A CHRISTIAN CITIZEN by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 8, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 36.

A CHRISTIAN CITIZEN.

By T.

A CHRISTIAN citizen must needs be a Christian indeed. If he is only a sham and make-believe, he is merely a hypocrite and no Christian at all.

To be a Christian indeed is to be a follower of Christ, and it is perfectly evident to any one who will think about it, that no man can be a follower of Christ without diligently studying Christ in His Word. And he who decides above everything else to follow Christ, will do what that Word says, regardless of preconceived notions or surrounding prejudices. He will not go to men to see what they think, nor will he be governed or unduly influenced by their opinions. He will go straight to the Word of God—the fountain-head—and what it says will be his rule of life and guide.

In the law that governs the Christian citizen there occurs this statement:—

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” Matt. 5: 38-42.

The foregoing is very plain and direct instruction to the Christian citizen, and every one should know that there is not a single act in all the life of Christ that is out of harmony with His words. The man who has faith enough in the Master to believe that all He says in His Word is for the best, will have no other thought in mind but to carry it out just as He gave it. He will not quibble over the precepts of the Bible, and say that they mean this and they don’t mean that; but he will take the Book of God for just what it is; and what it says is what it is. How can any one tell what the Bible means if it does not mean just what it so plainly says?

To be sure, there are parables and figures used in the Bible, but the Bible itself explains their meaning, and the Spirit of God impressing the Bible’s own explanation of its own words upon mind and heart, is the only source to which the Christian citizen will look for the meaning of the Sacred Book of God. The meaning is in the words themselves. Where else could it be? Then the Christian citizen will study that Word, because the Master has breathed divine life and power into it.

But there are other precepts laid down to govern the Christian citizen:—

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? and if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5: 43-48.

Can the Christian citizen ignore these precepts of the Master?—Certainly he can not and still retain his Christian citizenship. He may make a profession, but that is not the question. It is one thing to make a profession, but it is altogether something else to be in possession of the actual realities of Christian citizenship.

Men may and do make light of these principles of Christian citizenship. Yes, even those who profess Christianity will ridicule the idea of literally carrying them out in practical life. But there are the Bible precepts addressed to all Christian citizens, just the same. How can their plain statements be avoided?

Do the citizens of this world “resist not evil”? When they are smitten on the right cheek, do they turn the other also? Do they love their enemies? Do they offer blessing when they are cursed? Do they do good to them that hate them, and pray for them that despitefully use them? This world has been running on for quite a time, but no place yet has been found where the citizens of any of its countries exercise such kind and unselfish principles.

There are, it is true, nations that call themselves Christian, and there is no denying the fact that the Christianity of men in those nations has done the wonderful things that have been accomplished in uplifting and civilizing their citizens. But these nations, as such, still fight their enemies. When they are cursed, they curse back, and when they are smitten, they smite in return. It has always been thus with the nations of this world, and in the very nature of things it must be that way to the end of time. Wars and rumors of wars, we are assured in the Word of God, will continue till the Son of man appears in the clouds of heaven to put an end to this reign of sin.

Then can the Christian citizen be a citizen of this world? Can he completely affiliate as a citizen in countries where enmity and the sword are rife? Can he be a follower of Christ and not heed these precepts of the Master? And if he loves Christ above every other person or thing, will not his whole aim be to do just as Christ said? In a word, is not the real Christian citizen a citizen of the heavenly kingdom? And is not his work to look after the interests of that kingdom, and keep himself free from the entanglements involved in the politics pertaining to citizenship in this world?

There is a great work for Christian citizens to do in the world and for the world, but still they are not to be of the world. The Lord states these points very clearly in His Word. Which will we follow, the Word of God or the precepts of men? Do not take a superficial view and act hastily, but think of these things.