What is the citizenship or members of the ekklesia? Where did the Romans, who in Biblical times were in Israel, hold their citizenship? In Rome!
It has been the intent of our enemy to convince us that the best way to influence our culture is to be a good citizen. Now stay with me. This is important in the natural realm. But we are not citizens of this culture if we have been TRULY BORN AGAIN, if we are living by a life that is not fallen Adam’s life, which is all the life that this world knows. We are citizens of no insignificant nation, empire, realm. Our citizenship is elsewhere, in the Kingdom of God.
Ephesians 2:19 ESV So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
We are ambassadors for Christ. I want to ask you a question: Who has greater freedom and more rights in America, John Q. Citizen or the French Ambassador? The French Ambassador! The French Ambassador can come and go to places you and I cannot go as citizens of America. The French Ambassador has the audience of the President and everyone else in authority.
So why is it we think that we can influence these lesser realms more by being good citizens in the natural as opposed to being ambassadors in the spiritual realm? I’m suggesting to you that the enemy has confused us about our citizenship. I’m not in any way suggesting that we not take advantage of our opportunities to be a witness with our voice. I’m just saying that we need to know that we are doing it as an ambassador from a greater nation and kingdom.
I’m suggesting that to accept citizenship in a lesser nation, to give up our true citizenship, does not give us more influence – it mutes our influence, it undermines our influence.