Formed and reFormed as Missional Citizens
Missional:
A missional church places its commitment to participate in God’s mission in the world at the center of its life and identity.
cit•i•zen ˈsi-tə-zən also -sən n
: an inhabitant of a city or town esp : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2 a : a member of a state
1. Why Is It Hard To Be Under Authority?
Cultural – Its an American, Post-60’s Thing
Rebel Without a Cause
- YOU’RE TEARING ME APART
- Blaming parents
Our nation was born out of rebellion
Kids movies:
- Little Mermaid (rebels against Daddy)
- Harry Potter (never listens to anyone)
Burned by Authorities in the Past
Pride
I’m smarter than my …
- Parents
- Teacher
- Boss
- Elected Official
- Pastor
Talk radio – Larry from
If Jim Mora, coach of the Seahawks, would only …
If Obama would only …
If they would listen to me…
2. Why Submit To Authority? (Part 1 - Doctrine)
A. Define “Submit”
To Subordinate / To Order
- Its not about being of lesser worth
- It speaks of voluntarily coming under
B. Authority Comes from God
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. - Romans 13:1-7
- The state doesn’t control the church
- The church doesn’t control the state
- Constantinian /
- INSTEAD;
- Partnership where the church and the state recognize each others’ God-given role and responsibilities
Teaching:
- Authority Comes from God (affirmed 3 times)
- State’s ministry is of the “sword”
- the ministry of the state is to restrain evil (by punishing) and promote good
What about bad civil authorities?
60 years ago Mao Zedong gave a speech to his victorious Communist comrades, telling them: “We have stood up!”
At the time, there were about 1 million Christians in
- The cultural revolution wanted to protect
- They started the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), which was to be (and still is today) the only licit Protestant denomination in
- The rest of the church went underground
Result:
- At least 50 million Christians in
- Some say double that
People in
What can Christianity do for
Now the church in
What can
Authority … even bad authority … comes from God.
Some of you who have been burned by bad authorities can say with Joseph and the Chinese Christians:
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. - Genesis 50:20
C. Jesus Was Under Authority
Under His Parents
And he went down with them and came to
Under Caesar, Paying Taxes
Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him. - Mark 12:17
Under Pilate
He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” - John 19:9-11
Under God the Father
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. - Philippians 2:5-7
And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” … Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” - Matthew 26:39, 42
D. Being Under Earthly Authority Is Training To Be Under God’s Authority
First Authority is our Parents
- Teaches us to understand that sometimes things that are hard / not-fun are best
Next Authority is Teachers
Next is A Boss
Next is a Pastor
All serve, if we guard our hearts, to train our souls to be joyful under God’s authority.
3. This is Difficult … Like It Was For Jesus
Jesus was executed, even though He was innocent
Paul, writing this letter, was facing unjust criminal charges
Early Christians faced intense persecution.
Called:
- Atheists – Didn’t believe Caesar was God
- Incest – Called each other brother and sister, brotherly kiss
- Cannibals – Eat Flesh and Drink Blood
We want to say “If I am under good authorities, I’ll gladly submit.”
- That would be nice
- But its not biblical
Being under difficult authorities can train your heart and refine your soul … maybe more powerfully than submitting to easy and friendly leaders.
Little Attorney in Your Is Standing Up Right Now … “I PROTEST!”
I’m the exception
… there are exceptions and you probably don’t have one.
Corrie TenBoom
- If the Nazis come, stick it to them.
“Our business is killin Nazis, and business is good.”
That was self-sacrificial, other centered disobedience.
Very different from a young couple choosing to step out of authority to have sex before marriage.
- It is well justified
- It is culturally accepted
- But it is rebellious against the authority of God, the Bible and your pastor.
- In the end this rebellion is only pleasing yourself.
If you’re going to disobey, get good counsel from people older than you who love Jesus.
3. Why Submit To Authorities (Part 2-Mission)
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. - Titus 3:3
There is something about our submission that can be compelling in a missionary way.
Referendum 71
Passed by 52% this past Tuesday
“Everything but marriage” expands domestic-partnership rights to lesbians, gays and elderly couples.
We’re All Sinners Protected By the State
In God’s eyes, all sin is equal
We use the phrase “love the sinner, hate the sin”
Does loving the sinner translate to fighting for their civil rights?
Is love just a good intention, or does it transform the way we act as good citizens to our neighbors?
If we get this right, we could break some stereotypes and maybe win an audience for the Gospel.
The Gospel Levels the Playing Field
Who are the “good guys” in our culture?
No one
All are sinners
All are broken
All need Jesus
4. How To Be Missional Citizens…
1) Be Obedient
Obey laws, pay taxes
Listen to your boss, teacher and parents
EVERY GOD-GIVEN AUTHORITY you have been placed under.
Are there exceptions? Yes … and you probably don’t have one.
Peter in Acts 5
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled
Hebrew Mid-wives
Martin Luther King Jr.
2) Be Ready For Good Work
Beyond mere obedience to active engagement
Servant’s Heart
- eager
- ready
The only way to get through to some people is to serve them.
Our neighborhood – wind storm and downed trees
3) Speak Evil Of No One
- Not the authorities
Talk Radio
- Bush / Obama
- Not Parents
- Not Teachers
- Not other Churches or Christians
- Not other sinners
4) Avoid Quarreling
5) Be Gentle
6) Show Perfect Courtesy Toward All People