Christian Patriotism
Christian Patriotism
This 4th of July marks the 250th anniversary of our nation.
While many Christians celebrate this holiday with family and friends, many are left questioning if one can celebrate patriotism to country while remaining faithful to Jesus.
My aim in this article is to provide a brief and biblical overview for how our church can participate in this conversation.
While many Christians celebrate this holiday with family and friends, many are left questioning if one can celebrate patriotism to country while remaining faithful to Jesus.
My aim in this article is to provide a brief and biblical overview for how our church can participate in this conversation.
Should Christians who have a heart to see the nations won to the Gospel participate in patriotic celebrations?
A 4 Pillar Framework:
1. The Church Embraces the Gospel to All Nations
From the beginning, God has been clear that His plan for redeeming man has always been to bring salvation to the nations through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 was that “in you all the families on the earth shall be blessed.” The NT, in Galatians 3:8 teaches that this promise was a preaching of the Gospel! Jesus Christ is the fulfillment OT covenants, and through Him God is taking His grand plan of redemption to every nation on earth.
Who then will be in Heaven? When thinking about what Heaven will look like, Christians should be quick to think of the picture given to us in Revelation 7:9. John writes,
“9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
When we all get to heaven, we will get to worship with the universal body of Christ, composed of men, women, and children from every nation, tribe, and language! Therefore, when we consider national patriotism this side of Heaven, we must first embrace the Biblical Gospel, that is designed for all nations.
Who then will be in Heaven? When thinking about what Heaven will look like, Christians should be quick to think of the picture given to us in Revelation 7:9. John writes,
“9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
When we all get to heaven, we will get to worship with the universal body of Christ, composed of men, women, and children from every nation, tribe, and language! Therefore, when we consider national patriotism this side of Heaven, we must first embrace the Biblical Gospel, that is designed for all nations.
2. The Church Observes God’s Provision to Worship
I don’t have to convince you that the United States looks different than most countries around the globe.
And let’s be honest, the USA at large contains more rights, liberties, and freedoms for individuals, families, businesses, and groups than possibly any other place on earth. We are blessed!
A biblical perspective reminds us that all these blessings are provisions from the Lord. Just consider with me a few teachings from the Bible:
While God has not distributed prosperity equally to all nations, He has allowed this nation to experience prosperity abundantly. We benefit from more rights, liberties, and freedoms than any other place on earth!
While the blessings in this country are many, that greatest blessing we experience is the freedom to worship our God. Many Christians around the world currently experience persecution, estrangement, and difficulties due to their faith. Churches in many countries are forced to meet in secret in order to escape evil judgment from their governments. Yet, during the past 250 years in our nation God has allowed men, women, and children to worship Him, live out their convictions publicly, and share the Gospel faithfully without organized persecution. God has certainly bestowed blessings upon this nation. To question this reality, is to misunderstand God Himself.
And let’s be honest, the USA at large contains more rights, liberties, and freedoms for individuals, families, businesses, and groups than possibly any other place on earth. We are blessed!
A biblical perspective reminds us that all these blessings are provisions from the Lord. Just consider with me a few teachings from the Bible:
- God created the earth and everything in it. Nothing that exists does so without having come from Him (Gen. 1:1-31; Col. 1:16).
- All our life-sustaining provisions come from God. We may work and toil this side of Heaven, but our provisions are ultimately gifts from God (Matt. 6:28-30).
- God establishes governments and governing officials for the flourishing of humanity (Rom. 13:1-7).
- God desires governing officials to receive salvation and grant religious liberty to all people (1 Tim. 2:1-8).
- God advances the Gospel and blesses His people through both environments of prosperity and adversity (Ecc. 7:14).
While God has not distributed prosperity equally to all nations, He has allowed this nation to experience prosperity abundantly. We benefit from more rights, liberties, and freedoms than any other place on earth!
While the blessings in this country are many, that greatest blessing we experience is the freedom to worship our God. Many Christians around the world currently experience persecution, estrangement, and difficulties due to their faith. Churches in many countries are forced to meet in secret in order to escape evil judgment from their governments. Yet, during the past 250 years in our nation God has allowed men, women, and children to worship Him, live out their convictions publicly, and share the Gospel faithfully without organized persecution. God has certainly bestowed blessings upon this nation. To question this reality, is to misunderstand God Himself.
3. The Church Gives Thanks to God for His Favor
If we experience divine blessings, and all these blessings come from the graceful hand of the Lord, then it is only right to give God thanksgiving for His works!
In recent years, I have seen many Christians pressured into expressing shame for being an American. But not once does God teach us to feel shame for receiving His blessings! Now we must be careful here to not act or speak pridefully. Again, we are recipients of these blessings, not creators of them. However, Christians should adopt a heart posture of thanksgiving for all God-given provision in their life.
Thus, we worship not what has been given, but from WHO it has been given. It is only appropriate that the Church offers praise & worship to God for the blessings bestowed upon our nation.
In recent years, I have seen many Christians pressured into expressing shame for being an American. But not once does God teach us to feel shame for receiving His blessings! Now we must be careful here to not act or speak pridefully. Again, we are recipients of these blessings, not creators of them. However, Christians should adopt a heart posture of thanksgiving for all God-given provision in their life.
Thus, we worship not what has been given, but from WHO it has been given. It is only appropriate that the Church offers praise & worship to God for the blessings bestowed upon our nation.
4. The Church Prioritizes the Eternal over the Temporary.
“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:16)
Our longing has never been for this world. While this nation may be great today, there will be a day when it exists no longer. Every nation on earth is temporary. Yet the Kingdom of God lasts forever. As much as I hate to say it, I do not believe the American Flag will make it to Heaven.
Let us be encouraged by the words of God in 1 Peter 1:3-5,
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
This is life is temporary. Our inheritance in Christ is eternal.
Our longing has never been for this world. While this nation may be great today, there will be a day when it exists no longer. Every nation on earth is temporary. Yet the Kingdom of God lasts forever. As much as I hate to say it, I do not believe the American Flag will make it to Heaven.
Let us be encouraged by the words of God in 1 Peter 1:3-5,
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
This is life is temporary. Our inheritance in Christ is eternal.
In Summary,
I love being an American! But more than I love being an American, I love being a Christian. I’ve been purchased by the blood of the lamb, and will live in His Kingdom for all eternity.
But in the meantime, I will give thanksgiving to God for allowing me the blessing to grow up in the USA. This weekend I am looking forward to smoking BBQ, shooting guns, and blowing stuff up. As I smell Sulphur in the air, and watch the sky light up with explosions, I will give thanks to God for His provision of this great nation. A provision that points us all to a greater and ultimate provision in His Son, Jesus Christ. As I celebrate 250 years of blessing in this nation, I long for eternity to experience the blessings of the lamb with souls from every tongue, tribe and nation!
Oh come, Lord Jesus quickly!
Happy 4th of July!
- Pastor Tyler
But in the meantime, I will give thanksgiving to God for allowing me the blessing to grow up in the USA. This weekend I am looking forward to smoking BBQ, shooting guns, and blowing stuff up. As I smell Sulphur in the air, and watch the sky light up with explosions, I will give thanks to God for His provision of this great nation. A provision that points us all to a greater and ultimate provision in His Son, Jesus Christ. As I celebrate 250 years of blessing in this nation, I long for eternity to experience the blessings of the lamb with souls from every tongue, tribe and nation!
Oh come, Lord Jesus quickly!
Happy 4th of July!
- Pastor Tyler
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