“First, it is their judgment, and that from Scripture taught them, that those who are chosen to a place in government, must be men truly fearing God, wise and learned in the truths of Christ....”

(Rev. Jonathan Edwards, 1654)

A Good Christian and a Good Citizen

(excerpt from USPC Christian Citizenship 101 Manual)

Citizenship was once considered a nearly sacred heritage in the United States of America.  Samuel Adams, a dedicated Christian often referred to as “The Father of the American Revolution”, admonished the people to be faithful in voting.  “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual--or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”

The convicting truth is that many Christians and local churches today do not measurably influence the moral direction of our culture, promote responsible and consistent voting, or defend our God-given freedoms.  We believe that the responsibility for these things does rest with the church.  For example, since God has ordained the governing authorities, and since “We the People” ARE the government in this country, God’s people carry the responsibility of governing more than all other citizens.

We believe in the critical role of Pastors and the local church in serving as the primary source of righteousness and justice to the community and to civil institutions.  We urge pastors to initiate the launch of a Citizenship Ministry that contains the following elements to maximize the Biblical influence in your community! (For complete CM info see Christian Citizenship 101).

St. Patrick – Converted King Loeghaire of Ireland and served as his counselor, or “annchara”, and wrote “Book of the Law of Moses” (432 A.D.) that was used as civil law by chieftains and kings throughout Ireland and emphasized the rule of law and self-government.

Martin Luther – By nailing his 95 Theses on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517, he was used by God to facilitate the Reformation grounded in the “Sola Scriptura” or “Scripture alone” position that placed all earthly authorities – including the church – under and accountable to God and His Word.

John Calvin – Wrote “Ecclesiastical Ordinances”, which included policies for jails, education, and the physical health and safety of citizens such as sanitation requirements.  He stated that, “…in order to become free outwardly, man must first succeed in being free inwardly.”

John Robinson – Pastor to the Pilgrims who landed at Cape Cod in 1620, and described by historian Marshall Foster as a clergyman who, “More than any other man…prepared a people to take dominion over the wilderness to the glory of God.  Through his godly wisdom, he taught the Pilgrims individual Christian unity.”

Jonathan Mayhew – Minister of West Church in Boston preached in 1747  that, “The king is as much bound by his oath not to infringe the legal rights of the people, as the people are bound to yield in subjection to him.  From whence it follows that as soon as the prince sets himself above the law, he loses the king in the tyrant.  He does, to all intents and purposes, un-king himself.”

SOURCES:

“Pastors and American Independence” - McDowell

Ibid

The American Covenant and the Untold Story – Marshall Foster and Mary-Elaine Swanson