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The first murderer named in the Bible asked the question,
"Am I my brother's keeper?" with the implication
that the answer had to be "no". Many people are
like Cain in that they refuse to accept that they have responsibility
in another's situation, be he brother, neighbour or fellow
citizen. Some have made a virtue of "keeping myself to
myself" and of living by the old adage "Minding
my own business". This attitude can not be acceptable
for Christians who are described as those who are members
one of another. There is no denying common humanity and no
questioning of the contention that everyone is valuable in
the sight of God, those who are His in the fellowship of faith
and those who are not.
Christians are committed to the principle of mutual sharing
to mutual advantage. There is a primary responsibility to
serve others as the servants of Christ, to be good citizens.
"Land of our birth we pledge to thee
Our love and toil in the years to be,
That we may hold from age to age
An undefiled heritage".
We do that by acknowledging the Biblical precept,
"Righteousness exalteth a nation" and by living
honest, honourable and good lives.
Normally the state takes no account of wrong doing until
it becomes a punishable offense in law. But we know that behaviour
which disregards the moral law has its ill effects in the
sinner, his family and the community. No one can do wrong
and not hurt somebody. The behaviour patterns of Christians
must be much highter than the state demands. When they are
true to their Christian commitments they live less for themselves
than for others. They may not be like those who are frequent
users of the personal and possessive pronouns, "I, me,
my and mine". There is a reminder that the Cross of Christ
is the personal pronoun crossed out.
People are often acquisitive. They have an insatiable appetite
for things. They lay great store on their possessions or what
their money can buy for them. Some are so ambitious and self-seeking
that they must win their goals whatever the cost to themselves
and to others. Many avoid the responsibilities of a citizenship
which requires participation in the working and administration
of their society. They will not be involved in community concerns
even to the exercise of the franchise in elections. They ignore
the fact that "bad public officials are apponted by good
citizens who do not vote".
The state is what its citizens make it is a generality relevant
in a democracy. And in a democracy people should be treated
with respect regardless of differences, in age, sex, colour
or race. It should want the good of all its people. Its standards
should be those of its best people, the kind unselfish, generous
citizens who lift up their humanity by their concern for and
treatment of others who need their help. Gilbert Murray, drawing
attention to the weaknesses, insecurities and inefficiencies
of people, obseved, "Normally every government is possessed
by a devil, the devil of the massed and organised selfishness
of the nation".
Christians with their develped sense of responsibility for
the well-being of the people have different standards and
attitudes to those whose interests are selfish and care less
of the circumstances of their fellow citizens.
There are recognisable principles for Christian citizenship
in these propositions:
- Happiness lies more in giving than receiving.
- People are not separate units but intimately related to
one another.
- The greatest among you must be your servants.
- This is God's world and God is love. Love is in caring
for others.
- Someone with these in mind coined the phrase, "God
first, others second, self last".
The constant rule of the Christian life is that we serve
God in serving our fellowman to the pattern set by Jesus who
went about doing good in the days of His flesh.
The Christian Citizen doing the will of God seeks to improve
the society in which he lives. God's will is always for the
good of people.
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