"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." - Ephesians 2:11-13
An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. Martie and I lived in Haiti for four years and were considered "expats" in Haiti. I am speaking in the natural sense. We retained our U.S. citizenship but lived temporarily in another country. We were bound to obey the laws of the country we were living in, even though we were citizen's of another country. In a similar fashion, Christians are expatriates in the world. It does not matter what country they live in. But there is a major exception that comes to mind. We are to obey man's laws, irrespective of the country we are in, so long as they do not violate God's laws.
"Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?' But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, 'You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.' They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, 'Whose image is this? And whose inscription?' 'Caesar’s,' they replied. Then he said to them, 'So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.' When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away." - Matthew 22:15-22
In truth. there is much in the laws of the land that we live in that are not contrary to what God says is right in His sight. But there are also significant points in man's law that reflect a sinful heart and that are contrary to God's revealed will. With respect to those laws, Christians must take a stand. Should our culture make laws that are in direct contravention to God's Word, we cannot comply with those particular laws without sinning against God.
In those cases we must exercise what is known as civil disobedience. We must not comply with those particular laws because we are morally and spiritually opposed to what the law mandates. Like the conscientious objector refusing to bear arms in the military, we must stand our ground - even in the face of suffering punishment for our disobedience. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego come to mind. Facing the furnace and the lion's den, they stood their ground, embraced their God over the country they had been exiled to. God saw them through their punishment, but that is not to say that is always the case.
Does this seem strange to you? Over the top - extreme? It all boils down to what you embrace to be truth.
“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:14-15
A culture that has lost its focus on God drifts away from the precepts of God and embraces the the norms of the culture. To refuse the culture's "drink the Kool-aide", if you will, means that you will be regarded as a hater and religious fanatic. If people do things are are legal from man's perspective but are sinful from God's, you cannot keep those people from doing those things, but you also don't have to agree with them or participate in the sin. If you do stake a stand, you will find that your world shrinks and you will become aware that you are in a moral minority.
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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