Sometimes I don’t like to celebrate the Fourth of July. Before you throw a package of lit firecrackers at my head, read on.
I’m proud to be an American. I love living in the land of the free and the brave. I love singing The Star-Spangled Banner — ALL verses! I get goose bumps when I read the Constitution. I stood in the place Patrick Henry stood when he said, “Give me liberty or give me death,” and I could almost feel his determination. I love being a citizen of this country, and I do my best to honor both the memory of those who formed our history and the leadership of those who are forming tomorrow’s history. If you cut me, I’m sure I would bleed red, white, and blue blood.
What makes me uneasy about Fourth of July is not my lack of patriotism. It’s my dual citizenship that causes me feelings of unease. I’m a bona fide American citizen, but it’s my other citizenship that has my stronger allegiance. Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” That means I am an alien in this country. That also means that my dual citizenship sometimes results in clashes of my two places of citizenship.
When Jesus walked the earth, the land in which He lived was under Roman rule, and although the Roman taxes were notoriously high and sometimes unjust, the Hebrews paid their taxes, knowing that if they did that for the most part the Romans would leave them alone. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were intent on trapping Jesus into saying something for which they could discredit him. So, they picked up a coin and said, “Tell us, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus knew they were trying to trick Him, so He turned the tables on them. He said, “Show me the money used to pay the tax.” They brought Him the coin and Jesus asked, “Whose picture is on the coin? Whose name is on the coin?” They gave the same answer to both questions: Caesar’s. Jesus answered, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” (You can read the full account in Matthew 22:15-22.)
But what happens when our two citizenships clash? Soon after Jesus spoke these words, the Roman government tried to wipe out all Christianity by requiring that all under Caesar’s protection declare an oath of loyalty to him and denounce the name of Christ. Caesar demanded a worship that did not belong to him. In such a conflict, what belongs to God must be given to Him, even at the cost of one’s life.
It’s that clash of citizenship that bothers me about patriotic displays and celebrations. Even in churches, we are very careful to mention our country and the sacrifices of those who made this land what it is. But sometimes those whose eyes fill with tears for our country are apathetic about the sacrifices of those who were faithful to God, even unto to death. Ask about the sacrifices made at Valley Forge during 1777-78 and even a fifth-grader will be able to give details of that terrible winter. But ask about the sacrifices of men like John of the Cross or William Tyndale or Thomas More and you will be met with lifeless stares and apathetic shrugs.
Are we fulfilling our responsibilities to both citizenships for which God has placed us? Do we respect the just laws in our land that give order to our lives as Americans yet willfully disregard the even more just laws from our God that give order to our spiritual lives? Are we ready to volunteer at worthy civic events but resentful if someone asks us to help out in the nursery at church? Do the words of a patriotic tune bring tears to our eyes while the style of a tune that brings honor and glory to God is repugnant to us? Are we insistent upon proper display of the American flag but embarrassed at public displays of the Cross?
This weekend, it will be quite common to see many outward displays of pride and joy in our American citizenship. I wish it would be just as common to see outward displays of joy in our heavenly citizenship. That’s the dilemma I have every Fourth of July. Where’s our fire-cracking, sparkler-illuminating, fireworks-majestic displays of celebration of our heavenly citizenship?
I wonder, are we giving to God what is God’s?
Verna Davis may be contacted at VrdSpeaks@yahoo.com.
Religion
THE JOY LADY: Where are the outward displays of joy in heavenly citizenship?
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