For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20
The current political discussion about illegal immigration and birthright citizenship has also led to some criticism of the idea of dual citizenship. This is of particular interest to me as I have a granddaughter who has triple citizenship. Her parents are from two different countries and she was born in yet a third country which has birthright citizenship.
The argument against dual citizenship is that it divides loyalties. What if those two nations go to war against each other? Which side will the dual citizen support? It’s a reasonable question.
I also see the problem with birthright citizenship. Knowing that your child will be a citizen of the U.S. if they are born here is quite an incentive for people to come by any means necessary to get that advantage for their child. This seems to be drawing a lot of people into the country who feel no sense of responsibility to it, but who are willing to take advantage of what benefits they can get from it.
It’s natural that people seek advantage and avoid responsibility. If it would benefit your child to be born in a foreign country, you would probably do it too, especially if wasn’t going to require anything in return. And if we want, we can live with the advantages of U.S. citizenship without ever taking on responsibilities such as voting or community service or, barring the draft, military service. But pursuing rights without responsibilities does not reflect the mind of Christ, and it certainly isn’t how things work in God’s kingdom.
Many people want the advantages of heavenly citizenship (Philippians 3:20) but ignore the requirements, both for gaining and maintaining that citizenship. And often Christians appear to have divided loyalties.
As Christians, we’re all dual citizens because while we’re here in this world, we’re going to be considered citizens of some earthly country. If that country allows us to live out our faith in peace, we should certainly take advantage of that! But when there is a conflict, we must put our heavenly citizenship above all else.
I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Galatians 1:10 NLT
I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. John 5:30 NIV
I hope my granddaughter never has to take sides against any country that has granted her citizenship. But her most important and valuable citizenship is in heaven, and that citizenship must always take precedence.
However, citizenship in heaven doesn’t erase or nullify earthly citizenship. Jesus indicated that we have responsibilities to both our earthly and our heavenly countries. “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s,” (Matthew 22:21 NIV). Paul didn’t hesitate to claim the rights of Roman citizenship when it was to his advantage (Acts 22:25-29), but he also told Timothy to pray “for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence,” (1 Timothy 2:2).
Obviously no one has control over where they are physically born. Some people are born with more than one citizenship. Some are born into citizenship of countries that will mostly oppress them, offering few freedoms or opportunities. Those of us born with citizenship in a country that offers a great deal of both should be thankful and should consider the responsibilities that we naturally owe in return. More than any nation here on earth, the heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16) abounds with blessings. We’re all invited to be born again into God’s kingdom; but with dual citizenship comes dual responsibility.
Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace. Jeremiah 29:7
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16 ESV
by Christie Cole Atkins
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the great advantages of citizenship in heaven. May I never forget that my ultimate loyalty is to You, but help me also to live responsibly as a citizen of this country. I thank You for the blessing of being born into a country of freedom, and for those who have sacrificed to form and protect such a nation as this. Please guide our leaders with Your wisdom and bless this nation for the sake of Your people who live here and for the sake of the One who has made us free indeed, Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.
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One response to “Dual Citizenship”
My son missed out on dual citizenship because he was born the day before my brother-in-law and his wife were scheduled to return to the states. They were on their honeymoon. I was taking them to the airport during the window to file the paperwork to get a West German birth certificate. When I was working in Monterrey, Mexico, I had a waitress who had visited a relative in Dallas in order for her son to be a US Citizen. She was a charming waitress, but the idea of birthright citizenship does not sit well with me. My wife immigrated to the US and had to go through the classes and take the tests. Sadly, on the swearing in day, the Dutch family had learned English, but the Mexicans had an interpreter (El Paso, TX). My future m-i-l wrote the newspaper and a firestorm resulted, but the worst thing that they suffered was their house being egged. I am late to the party here. I am way behind on my reading.