There are Christians who denounce such patriotism as being a form of idolatry, and they believe it’s something we as Christians should actively reject and avoid.
Then there are other Christians who dovetail the American ideal in with Christianity, and in the extreme there is a form of “Christian Nationalism”. They want to bring America back to being “a Christian nation” and deem non-Christians, (even non-whites!) as virtual “second class citizens”. It must be stated that not all “Christian Nationalism” adheres to such prejudices!
As is so often the case, the truth lies somewhere between the two extremes, and I will share my perspective on all of this, and (hopefully) it will help those Christians who are confused about this issue and not sure what to think about it all.
Here’s a rather shocking statement that the LORD Jesus made (He made many such statements!):
LUKE 14:26-27
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Is the LORD advocating hatred of our family here?? No, not at all; He is simply making it clear what our priorities should be.
Our first love as Christians should always and ever be our GOD, and that love should be so all-consuming and powerful (MATT 22:37), that by comparison our love for everyone else, such as family, would look like hate.
The LORD warned the saints at Ephesus that He would actually remove their witness as a church if they didn’t repent and return to their first love (the LORD Himself; REV 2:4).
Having the LORD as our first priority however does not negate the love, the care, the duties to family. The LORD Jesus Himself, while in the excruciating throes of the cross, looked down to see His mother and John His disciple and said to them:
JOHN 19:26c-27
…"Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
I don’t know about you, but when I’m suffering some intense pain, I can be very concerned for myself, even downright self-centered! Yet here the LORD is, finding the care for His mother as high enough of a priority, to ensure she is looked after once He is gone. The LORD Jesus most certainly had a love for family.
Most Bible Students are familiar with such Greek words as phileo, eros and agape (various renditions conveying the idea of love). A lesser known word is philostorgos, which means “love of family/the familiar”.
By extension this could legitimately apply to “love of nation” in the sense that just as a nuclear family has children of common birth (the children who are siblings), the people of a nation have a common birth (a nationality) in their own country. “I was born an American!” I can say, and in answer, another can say, “So was I!” – we have a common birth and can (and should) express love to our fellow Americans.
Even in the Greek, the word genea used in MATT 24:34 referring to the nation of Israel can mean “family”.
This reinforces our national identity – something that GOD Himself initiated at the birth of nations, determined by people of common language (this occurred at the Tower of Babel; GEN 11:6-9). Had not the LORD done this, a one world order based upon occult practices, esoteric belief systems and demonic influence would have been firmly established.
Something I’ve come to appreciate for the last few decades: the objective of a one world order is born of occult doctrine. Having distinct national borders and identify is GOD’s prevention plan that safeguards us from that kind of order. This is why the Far Left Politicians are all for “a world without borders” and promote multiculturalism as these things erode national identity and bring us closer to globalization.
Love of nation then, as with love of family is a good thing! It only becomes idolatrous when we elevate a favored son or daughter to a place of prominence over the LORD GOD (or a child, so elevating a parent). Or putting one’s nation above GOD.
There are Americans who find themselves warmhearted when they think about “The Flag, Apple Pie and the Bible”. They somehow equate being an American with being a Christian – that their birthright as a Christian is based on the fact that they are an American. And therein lies the danger.
Christian Nationalism could promote a country as being Christian based on holding Judeo-Christian ethics and morality, having a degree of respect for the Bible, and possessing a fervor for national patriotism with a veneer of something that “looks Christian” but at its heart, isn’t.
Where will such people like this stand on Judgment Day?
“But GOD, You have to let me into heaven, after all, I’m an American!”
We must ensure the distinction between love for GOD and love for country. Our love for GOD must derive from our spiritual rebirth:
JOHN 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
JOHN 3:3,5
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (See also 1 PET 1:23; TITUS 3:5; 1 COR 6:19).
Objectors to American Patriotism would point out: “How can we be patriotic towards a nation such as ours that’s given over to such wickedness and depravity as mentioned in ROMANS 1:21-32?”
Answer: We don’t! That is to say, our patriotism doesn’t rest on our current State of the Nation, obviously because to support what’s so prevalent in our society goes directly against the Word of GOD! Rather, we can be patriotic towards what America once stood for (and by GOD’s grace could stand for again?) and do all we can as “salt and light” to call America back to her foundational roots.
Can we succeed at such an endeavor? Jeremiah the prophet failed to bring Israel to repentance, and judgment fell on the nation. But that didn’t keep him from trying, and from being a faithful witness for the LORD (for which I’m confident, he won a great reward for his faithfulness with the LORD!).
We’ll stop here for Part One and pick up on Part Two (and Part 3) at another time. For now, here is a TTUF article to consider:
AT TWILIGHT’S LAST GLEAMING – The Former Then the Greater Beacon of Hope.
Continue this three part series by following this link to Part Two.
James,
ReplyDeleteOnce again, great biblically based commentary! Thank you for all that you do...
You're most kind - as always, Joseph 😊
Delete