A Dual Citizenship

Today’s reading is Acts 16.

Paul is a citizen of heaven. Philippians 3:20 says so: “But our citizenship is in heaven…” Yet, in Acts 16:37 he declares he and Silas are citizens of Rome. Christians have a dual citizenship. I am a citizen of heaven. I am also a citizen of the United States of America. As such, Paul was able to enjoy the rights and privileges of Roman citizenship. When his Roman rights were violated, he was able to seek legal recourse. That is exactly what he does here in Philippi. In an interesting twist, after having been falsely accused of urging Philippians to act in ways “unlawful for us as Romans to accept or practice,” the magistrates acted in a way that was unlawful for Romans to accept or practice. They beat uncondemned Roman citizens and threw them in jail. Paul seeks recourse. When we face persecution or treatment, especially from governing authorities, that violates our rights and privileges as citizens of our country, we are allowed to seek redress and recourse through legal means. We will have to put up with persecution and trouble. Often, there will be little we can do about it. However, we are allowed to use the rights and privileges of our earthly citizenship to our advantage and to the advantage of Christ’s kingdom as well.

Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 16.