Wednesday 14 August 2024
But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. (v. 20)
Background
Paul speaks of the need for Euodia and Syntyche, two members of the church at Philippi, to work together and with other Christians, such as Clement, recognising that they all share allegiance to one Lord.
We live in a world where, as in Roman times, many countries expect allegiance from their citizens. Serving one’s country is often proclaimed as a virtue, especially in situations of conflict. Representing one’s country is also seen as a very important activity. Look at the mammoth interest in recent weeks in many international sporting events, including, of course, the Olympics. If a refugee wants to claim citizenship of a new country it is often expected they will learn about the host country so they can appreciate its values. It is not uncommon for the press in our country to ask: "What does it mean to be British?" You probably have your own ideas on that. Even if we don’t see ourselves as being patriotic, we absorb many of the values of the society in which we live. Some of those may be good traits but others may be very bad.
One of the striking features of the writings of John and Charles Wesley was their emphasis on seeing themselves primarily as citizens of God’s kingdom. In the words of Charles Wesley's hymn 'Leader of faithful souls':
"We’ve no abiding city here,
but seek a city out of sight;
thither our steady course we steer,
aspiring to the plains of light,
Jerusalem, the saints’ abode,
whose founder is the living God."
Being a citizen of God's kingdom meant they challenged what society was saying and doing if it did not agree with what Christ expected of his followers. The Wesleys did not accept that it was right for people to be enslaved or for employers to exploit their workforces or for women to be regarded as inferior. They did not accept that a person’s lifestyle should focus on what was fashionable or that there should be a huge gap between rich and poor. They took the view that, if something is unfair, unjust, unChristian, then the role of the Christian is to speak out as the prophets of old spoke out. The early Methodists were called to be prophetic because ‘our citizenship is in heaven’.
To Ponder:
- What are the requirements expected of those who wish to be members of God’s kingdom?
- What aspects of modern society should the Church be challenging?
- How important is it that the Church should speak with one voice? What should we do when we disagree on what should be done?
Prayer
Heavenly God, your kingdom is in the here and now and not just in the future. You have my allegiance. Help me always to judge what is right and what is wrong not by the standards of society but by what you want. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible notes author: Gary Best
Gary was Headmaster of Kingswood School from 1987 to 2008 and Volunteer Warden of the New Room in Bristol from 2009 to 2019. He has published over 20 books, including A Christian Alphabet, a study book for home groups.