Theological Foundations for Human Flourishing: Citizenship
The following is a summary of Dr. David Koyzis’ sermon.
In an age marked by political disillusionment, rising polarization, and a growing sense that faith and public life must be kept separate, many Christians—especially younger generations—are unsure how their spiritual identity should shape their civic engagement. Dr. Koyzis' message speaks directly into this tension. Drawing from Scripture, church history, and personal experience, he affirms that political life is not beyond the reach of Christian discipleship. Instead of retreating from civic responsibilities or idolizing political systems, believers are called to live as dual citizens—active participants in earthly societies whose ultimate allegiance is to the eternal city of God. This perspective restores purpose, balance, and hope to Christian political engagement.
In this rich theological reflection, Dr. Koyzis begins with the foundational truth of Genesis 1:26: humanity is created in the image of God and commissioned to steward creation. This original calling, he notes, provides the groundwork for understanding citizenship not as a secondary or secular concern but as a dimension of our divinely given vocation. Our public and political lives are part of the world God has entrusted to us.
Dr. Koyzis draws on his own upbringing in a conservative Presbyterian church near Chicago, where political engagement was not dismissed but quietly affirmed through historic confessions like the Westminster Confession of Faith. These documents emphasize the Christian’s legitimacy in holding political office and the magistrate’s responsibility to uphold justice, piety, and peace.
Turning to Romans 13, he reflects on Paul’s assertion that governing authorities are instituted by God and serve as His instruments—even when wielding coercive power. Paul himself, as both a Jew and Roman citizen, understood and utilized his dual identity, living faithfully within both the Roman Empire and the Kingdom of God.
Personal history also shapes Dr. Koyzis' perspective. The division of Cyprus, his father’s homeland, in 1974, and seismic global events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11, reveal the real-world consequences of political dynamics and the interconnectedness of global affairs—even for those seemingly far removed.
Drawing on Augustine’s City of God, Dr. Koyzis reminds us that Christians live in the tension between the “earthly city” and the “eternal city.” Our civic duties, though temporal, are never trivial. Instead, they find their deepest meaning in the light of our heavenly citizenship. This “eschatological hope” allows us to participate in public life with wisdom, humility, and confidence—aware that while kingdoms rise and fall, God’s Kingdom endures forever.