I voted today. I may not have a sticker to prove it, but I can assure you that my ballot is now a matter of public record on file at the Kiowa County courthouse in Greensburg, Kansas. And I must admit, it feels pretty good, not primarily because of who or what I voted for today, but because I actually had the privilege of doing so, freely and without fear. I was even granted a special dispensation to cast my vote earlier than usual due to the fact that I will be away from home on Election Day.
During my 54 years on planet earth, I have had the opportunity to travel to more than 20 countries on 5 continents. My guess is that I may not have been able to do so, and certainly not with such relative ease, if I had not been born in the United States of America. While I have thoroughly enjoyed every visit I have made to each of these foreign nations, and have received a priceless storehouse of precious memories as well as countless transformational encounters with a multitude of beautiful people and places from all around the world, I must confess that I am always deeply grateful to set my feet back on American soil when I return home from each and every trip.
Like the United States, all of the other countries I have visited over the years have their unique set of assets and liabilities. But many of them make no provision whatsoever for the participation of their own people in the formation and/or operation of government. Some of these countries are ruled by brutal dictators. Others suffer under the iron hand of foreign oppressors. And many others are doing their best to recover from decades, if not centuries, of unjust and inhumane treatment as a result of unwanted and uninvited occupation. Very few of them are experiencing anything close to the level of freedom, opportunity, peace and prosperity that we are accustomed to here in the United States.
It should come as no surprise, then, that we have an immigration dilemma on our hands these days. With all of our warts (many of which have become painfully obvious during this year’s election cycle), the United States continues to be a coveted destination for millions of people from all around the world. Don’t get me wrong. I am by no means advocating for an “American exceptionalism” that in any way diminishes the infinite beauty and richness that can be found in each and every country and culture on this globe. All I am saying is that this is one of those days when I am more aware than usual that I have been extraordinarily blessed to live in a place and among a people who have been granted the freedom to make a meaningful contribution to the common good. And for that I am deeply grateful.
At the same time, I am reminded of some wise words that I read several years ago in an article written by World Vision president Richard Stearns, a lifelong American citizen and devout Christ follower, who has recognized from his extensive travels around the world that he is also a citizen of planet earth and, most importantly, a citizen of heaven. Stearns makes a point in this particular article to emphasize the critical distinction between patriotism (love of one’s country) and patriotheism (worship of one’s country). It is interesting to note, in this regard, that a recent study conducted by Lifeway Research found that “a majority of Protestant pastors recognize that at times their congregation loves America more than God.” When we love anything more than God, the Bible calls that idolatry.
So where does that leave us? I believe that it leaves us right where we are intended to be as disciples of Jesus Christ: in the world but not of it (Jn 17:15-18). We are called to live as dual citizens, so to speak, and we are called to play our assigned parts as faithfully and skillfully as possible in this Tale of Two Kingdoms. But we must never forget where our ultimate allegiance lies. At the end of the day, we are “aliens and strangers,” after all, people who are “longing for a better country” (Heb 11: 13, 16). As Marty Duren has suggested in reflection upon the Lifeway study cited in the previous paragraph:
Sing the Star Spangled Banner at baseball games, football games, Olympics parties, parades, on July 4, Memorial Day, Flag Day and Veterans Day. Erect a flag pole in your front yard, or angle one from the front door of your business. But the kingdoms are distinct by divine decree. If God today sent me and my family to Botswana, Bangladesh or Bolivia, and led us to become citizens, not resident workers, I hope we would do it. I hope you would, too. The Kingdom isn’t defined by geo-political boundaries. Every nation, tribe, people and language contains its citizens. If you are a follower of Jesus, never forget we are not citizens of this world. We are missionaries living with a green card in the country of God’s choosing.
This is not a new revelation, of course. It is as ancient as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not to mention Moses, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, Daniel and every other faithful man or woman of God. But it is a lesson that must be reiterated and re-learned by each and every generation of true believers. Just ask Ignatius, Augustine, Dostoevsky, Bonhoeffer or MLK. And while we’re at it, Friends, we might want to consult with George Fox, William Penn, Mary Dyer, John Woolman or Laura Haviland.
As another Election Day approaches, there is one more name that merits special attention here. In 1872, Quaker reformer Susan B. Anthony, a loyal American citizen, was arrested for voting in her hometown of Rochester, New York, and convicted in a widely publicized trial. (Yes, you read that right. It was a crime for women to vote at that time in our country.) In 1878, Anthony was instrumental in presenting legislation to Congress that would finally give women the right to vote. Popularly known as the Anthony Amendment, it became the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920.
So cast your vote wisely and gratefully on Election Day. Pray for your local, state and national leaders (1 Tim 2:1-2). Write emails, make phone calls, sign petitions and participate in peaceful protests, when appropriate, not as a mere expression of political action, but as a faithful act of Christian stewardship, remaining mindful of the fact that our Lord has called each and every one of us to be “salt” and “light” in an increasingly dark and decadent world (Mt 5:13-16). By all means, make your very best and most meaningful contribution to the common good, in Jesus’ name.
But when we all wake up on the morning of November 9, 2016, regardless of who may be moving in or out of public office, let us rejoice and celebrate the fact that we are all one step closer to that Day when this great Tale of Two Kingdoms will finally reach its crescendo, and “the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:15).
Amen.
– David O. Williams, General Superintendent
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