Question: Is patriotism biblical? How does "rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air" connect to a gospel message that is for all nations? (Thanks for the question! Let's see what people have to say!)My Response: There are some great comments on the comment page! Thanks for participating!
The Bible does talk about the relationship of the believer with the government. We are to obey, pray for and honor those that are in authority. That can be done in any cultural context, understanding that obeying government is secondary to our obedience to the Word of God (discussed in an earlier post).
Scripture does not seem to address patriotism directly. However, giving honor to whom honor is due seems to provide latitude for a patriotic position toward the good that government does. I believe it is incumbent upon believers to be good citizens and to celebrate those good things. Christian faith played a vital role in the formation of this Union. If we don't support and celebrate that, no one else will.
I do think we need to guard against a couple of excesses. First, the "my country right or wrong," philosophy is not a biblical position in any context. Christians cannot stand idly by and seem to support positions that are clearly unbiblical. The US is not right simply because it is the US. We need to oppose the unfruitful works of darkness, wherever they are active.
Secondly, the message of the church is not one of patriotism but of the Cross. We must be careful that we don't communicate a message that you must be a patriot of the US in order to go to heaven. The Gospel is to be proclaimed to all nations. We must hold up the message of Christ without linking that to loving the USA.
I am glad I am an American, but you don't have to love America to go to heaven. You only need to love Jesus. In our expressions of patriotism, we must never blur those lines!
well Jesus did say give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to submit to authority. Patriotism in my book is an act of showing your allegiance to your country. The fanfare ie rockets and fireworks encourages some kind of familial kinship amongst the patriots and is a way to establish a bond with the people God has placed right next to you.
ReplyDeletePatriotism: def. (One Look dictionary search): Love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it.
ReplyDeleteHistory suggests that mankind has demonstrated patriotism from early times, and the history of Israel has it's own litany of examples. Their are many reasons for patriotism, among them: self-preservation, property and family protection, and aggression for reasons of greed (plundering), and in the case of Israel, devotion to God's intent and purpose (although not always rightly done).
There are other, non-violent types of patriotism, of course, often involving speech, writing, and other forms of moral support. It's a matter of heart.
Patriotism can be godly or otherwise, but it seems to run through the fabric of mankind's society.
Now we, as Christians have a higher calling that the world does not understand. We are citizens of the Kingdom above, not of this world, although we live for a time on this earth and have an earthly citizenship as well.
So, while conducting ourselves in this world worthily, as servants of Christ, we happen to act as patriots, is that biblical? Probably so.
We see examples of patriotism all throughout scripture both the OT & NT. Even Jesus showed patriotism. Patriotism means being loyal to the people group to which you belong even to the point of martyrdom. We can be loyal to the US and can give our life for our nation and still be Christian. There is a huge difference between patriotism and what could be called idol worship.
ReplyDeleteWe see in scripture that the restructured world system after we have been raptured will require not only allegiance, but also worship of the leader and the government. God used the old Roman Empire and Nero as the example of a government that requires worship of the leader in the Revelation 13.
Our patriotism must not exclude others from hearing the Gospel or discriminate between different Christians as one being more important than another. Paul challenges Peter on this in Galatians 2. We have to remember that in Christ we are all equal. Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians 12 in his discorse on spiritual gifts for the corporate body of Christ.
So I say celebrate our liberty in the USA, but remember the One who gives us this liberty and ultimate freedom - Christ. What does our Dec. of Ind. say "...endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Apply this to our walk with Christ endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life (ABUNDANT LIFE), Liberty (WHERE THE SPIRIT IS THERE IS FREEDOM) and the pursuit of Happiness (JOY OF THE LORD).