What comes to mind when you think of the word “citizen”? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “citizen” as "a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it." Although almost everyone reading this article is a citizen of some country, we likely do not give much thought to our citizenship outside of the occasional moment of panic when we’ve forgotten to renew our passport before an upcoming trip across the border. Trust me, I've been there.

Sadly, however, such lack of thought reveals the disengagement of our culture—including our own evangelical culture—from the important responsibility of citizenship. This needs to change.

Our earthly citizenship is perhaps best viewed as a form of wealth. In his book Ploductivity, Doug Wilson explains that the things around us that are useful for some purpose—such as a smartphone, a vehicle, or even a pencil—are very simply a form of wealth: "Now, what we call technology is simply an array of tools laid out on the bench for us. Technology is, therefore, a form of wealth. The reason this is important is because the Bible says very little about technology as such, but it gives us a great deal of blunt and pointed teaching on the subject of wealth. If we learn how to deal with wealth scripturally, then we will have learned how to deal with technology." The only reason you or I have any earthly wealth—apart from the grace of God—is because of our citizenship. Our citizenship allows us to acquire a SIN number and enter the workforce; our citizenship allows us to receive a fair trial in the event of a legal dispute or criminal charge; our citizenship allows us to travel to almost any country around the globe; our citizenship gives us the right to vote, build businesses, take out loans, pay taxes, and more. Our citizenship is truly a form of abundant wealth.

Following this line of thinking, I am drawn to a familiar passage in Matthew, the parable of the talents:

“He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 25:24-30).                                 

Our citizenship is one of the many "talents" the Lord has given us. We cannot bury this gift in the ground only to dig it up at the end of our lives or at the second coming of Christ. Instead, we are required to bring a return on the investment the Lord has placed into our competent hands. This requires action. On that front, we can learn from the early English Reformer William Tyndale. 

Tyndale longed for common men to have access to the words of Scripture. This desire created great friction with Roman Catholic clergy who insisted that the Bible should not be translated into the common language. As the story goes, a priest told Tyndale that the scriptures were of little use to the commoner who should instead be taught by the Pope. Tyndale responded with something to the effect of: "I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life, I will make a boy that driveth the plough know more of the Scripture than thou dost." I submit this story from an interesting perspective. I am a ploughboy, born and raised on the farm. I have and will continue to spend my life behind the proverbial plough. But was William Tyndale burned at the stake simply so I could read the Scriptures in my own language? I believe he died knowing that boys like me would not only be able to read the Scriptures but also follow their commands, as in the parable of the talents. 

Many of us will never enter the political arena, but we are still commanded to steward our citizenship—bringing a return on our gracious God's original investment. You and I were not placed on this earth at this time, with vast knowledge and opportunity inside our own pockets, to simply sit behind our "ploughs" with some vague understanding of Scripture, whistling away as the world around us burns. No, we must dig deep into the Bible, learning all the wisdom the Lord has revealed. We are to be convicted of our own sin and lawlessness, overjoyed at the gift of a perfect Savior who has taken our place on the Cross and, with the utmost confidence in his death and resurrection, go forward to fearlessly make disciples of all nations. For some, that may mean standing for truth and righteousness in the political arena; for others, it may mean a life behind the pulpit or in the remote Amazon rainforest. But the ploughboy is a great starting point for the rest of us. Why does one plough a field? The answer is simple: to prepare the soil for planting a crop. Why does one plant a crop? Again, a simple answer: so there will be something to harvest. We are all ploughboys and, by the grace of God and the martyrdom of many, we have the Scriptures before us. 

So let us plough fields in straight rows, build buildings with straight walls, pour firm and structurally sound foundations,  write code with the utmost proficiency, weld with steady hands, cook with care and creativity, sell with integrity, and market with truth. Let us build successful businesses and organizations so that we might acquire the resources necessary to support churches and Bible camps, missionaries and seminaries, schools and Bible translators. 

Let us be an example to the world in all our dealings—behaving with integrity and compassion, hiring employees with whom we can share the gospel, and turning hearts and minds to Jesus. May the world look over at Christian citizens and see straight rows, dirty hands, and mouths that speak the life-giving words of our Savior.