What is Biblical Citizenship?

Our nation was founded by Christians who understood that God is sovereign over all nations and that all nations are accountable to God and will be judged by Him.  (Psalm 2) They wanted our nation to have "No King but King Jesus!"

Our founding fathers understood that for a nation to be ruled by the people, that the nation was still accountable to God and that they could not blame the nation's behavior on a non-existent King.  They did not intend by this that we would set up a theocracy, but rather they believed that each man would be ruled in his private and public affairs primarily by his conscience as directed by his or her faith in the Lord.  They believed that freedom was only possible when citizens ordered their lives in such a way as to honor God in their public and private lives.

The view of limited government that is a specifically detailed principle of our nation's constitution was based on the idea that moral men needed no government to rule them in the details of their life.  They believed that the love of Christ in our hearts prepares us to be much better citizens than any laws that a government imposes could.

With regard to the United States, our founding fathers intended:

• No king but King Jesus ruling in our public and private life.
• The people are to take on the responsibility of rule and are accountable to God for that rule.
• That men should worship God according to their conscience and not in accordance with government dictates.
• That citizenship must be directed by conscience that is accountable to God.
• That these precepts would lead to national righteousness and blessings from God.

Biblical Citizenship is the individual stewardship of our citizenship in the light of Paul's command in Colossians 3:23-24, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Chair, Advocates for Biblical Citizenship Committee
Southern Gables Church
Littleton Colorado