Social Philosophy: On Citizenship

My brother blogged on the topic of the United States' treatment of the Japanese in WWII and caused me to consider a response on how then should we live.

In regard to being an American, I have been a patriot for a long time with brief interludes of rebellion. But as I have learned more about Christianity and am growing in my faith, I have started to realize that the United States is not and was not a "Christian Nation". What looks like Christianity in America is merely the civil religion.

Because of the transcendence of Christ's kingdom, all nations and people-groups are welcome into the church without regard to race, gender, social status, etc. In the face of God's kingdom, the nation-state is irrelevant (& immoral). This is one side of the biblical dialectic, but the other side is that God knows that we are born into nations and peoples, therefore, the bible addresses the ethics of living in this world (see Romans 13:1-7* etc.).

As the kingdom of Christ continues to expand, the Enemy becomes more desperate and uses nation-states, other religions & philosophies, and the one-worlders to fight God's kingdom. We are caught in the middle.

There are no Christian nations and as Christians we must use wisdom to know how not to violate God's Law in our service as citizens on earth.

For those who are not Christians and who lead the nations, there is only Real Politik and the Will to Power. But these leaders should also realize that the judgment day cometh.
Here is what God says about leaders of nations:

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
7 “I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

*Romans 13:1-7
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

--The New King James Version