“DON’T BE A JOHN BIRCH” – DEAR CHRISTIANS

How should a Christian represent his Redeemer and Master, the LORD Jesus Christ in this world? Depending upon how one wishes to see things, they would answer it accordingly. I believe, the Bible, which is the written Word of God, and the standard by which every Christian is called to live by, should guide us in all our decisions, and not any other factors, however compelling and convincing they may be.

On 25 August in 1945, John Birch, a Baptist Christian missionary from the United States of America was executed in China on the charges of working for the US government. History records that John Birch genuinely went to China as a Christian missionary in 1940. Towards the end of the Second World War, he began helping the US armed forces, and was also made a Captain.
– “…22-year-old Birch, graduate of Mercer University and a Baptist seminary in Macon, Georgia, arrived in Shanghai in Japanese-occupied China in 1940, he’d come to be a missionary to the Chinese people…The Chinese recognized his charitable heart as he preached the love of Christ, a message many had never heard except from the lips of an interpreter. And preach he did, as he covered much of occupied and unoccupied China—dodging Japanese patrols, dressing in native clothes, eating the same food, and taking the same risks as the people he quickly came to love.” – Christian History Institute

I personally believe, what Captain John Birch of US did is wrong. He came to China upon the call of God to be His ambassador, and proclaim His gospel to the people in need. If this is what had led him to be a missionary, then he had no business to get himself entangled into the geopolitics of his native country, and become its representative and betray the LORD’s call, and the love and trust that was placed upon him by the native people of China. I would not wish to associate with someone like John Birch. 

As Christians, the Bible says, we should be waiting for the city which has foundations, and whose builder and maker is God Himself. So did all the faithful “Heroes of Faith” before us; and so should we.
– “8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” – Hebrews 11:8-10

As long as the LORD Jesus enables us to live in this world, we should be faithful to our Redeemer and Master.
– We should, as His disciples and the ambassadors, be faithful citizens of our nations.
– We should contribute for its good, its welfare and its progress.
– We should be good and responsible citizens as the followers of the LORD Jesus.
– If ever there is any injustice done to us as Christians, we should seek the LORD for grace to continue to be His children and His ambassadors despite the injustice.

The following few Bible verses help us to see the heart and mind of God regarding we living as citizens of our respective nations. They help shape our Christian character and our conduct in the lands we are called to live.
1- SUBMIT TO GOVERNING AUTHORITIES
– “​1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.” – Romans 13:1-3

2- PAY TAXES AND RESPECT
– “6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.” – Romans 13:6-7

3- INTERCEDE FOR LEADERS
– “​1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour,” – 1 Timothy 2:1-3

4- SUBMISSION TO GOVERNMENT FOR THE LORD’S SAKE
– “13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” – 1 Peter 2:13-17

5- WHEN MAN’S LAW IS IN CONFLICT WITH GOD COMMANDS
– “27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” – Acts 5:27-29

As Christians, who are the disciples of the LORD Jesus, and His ambassadors in this world…
– We should be faithful children of God wherever God has placed us. 
– We should be good and law abiding citizens of our respective nations.
– We should not only demonstrate our love for our country, be faithful to it with all our Christian integrity.
– *If the law of the land is working against the commands of Christ our LORD, then we follow the LORD, without being disruptive, destructive and rebellious, and enduring silently any injustice meted out to us by those in authority, or by other fellow citizens.

Whatever happens, please “DON’T BE A JOHN BIRCH” – DEAR CHRISTIANS. Even so the LORD help us.