In the past ten years, I’ve heard and read far more about Patriotism and Nationalism from Bible-believing Christians, than ever before in my life and ministry. The two are not synonymous and they’re certainly not equal. Nationalism is the dark side of Patriotism. However, what I find jarring in that discussion; what is typically missing altogether, is any expression of Real Citizenship, Biblically speaking.
If you will allow me on this Independence Day, I’d like for us to let God speak into this confusion and division, and guide us all to a better understanding of Real, Christ-honoring citizenship.
WHAT IS PATRIOTISM?
Whether or not you can define patriotism in sentence or two, we all know what it looks like when we see it every 4th of July. Simply put, patriotism is, loving your country. Some would add that it’s a sacrificial love for one’s country.
That begs the question, “Is it wrong for followers of Christ to be patriotic; to love their nation?” No, not as long as your love for your country does take the place of, nor supersede your love for God; and as long as your love for country is its proper place in line with for your love for family, for your church, etc...
For many of you, especially those of you who are older Americans, asking, “Is it wrong to be patriotic...” seems almost ridiculous. "Of course it’s not!" we think. However, I’ve found that abuses of patriotism and the rise of nationalism, both within and without the church, has led some in younger generations to question. I get it. We must always compare these things with Scripture.
We are reminded that God is the One who established nations in Genesis 11. When mankind repeatedly refused to obey His command to be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, when they gathered as one people with one language to build the Tower of Babel in rebellion against God, the Lord confused them with an instantaneous variety of languages, which then scattered them over the face of all the earth. As people began to cluster together with those who spoke like them, nations were formed, which were divided from other nations. Ethnicities and cultures began to take shape generation after generation.
Take a look at Acts 17:24-27 and you'll find that the Apostle Paul is preaching the Gospel to a group of philosophers on Mars Hill in the Greek city of Athens. Seriously, go read this part of his sermon... In the face of Greek and Athenian national and ethnic pride, Paul told them that God made people of all nations of one blood. Greeks were no better or worse than any other nation. We are all descendants of Adam and Eve. God created one race: the human race. And all nations rise and fall, with their ever-changing borders, under the sovereign will of God. He created the nations of man and He oversees them. As Benjamin Franklin observed, "...God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"
In fact, the word nations in Acts 17:26, is the Greek word ethnos, from which we get ethnic and ethnicity. All of this to say that it is not inherently wrong or sinful to simply love your nation and seek its best. Certainly God loves the nations of mankind and seeks to guide them according to His Word and Will. Paul openly expressed a love for his own Jewish nation in Romans 9, though he wasn’t blind to its national sins or their rejection of Jesus.
The Swedish man is right to love Sweden, the Liberian woman is right to seek the best for Liberia, and the American child is right to sing, “God, bless America.” As Christian Attorney, Joshua Hershberger wrote in his blog for The Good Citizen Project, “Christians should practice patriotism as a general love of country that celebrates God’s blessings on our nation (Psalm 33), confesses national sins (Daniel 9) and works for national flourishing.”
https://www.goodcitizen.us/a-faithful-4th-patriotism-nationalism-and-christian-citizenship/
That brings us to...
WHAT IS NATIONALISM?
Nationalism used to be synonymous with patriotism, but it has taken on a distinctively negative meaning in recent years. One definition of Nationalism is “an extreme form of patriotism, especially marked by a feeling of superiority over other countries.”
Believing that your country is the best, is not necessarily a bad thing. However, thinking that EVERYTHING your country does is far better in every way than everything anywhere else is not realistic; and it leads to an arrogant, haughty, prideful spirit. Unchecked, Nationalism can lead to the sins of bigotry and racism. Nationalism quickly becomes idolatry, elevating your love of country over your love of Jesus or even making them equal.
The worst of all nationalism is so-called "Christian Nationalism" that seeks to put politics, politicians, parties, and platforms on equal footing with thus saith the Lord. Beloved, there is no “Jesus Party” in American politics. Neither the Republicans nor Democrats have God’s stamp of approval. God is sovereign and rules over the affairs of nations, but don’t blame God for putting Joe Biden, Donald Trump, or any other official in office - - especially when you and I exercise our wills and our right to vote in a Democratic Republic. God may permit things, God may even give us what we demand to our hurt, but it doesn’t mean that any leader in office has God'ss full endorsement or blessing.
By way of contrast, you could say that a Patriotic spirit led Paul to love and pray for his Jewish nation in Romans 9; whereas Nationalistic spirit kept Peter from wanting to share the Gospel with a Roman man named Cornelius and his people from other nations in Acts 10 - - and God corrected Peter here, and did so again!
