TWO CITIZENSHIPS

Paul T. Stallsworth

            Christians are citizens of two kingdoms.  First, last, and always, Christians are citizens of the Kingdom of God.  Also and at the same time, Christians are citizens of kingdoms, or nations, in this world.

            As citizens of the Kingdom of God, baptized and believing Christians are members of the Church (the largest organization in the world).  As members of the Church, we belong to a colony of God’s Kingdom in this world.  As members of a colony called The United Methodist Church and St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, we confess in word, through worship, and in deed that Jesus Christ (and no other) is our King.  Our first citizenship is in the Kingdom of God -- that is, in the Church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

            But citizenship in the Kingdom of God does not erase or eliminate our citizenship in the United States of America.  Instead, our citizenship in God’s Kingdom determines and directs how we should behave as citizens of the United States.  Christ our King commands us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and that commandment has strong political implications.

            As citizens of the United States, we live in a democracy.  Democracy is government of, by, and for the people.  Therefore, democracy permits -- actually, it requires -- that its citizens participate in the politics of the day for the good of the whole nation.

            So, as Christians, as citizens whose first allegiance is to the Kingdom of God, we enter the political arena of our nation.  As we enter the public square, we should not check our Christian commitments at the door.  Rather, it is our privilege and duty to take the riches of the Church’s faith into the political sphere and put them to work for the good of all.

            This side of the Kingdom Come, citizenship in this world will be a messy business.  Often there is disagreement (sometimes civil, sometimes not) over candidates and issues, even among Christians.  That is something the Church has learned to live with.

            Take, for example, the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA).  The FMA, if passed, would define marriage, as between one man and one woman, in the United States Constitution.  As a United Methodist pastor and as a citizen of the United States, I favor the passage of the FMA for four reasons.

            First, consistent with Christian teaching through the ages, the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church declare: “We affirm the sanctity of the marriage covenant that is expressed in love, mutual support, personal commitment, and shared fidelity between a man and a woman.  We believe that God’s blessing rests upon such marriage, whether or not there are children of the union.  We reject social norms that assume different standards for woman than for men in marriage.  We support laws in civil society that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.” (The Book of Discipline [2004], paragraph number to be determined)

            Second, traditional marriage is a pre-political institution.  Before politics and before the politics of ideas, traditional marriage was written into creation by God, our Creator.  The Church (as noted above), the Synagogue, the Mosque, and natural law recognize this truth.  Because traditional marriage is a divine gift to all of humanity -- and not just a social construct of human ingenuity -- its meaning, purpose, and structure are not to be changed to fit perceived, passing human wants and desires.

            Third, traditional marriage is the natural situation for welcoming, and the optimal context for raising, children.  With mother and father, children flourish best.

            And fourth, the FMA is a political necessity.  Without the FMA, activist courts and well-intentioned but misguided judges will alter American family law to include “homosexual marriage.”  This socially constructed institution runs against the moral grain of the universe and undermines the best interests of children.

            For these reasons, this pastor supports the Federal Marriage Amendment.  Brothers and sisters in the Church are free to disagree with my assessment of the issue, and your disagreement can be voiced to the pastor or written for the newsletter.

            I encourage you to write our US Senators, as soon as possible, to express your position on the FMA.  [Senator Elizabeth Dole/United States Senate/Washington, DC 20510 and Senator John Edwards/United States Senate/Washington, DC 20510]

            This is a part of our two citizenships.

From June  2004 St. Peter's Post