Citizens of Heaven

This is Part 9 in a 9-Part Series on Immigration

Before concluding this series on immigration, there is one other reference to "foreigners" in Scripture that we haven't touched on at all yet.

"Dear Friends, I warn you as 'temporary residents and foreigners' to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls." - 1 Peter 2:11

Scripture describes Believers as "foreigners" here on earth because our "citizenship" as Christians is in heaven, not the United States. Israel was a Jewish nation, but according to this and several other New Testament verses, there is no such thing as a "Christian nation".

The first Christians were living amongst non-believers in Israel. After the Gospel began spreading, Christians were living amongst non-believers in other countries - areas that are now Turkey, Italy, etc. (1 Peter 1:1). The first settlers in America were living as Christians amongst non-believers.

Christians everywhere, regardless of what country they are from or reside in, are all a part of God's "Kingdom" now; there are no "foreigners" amongst fellow Believers.

"So now you Gentiles (anyone not of Jewish descent) are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family." - Ephesians 2:19

We are all a part of the Church (with a capital "C"), with our spiritual citizenship being in heaven, regardless of how we "practice" our faith (in other words, regardless of our particular doctrine, the type of worship music we listen to, our teaching style preferences, or the traditions that we practice). (See Romans 14:2-23) And, as Christians, with our citizenship in Heaven, we are all "foreigners" here on earth living amongst non-believers in a world that does not belong to us, regardless of which country we live in.

Yes, our forefathers were predominantly Christians, and as a result, many of our laws and tenets were most certainly based upon Christian principles. But it was never their intention to build a "Christian nation"; it goes against the very freedoms that are outlined in the constitution itself:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." 

- First Amendment to the Constitution, signed into law in 1791

I think conservative Christians in our country have a tendency to focus on the second part of the First Amendment (" ... or prohibiting the free exercise thereof") while simultaneously brushing right over the first part. And there are some on the left who have a tendency to focus attention on the first part, while sometimes being selective about applying the second. As a Christian, it sometimes feels as if the left defends the right of pretty much any other faith to exercise their religion, while doing everything they can to prevent Christians from doing the same.

As Christians, we should not be surprised, alarmed, or offended by that. Why? Because it's part of the package, so to speak! Jesus warned us in Scripture that we should be expecting it! (Matthew 10:22)

We are not a "Christian nation" and have no right to force our religious beliefs on other people; that is unconstitutional. On the same token, trying to remove Christianity from the culture, as some on the left would prefer, is every bit as unconstitutional.

Furthermore, we aren't called to stay in our own "Christian bubble" with people who look like us, think like us, and never challenge us. We are called to be Ambassadors. Apostles. Missionaries. As the apostle, Paul, said, "temporary residents and foreigners" ... even in our own country!

As a Christian, should my "faith inform my politics"? Absolutely! It did for the founding fathers. But that means going to Scripture first ... seeking God's heart behind Scripture first.  Then coming to conclusions and forming opinions - on all of the issues, not just one or two. It doesn't mean identifying as a Republican or a Democrat, adopting their perspective on policies and issues, and then finding or quoting a verse or two to try to rationalize or justify your position. It doesn't mean consulting our Christian friends, talk show hosts, or even our pastors as our primary source of Truth. It means quieting our hearts and minds, reading Scripture with an open heart and mind in order to hear the Holy Spirit speak in it and through it. It means laying our political and religious strongholds (like "Christian" = "conservative" or "Republican" or "pro-life") at the feet of Jesus, and wrestling with them, and, if and when necessary, allowing Him to tear them down and replace them with Truth. His Truth.

Does your "faith inform your politics"? ... Or does your politics inform your faith?

© I Lift My Voice, 2025

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About 8 years ago, I felt led to go completely off social media and limit my access to news and really seek God first and foremost in all things. The topic of immigration was the first time for me to really do that when it came to politics ... and it challenged me. The 144 verses I found and researched and pondered and prayed about back in early 2017 were the basis for this series I am writing today, and were an unintended catalyst for the majority of the I Lift My Voice blog posts I have written over the past 5 years. The 3 years I was privileged to have of seeking God first in all things - apart from any worldly opinions or distractions (including religious ones!) - transformed my politics, my faith, and, in many ways, my life. I pray that everyone who reads my blog posts will sincerely seek God first and foremost, and I trust that if they do, they will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13-14). And I pray that doing so will change their lives way beyond their politics.

"Jesus can't be explained. He must be experienced."