, the "devil is in the details." When Lyndon Johnson first came to Congress, he became an effective leader very quickly, because he, among other things, mastered the intricacies of congressional rules and procedures.
To be an effective citizen, you must know the lay of the land. For starters, this means understanding the nature of your government. That means, for Americans, reading and studying the Constitution of the United States, which lays out the three-branch system of government we have at every level of our society.
Then, study the laws of your state and locality. Go over the rules of your community group, homeowners association, and so forth. Learn parliamentary procedure.
Be knowledgeable. As James Madison said, "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance."
By following these steps, you will be the kind of citizen everyone respects and many will follow.
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