Patriotism: The Sin No One Wants to Notice
Yes - I am thankful that I live in America where we have an abundance of freedom.
Yes - I am concerned and pray for the soldiers who are fighting for America.
But - We have ventured into some dangerous territory with our worship of our country. I think our churches have encouraged this. Which is why most Americans think Christians are republican, gun totin'', country music lovin', 4x4 drivin', flag wavin'' people. To most we are, in a nutshell, Toby Keith. I don't like it.
And - I consider fighting for my country to be idolatry. I will not fight for any cause but that of the Gospel. And the Gospel calls me to be a peace maker, I will not fight.
At church today we had independence day service. This week is VBS so next Sunday is something specials related to VBS, so independence day fell to today. We sang America the Beautiful and had special music that was also patriotic. Then the sermon was from Deuteronomy 28 - "If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth." We are dependent upon God for our liberty, prosperity, and freedom, was the message (3 point sermon - take note preacher wannabes). I felt sick to my stomach. We were not worshiping the almighty God, we were worshipping our selves, and what we have made.
Jesus commanded us to "Make disciples of all the nations." He said that the greatest command is to love the Lord your God, with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. He said the second greatest command is to love your neighbor as your self. So why are we worried about our own freedom? I am thankful to live in a place that allows me the freedom to worship, but that freedom was not born on the backs of early Americans, it was born on a cross long before this land was even discovered. Our freedom does not hinge on our physical surroundings, we are free in our souls because...
God loves us,
Jesus died for us,
And we can have hope in the resurrection!
Our hope does not lie on the well being of this country, or any other earthly thing for that matter. Only our egos do.
posted by Adam Wolfgang @ 10:43 PM
9 Comments
9 Comments:
Adam I have alway enjoyed that you are not afraid to be controversial, and will say anything. Thanks for the words, they were well said
This is a very interesting thought--one i had not entertained until my son-in-law questioned the concept of patriotism on the basis that we are unified as believers no matter what country. One of those thoughts that makes you go "huh."
i grew up with the whole "America--Love It or Leave It" sticker philosophy. (okay, yeh, my mother had one on her car.) i think i understand pride of country, but i also very much understand that yes, pride is a sin. And i also understand that believers aren't country specific, we are a body wherever we are.
i'm still not sure, though, about fighting for country as idolatry--i guess i am glad there are people willing to protect me, as i like my way of life (mostly), i like that i have the freedom to post these thoughts without persecution. What do you see as an answer to protection?
Keep thinking deep thoughts--i enjoy following your blog!
I remember a couple years ago at an Acappella concert in Portland they sang "Proud to Be An American". During the rest of the concert everyone was pretty subdued, sitting with their hands folded. Then they sang that song and everyone stands up, cheers loudly, etc. It made me sick. I kept saying to myself, "Why are they cheering and clapping for a song about where they live, but all these other songs about and TO the person and God who loves and died for them, they sit quiet and stoic?"
The kingdom of God goes beyond national borders. We had a great sermon this sunday about Jonah, and how God has grace and mercy on whom He wants, and it's not up to us to pick and choose. Should Osama bin Laden be prayed for and given grace? God gave grace to the Assyrians when Jonah didn't want to give it.
The part that bothered me most about the sermon was that his second point was we are dependent on god for lasting prosperity. I believe we are dependent on God for everything, at least everuthing worthwhile. As he elaborated on this point he kept saying that if we follow God's commands we will have prosperity. In other words we should obey God because then we'll get stuff. I hate that message. We should obey God because he loves us, made us and asked us to. I don't want my kids to obey me because they want a sticker/cookie/fillintheblank. Why would God want that kind of relationship with us?
I love material things too much and I'd say so do most, if not all the people I know. I don't think that material possessions are really the best blessing that God offers us. If we truly start to obey God fully as he called us to in the sermon yesterday we may be surprised at how little those material things begin to matter to us.
There were a couple of thoughts that I really liked about the sermon. He pointed out that America as a whole is choosing to go away from God's commands and that this could spell the end for America. What is funny about that point was that he made it sound as though it was all of THEM who were against God and that we have been/are fine.
Oh finding a church is so much more difficult than I imagined. I pray that we will be able to find a place to call home. I am really missing acapella worship. I am not against instruments but they seem to get in the way of really worshipping. Or maybe I'm just used to it, who knows?
I'm pretty sure God hasn't promised prosperity the way most people think. In fact, if we are following what Jesus taught, He promised persecution. If we aren't being persecuted by someone, then we're probably doing something wrong.
Remember, it was the religious elite that persecuted Jesus the most harshly. They didn't want to give access to God to everyone.
Wow, great thoughts from a little bit of everywhere!
I feel that our American pride, or in some cases our lack of pride, is a reflection of our self-addictions. We've heard far too many times that we live in the greatest nation on earth, and when that nation doesn't live up to our egotistical expectations of it, we stand up and whine with all of our might.
I am slowly coming to the conclusion that in truth none of it is important. I don't need to stand up in pride or complaint. Rather I can choose, though I don't always choose, to take the example of Christ and give to Ceasar what is Ceasar's and let it be as simple as that.
I'll be honest, I disagree on many levels with what you had to say. The cool thing is that it's ok for us to disagree, it's probably even a good thing.
Anyway, one should be proud of their country unless there is something about their country that brings them shame. With regard to the US there may be cause for shame, but I don't think that was one of your reasons. From early early on God used peoples countries, their family, their people to do his work. It seems as though God saw it as an opportunity for change on a larger scale. Granted, in the NT things changed and the church became God's institution of change, but in no way does that give reason for us to diminish the role of our home. I'm not sure what I'm saying anymore, but I think I started with something in mind...
I know some Marines who could probably raise thier hands when asked if fighting for thier country was idolitry, but other than that I don't think I can jump on board that train either. I mean, seriously, even Jesus was a fighter when he needed to be. Even God ordered war. Sure we are to be peacemakers, but sometimes that comes with a price. I often look at pacifists (I'm not sure if you put yourself into that boat or not) and wonder if they would feel the same way if people weren't willing to fight on thier behalf. Virtually everything they enjoy rides on the backs of another mans blood. Enjoying anything that is a result of fighting then becomes hypocricy doesn't it? And aren't most things in life in some way tied to someone fighting for that freedom or right or ability in the past?
I'm not down with war too much, but I firmly believe that there is some healthy middle ground between worshiping ones country and finding such patriotim as sin.
thats my quick two cents
My point is this: we (Christians) have made our country, and our pride for our country more important than God. Patriotism as we know it places country before our creator. That's all, I see it everyday implicitly and explicitly.
Great comments from everyone. HOWEVER, as an "African American" I am puzzled that there was no reference to slavery and the many injustices done during the civil rights era and yes, even today. It is important to recognize that minority groups which have experienced oppression would find it very difficult to be a "proud American," just ask any Native American or a Jewish person residing in Germany. Personally, I refuse to pledge allegiance to any flag or country because quite frankly, man is inherantly wicked and the same goes for all of the governmental systems of the world.
To the partriot christians: what country is or was actually a christian nation? If you say America I would have to ask during which time and by what basis (keep in mind my previous comments). I agree that patriotism is a sin because Jesus wasn't. In fact, 1 John 2:15 says: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them." Since America and every other country is in the "world" we should not love it.
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