A Believer and Patriot who truly loves Jesus and loves his country will not compromise or jeopardize Biblical principles for political gains. A Nationalist will. We must all be on guard that loving our nation never becomes worshipping our nation. With those in mind, we move on to...
WHAT IS CITIZENSHIP?
Your Heavenly Citizenship
God speaks to us directly in the Scriptures about our citizenship. For example, if you will turn to Philippians 3:20, you will find that the King James translation says, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Do you see it?
Here’s the thing: first, the English word conversation has changed over the past 400 years. Everyone today knows that conversation means “two or more people talking with one another.” In 1611, it meant, “the way you live in you daily life; your citizenship lived out in the community.”
Here’s the other thing: the Greek word that the Holy Spirit led Paul to use here is the word polit’-yoo-mah, the same root from which we get the word politics. God’s Word is telling us as born-again Believers that our citizenship is first and foremost in heaven. We may all be citizens of America, but that is secondary to the reality that we are citizens of heaven.
The
Philippian people immediately understood the concept of dual citizenship. They
were citizens of Philippi, but Philippi was also a Roman colony; making them
Roman citizens, too. Being a Roman citizen was of greater value and importance.
It took precedence and their heavenly citizenship took precedence over that.
Dear Citizen of Heaven, you are pilgrims in a foreign land, strangers in a strange place. Like Abraham of old, you are searching for a City which has foundations whose Builder and Maker is God. Never forget that!
Your Earthly Citizenship
God also speaks to us directly about our earthly citizenship. How we represent and honor Him in the nations and kingdoms of humanity. One such place is Romans 13:1-7 - - a passage that has too often been ignored or downright disobeyed by Christians, especially in the last few years.
The context and reality of God’s instructions given here is that Christians were told to submit to the authorities of the Roman Empire and to local governing authority, who were far from being Christ-honoring entities! Just a little knowledge of Roman Emperors will open your eyes to unspeakable immorality and ungodliness; yet we’re called to show honor wherever we can without ever compromising the Gospel.
God has ordained human government as a way to curtail human evil; even with all of its flaws and injustices. Like our ancient church fathers, we are to obey civil authorities unless or until doing so means disobeying God.
When Adolph Hitler was first appointed Chancellor of Germany in January, 1933, most Protestants church leaders rejoiced. Nazi flags were hung in church sanctuaries and hopes were high that Hitler would make Germany great again. “Pastor Siegfried Leffler declared that ‘in the pitch-black night of church history, Hitler became, as it were, the wonderful transparency for our time, the window of our age, through which light fell on the history of Christianity. Through him we were able to see the Savior in the history of the Germans.’ Pastor Julius Leutheuser added that ‘Christ has come to us through Adolf Hitler.’” What seemed like harmless patriotism and good citizenship, opened the door to the horrors of Nationalism in the years that followed. Pastors like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, recognized the direction that Nationalism was headed and refused to compromise the Gospel.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-32/radical-resistance.html
Loving our country as citizens is a bit like loving our family. Sometimes we’re proud and thankful for our family for the great things they do. Other times, as one friend wrote, “family members act like a bunch of knuckleheads and make you think twice about your last name!” (Joshua Hershberger) And then there are those times when family members do things so sinful, so evil that your heart breaks and your eyes are wet with tears. But still, they are family, and you love them in spite of their flaws.
So it is, with my American family. I still love America. I still want to be a good Christian, a good neighbor, and a good citizen in the ways that bring honor to the name of Christ and His Kingdom.
I want to pray for my nation according to 1 Timothy 2:1-4 [making] supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone, 2 for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty, 3 for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The best way to be a good citizen is to be a good Christian; letting your love for Jesus and your love for your neighbor shine in the public square. Seek real & lasting change by giving the Gospel to everyone, everywhere. Of all the needs in the world, people need the Lord most of all. Start there.
WHAT SHOULD YOU AND I DO NOW?
Go, celebrate our national Independence Day as a patriot! Enjoy the cookout with family and friends! Aim the beanbags and throw the baseballs! Eat the hot dogs and the coleslaw! Sing the national anthem, watch the fireworks, and at the beginning and close of the day, Praise the God that hath made, and preserv’d us a nation!
Submit to the authorities. Pray often for them. Ask God to bless all of the good that they do, to keep them safe, and by His hand, turn their hearts from evil to all that is pure and Christ-honoring.
By God’s grace, keep your love of country beneath your love for Him. Shun the sins of nationalism, racism, bigotry, hatred, and callousness toward the poor & needy, and the widow & orphan.
Most of all, be sure that you know Jesus Christ as your own Lord and Savior. Believe that He is the God who loves you; that He died on the cross to set you free from the penalty and power of sin; that He was buried, but rose again from the dead on the third day. If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed! Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof!
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