The Hyphenated Christian
By Alan Allegra
"Allegra? You must be Italian!"
"No."
"Spanish, maybe?"
"No, I'm American."
I've relived that conversation many times. True, Allegra is an
Italian name, but I'm a second-generation American. I don't live
in Italy, I can't vote in Italy, I wouldn't join the Italian
army, and I can't even speak Italian. I am not an
"Italian-American." Since my mother's side of the family is
Hungarian, I could call myself an "Italian-Hungarian-American."
But I won't, because I'm American. I have a single national
citizenship.
However, I am also, and foremost, a Christian. I have pledged my
allegiance to Jesus Christ and place my loyalty to him above all
other loyalties. This was not inherited; I joined his kingdom
voluntarily. I live in his kingdom, I can vote in his church, I
am a soldier in his army, and I can speak his language.
Hyphenated loyalties can cause great division and conflict, both
internal and external. Jesus Christ himself said, "Every kingdom
divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or
household divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew
12:25). And yet, ironically, it is his followers who claim to be
citizens of two countries.
The apostle Paul, in contrasting the enemies of the cross with
Christians, stated, "But our citizenship is in heaven"
(Philippians 3:20). Yet he was writing to citizens of Philippi,
a city in ancient Greece. To be a Greek citizen was a high honor
in antiquity, and brought with it many legal and social
privileges. Why would Paul emphasize that their citizenship is
in heaven?
Those who walk by faith have, since the beginning of time, done
so in anticipation of a better, heavenly country (Hebrews
11:16). Indeed, Paul tells us that Christians are already
"seated with (God) in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus"
(Ephesians 2:6). They are here, but they are there, too. They
are Hyphenated Christians!
How should the Hyphenated Christian live? Paul devoted an entire
chapter of his letter to the Colossians about this, beginning
with "Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at
the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things" (Colossians 3:1, 2). The Christian has higher
standards and loftier goals and greater promises than the world
can offer. However, Christians are not to disregard the laws of
their nations. Paul reminds the Romans, "Everyone must submit
himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority
except that which God has established" (Romans 13:1).
Remarkably, he penned these words during the reign of the wicked
Emperor Nero!
Living out this dual citizenship can be difficult. There are
times when the heavenly and earthly worldviews conflict. In the
world of Hyphenated Christendom, the Heavenly King takes
precedence. When the authorities arrested the apostles for
preaching, "Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey
God rather than men!'" (Acts 5:29). This may not be a popular
stand, but it is a necessary one. Being a Christian often puts
one in direct conflict with the government and the popular
culture.
Sadly, many Christians choose to blend in with the world in
order to be "relevant." This denies their primary citizenship.
When the language, music, dress, and philosophies of the earthly
country invade the heavenly assembly, the church's witness to
the world is diluted; the hyphen becomes a slash, and the
kingdoms become interchangeable. The Christian is to engage the
world, not become engaged to it.
Christians have a dual citizenship not by birth, but by choice.
And the choice to live out that citizenship is theirs as well.
Alan Allegra, Executive Administrative Assistant of Faith Church
in Allentown, Pa.
More devotionals at
http://www.faithefc.com/includes/Alan-Devotionals.htm.
