I’ve entered foreign countries where my American passport elicited hardly a sniff. A glance, a stamp, and welcome to our country. Other nations, however, take a more thorough approach. Mostly the attitude depends on the current political climate between the country I’m entering and the United States. Communist borders always bring suspicious glares.

Despite a few instances, my American passport opens doors around the world. Citizenship carries benefits, which is why so many people apply every year. It pays to belong.

The apostle Paul appealed to his citizenship often. In Jerusalem, as Roman soldiers stretched him out in order to flog him, Paul brought up his citizenship. After questioning, the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains. Paul was untied from the flogging post and released the next day.

Paul never praised or supported the brutality of Roman rule, but Paul never shied away from using the benefits of his status. While never preaching directly against the secular rule of Rome, Paul’s message of the coming King and the undivided loyalty Jesus required eventually unnerved those in power.

As a result the emperor took off Paul’s head, despite his citizenship. But 300 years later another emperor embraced the message Paul proclaimed and converted the empire to the faith. Whether he did so out of pure motives or not, the influence of the message of Jesus permeated Rome and beyond.

I carry my passport and use it whenever I travel. It holds gravitas and value. But it fades in comparison to the power inherent in the gospel. When citizenship opened doors Paul played that card, but always to introduce new people to Jesus, the ultimate guard over the borders of life and death.

Acts 22 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Jeremy Dorrough