AS A CHRISTIAN IN OUR COUNTRY

at January 26, 2026

Many times, as citizens, one may not give much time thinking about our love and responsibilities towards our country. Of course, this need not mean that we do not care for our country or love it. As India celebrates the Republic Day, today, let us look at what the Bible has to speak about a nation, and how we, as Christians, should conduct ourselves in relation to it. The Bible absolutely encourages us as Christians, and the children of God, to be responsible citizens of our respective countries.
– “​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. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 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, honor to whom honor.” – Romans 13:1-7

– We are called to love our country.
– We are called to pray for our leaders.
– We called to live harmoniously with our fellow Indians.
– We are called to love those who hate us.
– We are called to bless those who curse us.
– We are called to pray for those who despitefully use us.
– We are called to pay our taxes promptly.
– We are called to abide by the laws of the land.
– We are called to be a blessing to our motherland.

We are called to do all the above, even if people hate us, persecute us, and want to kill us. *This is being a disciple of Christ the LORD, in the nation that we call our motherland. This is what God Almighty has decreed for all His followers, whichever country one may belong to.* We are called to love, respect and honour the nation, its people and the laws of the land, regardless of how we may be treated.
– “…Christians, even though they have struggled to answer the question of what is their relationship to government, have not always answered it properly. And throughout the history of the church, there have been revolutions in the name of Christianity where people decided that the Christian thing to do was to revolt militarily against the government that’s in power, and demand their rights.  There have even been wars in the name of Christianity…Some Christians have decided that since they have received bad treatment from certain governments, it is justifiable for them to war against those governments.” – John MacArthur

I am born in India, and I am an Indian. This land of India is given to me by God Himself as my motherland. If I wish to honour and worship the LORD Jesus Christ, as my God and my Redeemer, then loving my country, and living as the Bible asks us to, is part of such Christian worship. Allow me to ask ourselves this question.
– How many of us, the Indian Christians, have thanked God for our country, and have prayed for India and its leaders this morning, as we celebrate our Republic Day?
– Yesterday being a Sunday, how many Churches have prayed for India, its people, its leaders and its progress, because it is our Republic Day tomorrow?
– How should we as Christians look at our God given nation?
– “… if you have a life dedicated to Christ, you’re not only going to have a right relationship with God, other Christians, outsiders, and enemies, but you’ll have a right relationship to civil authorities, also.  And they are an essential part of our life, because government is an institution of God.” – John MacArthur

A nation is always a mixture of people, just like in a family. Some people love us, and some don’t. Some people care for us, and some don’t. Some people agree with us, and some don’t. Some will hate us without any valid reason. Some will love us despite their disagreement with us. Some want to be our friends. Some don’t want anything to do with us. Some governments may act fairly towards Christians. Some governments may actively pursue to persecute Christians. We find all such things in the human history. As Christians, whatever kind of people we may encounter in the nation of our birth, we are called to follow what the Bible says, and not what the general norm of the world around us. Following what the Bible says is called obedience to God. Obedience to God is worship of God in its finest expression possible.
– “Don’t pay back evil with evil…don’t avenge yourselves.  “Vengeance is mine.  I will repay, says the Lord.”  So if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him something to drink, and so forth.  Overcome evil by good verse 21 [Romans 12:21] says. So he’s…talking about non-retaliation, non-vengeance. Returning love for hate and good for evil.  And so here’s one way you do that.  No matter what the government does, you submit.  No matter what the government does, you pay your taxes.  You’re not violent.  You’re not a terrorist.  You’re not a subversive. No breach of peace, no breach of peace should ever come from a Christian.” – John MacArthur

The Jews hated us and counted Christians as traitors. Roman empire hated us and counted Christians as traitors. The barbarians of Europe hated and killed Christians. Native people in the continents of South America, Africa and Asia have hated and killed Christians. So many other people and powers that have come after them have hated us, and counted us Christians as traitors. 

What should matter the most to us, as Christians, is not what others are thinking about us. It is immaterial in the final equation of things. What should matter to us is, what our LORD is thinking about us? When God looks at us as Indian Christians, would He be proud of us as His ambassadors in India? Would He say to us, *”Well done thou good and faithful servant?”* I desire this, with all my heart, and this is my only prayer for myself – “LORD when I stand before you, I want You to be happy seeing me. I want You to say with joy in Your heart, ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant!’ I am weak, and I need help to stand for You. Please help me to be Your true disciple in India, as its citizen.” What about you dear brother and sister? 
– “…the church needs to use all of its power and all of its resources, and all of its energy and forces to convert men and women to Jesus Christ.  And that’s what God has called us to do.  The Scripture speaks not at all about Christians engaging in politics.  It has nothing to say about it.  Other than the fact that we’re to be model citizens, it says nothing. It speaks not at all about Christians engaging in civil change.  That is not our priority.  It doesn’t mean we’re not to be involved as citizens where we can be.  It’s a question of priority.” – John MacArthur

Wishing all you dear Christians in India, A Very Happy Republic Day!
– May the LORD Jesus bless India, its people and its leadership.
– May the LORD bless His children, the  Christians, in India.
– May He protect us from every harm and danger; and may He provide all our needs.
– May the LORD be our Shield and Defender in face of hatred and persecution. 
Even as the LORD looks into it, let us look unto the LORD our God, the Author and the Finisher of our faith, and run the race that is set before us, patiently, faithfully and obediently – Hebrews 12:1-2. Even so, the LORD help us.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Submit to the government and pay your taxes. That’s our duty. Beyond that, you ought to be busy in the kingdom. Right? Busy doing that thing which is eternally valuable. It isn’t [that] the other things are not important, it is that they pale in importance when compared with the work of the kingdom. That’s the issue. So, be subject to the government, and pay your taxes. That’s what Jesus meant when He said “render to Caesar.

– – John MacArthur