The Israelites were a minority in Babylon for 70 years. We catch a glimpse of God’s vision for citizenship by looking at how He instructed them to live…

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper'” (Jeremiah 29:4-7).

This passage tells us a lot about the specifics of good citizenship. Here are four of the most obvious principles. No doubt you can think of others.

1. Build houses and settle down.
2. Work for a living.
3. Raise families and increase in number.
4. Seek the peace and prosperity of the city where you live.

So why did God give these instructions? The answer is in the last verse: because if the land prospers, so will you.

Of the following four stances toward our communities, which do you think is our best response to God’s vision for citizenship?

-To withdraw
-To embrace
-To overthrow
-To engage

Until every church disciples every man…

Patrick Morley, PhD
Founder and Chairman, Man in the Mirror