Are you an American Christian or a Christian American
by Elder Lin Brown
Acts 22:25-29
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
2 Cor 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.Phil 3:20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:Heb 11:13-16
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.Heb 12:22-24
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.1 Pet 1:4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,In these days of newly awakened patriotism and national allegiance this one question should be asked? To many people, being Christian and being American are synonomous terms and even asking that question is at best unpatriotic and at worst treasonable. A great theological issue is at stake here and one that the people of God can not afford to be deficient in. The scriptures say that the child of God holds a dual citizenship, one, his own nationality and the other more important one, the citizenship of heaven. Only those who have been elected by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and born again by the Holy Spirit hold the heavenly citizenship. Paul when he was being unjustly treated appealed to his Roman citizenship, because he knew that it carried with it certain earthly privileges. You and I as citizens of America have certain earthly blessings for which we should all be thankful for, such as the freedom to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth, to educate our children, to live where we want, and many other freedoms that we take for granted as being our rights as citizens of America. God however, would remind us in His Holy Word that we have another and greater citizenship and we look for a greater country and a greater city. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. How is it with you? Do you sense that you only have one citizenship that is here on earth or do you believe that Holy Spirit witnesses to you that you are a child of God and have an eternal home in heaven reserved for you. Remember how hopeless it is to have only one citizenship, even if it were of the greatest nation on earth (Paul held that position in his time, but much more greatly cherished his heavenly citizenship). Let us look for that country wherein is that city whose builder and maker is God.
