THEME FOR THE YEAR: “MANIFESTING THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” (JOHN 15: 5)
TOPIC:“THE CHRISTIAN AND SOCIAL/WORLD WIDE RESPONSIBILITIES”
TEXT: JEREMIAH 29: 7; MATT. 5: 43-48; MATT. 22: 17 – 21; 1 PET. 2: 13- 17.
AIM: To teach believers that no one or religious body is an Island. As we pray for our country we need the cooperation of all and sundry to make things work.
INTRODUCTION.
We set out to study the book of Nehemiah at the beginning of this year. The main aim of this study is to learn from the life of Nehemiah and how his life and conduct shaped history in his time and apply such learning to ourselves in order to make positive impact on our society.
We noticed from the two previous lessons that Nehemiah served a pagan king, yet his religion did not affect his loyalty and relationship with the king and we shall see in subsequent lessons, how that cordial relationship worked in his favour and that of his countrymen and women. Today we deliberately picked relevant portions in the scriptures to prepare our minds on the great lessons to learn from this book.
There is need to pray for our government; this is Biblical. The Lord commanded the Israelites living in captivity in Babylon to seek the peace of the capital city of their captors. They were not to think of themselves as prisoners of war. They were not to be filled with resentment and hatred toward those who ruled them. If the city had peace, they shared in that peace. When the civil government is prosperous and progressive, the church shares in the bounty in the following ways:
- Times of peace provide opportunities for growth and advancement of the church. War hampers the propagation of the gospel and the work of missionaries.
- When a country enjoys stability and financial prosperity, the church reaps the benefits because church members can find good jobs and contribute more to the spreading of the gospel.
- During times of political strife, the church is mostly persecuted. When all goes well with the government, greater liberty is granted to churches, and the gospel can flourish.
- The work of God fares better when those in the church are not side-tracked by pre-occupation with other matters especially during days of civil unrest.
It is wrong for Christians to feel that our only concern should be the church and the Kingdom. Christians have a responsibility toward our country. We must pray for our country and do our part in voting and in other activities which contribute to its welfare. God will punish the wicked rulers of this world in His time, but as Christians we are to pray for their salvation, not for their judgment.
Christians are also required to support their government. Jesus indicated that God’s people should pay their taxes to secular governments. In answering the catchy question of the Pharisees on whether taxes should be paid to Rome, Jesus made it clear that our secular responsibilities must be met, and that by paying taxes to irreligious governments we are not compromising our loyalty to God.
A Christian is under Christ’s command to “give to God what belongs to God and unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar”. We should be committed the same way we pay our tithes and offerings in our taxes and in obedience to civil authorities. It will be hypocritical to pray for the good of the nation and at the same time, fail in our obligations to the state.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION.
- What should be the Christians attitude to bad governments?
- “No one or religious body is an island” In line with this statement, what is your take about Christians working in organizations that seem to contradict some Christian teachings.
- (a) Why do Nigerians feel reluctant in paying taxes? (b) Should a Christian be involved in tax dodging?
- What should be the Christian’s attitude/relationship to members of other religious groups.
TALK BACK
REFLECTION: Our conduct should aim at perfection. Jesus did not only emphasize doing good, rather, He set the standard at absolute perfection “even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5: 48)