In my opinion, many of my older readers may never need this message; however, I am afraid that many of our children and grandchildren will. So, since they are unlikely to read what I have written, perhaps it is something you might share with them.
Have you ever wondered how the Christians in Germany became so foolish as to accept Adolph Hitler? Why did the Christians in Italy accept Mussolini? I understand as the tyranny progressed many accepted these wicked men out of fear, but why did they embrace these tyrants in the beginning? Perhaps the answer lies in patriotism that exceeded its proper boundaries. Misplaced patriotism is dangerous because it conditions us to cheerfully accept the unacceptable. It is proper to love our country, but we must have the right kind of love.
Most churches I have visited have an American flag somewhere on the premises. It may be in the auditorium, or it may be in the lobby or on a flagpole in the parking lot. I know some churches may not have a flag displayed, but most do. I think that is a good thing.
Patriots also stand for the National Anthem and from childhood we have learned the Pledge of Allegiance. Most church hymnals I’ve seen have several patriotic hymns printed in them. Oh, how it stirs our souls to sing about God’s blessings upon our great land. I love these songs, and singing them stirs our hearts. Christianity and being a patriot go together, just like Satan and being a traitor would go together. Christians arepatriots, and even with all her faults, Christians love America; the land of the free and the home of the brave.
When we see someone burn a flag, it makes our blood boil. When we see attacks upon our nation, it shakes us to the core. It is not just a fear of attack, it is the emotion of dealing with something you love being hurt. You want to stop the hurt, and you are willing to put your life on the line to do it. I am proud to be an American; somedays prouder than others, but still proud. Patriotism and Christianity just seem to be a natural fit; but is it?
Consider this, do you think underground churches in North Korea have a North Korean flag behind the pulpit? Do they recite a pledge of loyalty and sing songs of praise to that nation? We think patriotism is a good thing, but is it always a good thing? Does it mean the same thing to North Korean Christians that it does to us? If patriotism is right, are they wrong? How about in Iran? Do they have a flag in their persecuted churches? Do you suppose the early church in Jerusalem had a Roman flag behind the pulpit? What did patriotism mean to them?
What kind of love are we supposed to have for our country? How deep should it go? Actually, the Bible does not instruct us to love our country. We are commanded to honor those in authority and to be good citizens and neighbors, but God does not tell us that loving our country and being a good Christian always go hand in hand. It is certainly acceptable to love our country, but how deepshould that love go? Is it more than a civic duty? Is it also a Christian duty? What kind of love should it be? Is it an unconditional love? Let’s remind ourselves of a couple of important points:
First, we are commanded to pay taxes and give honor to rulers. Scriptures are clear in that to the extent possible we are to honor those in authority. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God” Romans 13:1.Part of this honor goes with the responsibility of paying taxes. “For this cause pay ye tribute also” Romans 13:6.“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”Mark 12:17.
Now, all of this doesn’t have as much to do with politics as with the general principle that Christians are to show honor and respect to those in positions of authority. This is common theme in the New Testament. To me, this seems to be unconditional in nature. We may not honor their actions, but we must honor their office. We may not agree with how they spend our taxes. After all, tax money was used to buy the cross and the nails and to pay the Roman soldier that drove those nails in our Saviour, but we are still commanded to pay them. I don’t like that my tax money may be spent on abortions, but I still must pay them. Not just for fear of jail, but because God says so. Again, this seems to be an unconditional requirement.
Second, we are commanded to place ourselves under the government’s authority, “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God” Romans 13:2. The relationship between rulers and citizens seems clear in Romans. The ruler is “God’s minister for your good”Romans 13:4.However, we know this relationship is conditional because we are also told that if government’s command goes against God’s command, we are to follow God. “Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men”Acts 5:29. “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ”Galatians 1:10. This command seems to be conditional!
Third, we are to pray for our leaders. We need not agree with them. But it is clearly sin to slander them, even if we do so in the name of patriotism. It is our charge to honor them in our language, as we also commit to pray for them. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;I Timothy 2:1-3.We pray for wisdom, insight, and courage as they guide the nation “for our good.”Because if our country prospers under their leadership, we will prosper also. Again, this seems to be unconditionalin nature.
Fourth, it is also appropriate to want the best for your country, to want to see it blessed.When the prophet Jeremiah was writing, the Israelites had been forcibly removed from Jerusalem and taken as hostages to Babylon by enemy soldiers. Nevertheless, God encouraged the people to makethemselves at home. “Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished” Jeremiah29:5-6. Not only should they improve themselves, but they should also “seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace” Jeremiah 29:7.
In other words, it is the duty of the people of God to seek stability, peace, and prosperity wherever they go. This includes supporting the nation in which we live; although, this must always be balanced by the awareness that we are aliens and strangers in this land. This command seems to be unconditionalin nature.
So, patriotism, at a minimum, denotes love, devotion, and a commitment to protect one’s country. But, is this always appropriate for all citizens in all countries at all times? What makes sense in America may not make a lot of sense in China. What makes sense in Japan today may not have made sense in 1940. What makes sense in America today may not make sense 20 years from now. If patriotism involves love, what kind of love is it? As you know there are several words translated love in the New Testament. Let’s review to find out what kind of love we are to have for our country.
“Agape”,we all know about that Greek word. That’s the unconditional love we are to have for God, our spouse, our family, our Christian brothers and sisters, and even our enemies. It is the noblest word for love in the Greek language. I don’t think that is the kind of love we are to have for our nation.
“Philia”(Philia),that’s another Greek word translated love in the Bible. It denotes a fondness for something. It is a conditional love. It is the way you love ice cream or fresh baked cookies. This love is conditional, but I don’t think this is the kind of love we are to have for our country either.
“Eros”,that is the sensuous erotic kind of love. It is more of a fleshly love. Obviously, this word has nothing to do with patriotism. I am running out of words. Fortunately, there is one more.
“Storge” (Storgē),is a seldom used Greek word and it refers to being appreciative of something. Being comfortable with something that you have found favor in. Others may not have a “storge” love for the things you have a storge love for, and your love is conditional—it can change—and likely will change in intensity over the years. It may even go away. It is a quiet, abiding feeling within a man that rests on something close to him and that he feels good about. The word is not popular in the Bible, but often used in society. Actually, this is the most common type of love that we see today.
This is the kind of love you might have for your favorite sweater. It has holes in the elbows and two buttons are missing. You would not think of wearing it to church, but around the house on a cool day you always go for it; it’s comfortable and you love it! You find favor and appreciation in something that others may not be able to see; like an old pair of shoes. One day your feelings may change, but as of right now it is the object of your love.
You can have this kind of affection for a house, a tree, a pet, a flower pot, a city, a culture, or a country; and you have this love because it fits you; it makes you comfortable. That’s storge.
This form of love is not static. The intensity of the love I have for America is always changing, because America is always changing. Remember, this love is not unconditional. The America today is not the America of the 1950s, which means that there is a sense of conflict in my mind between what America was, what America is, and what America is becoming. Germany is far easier to love today than it was in the 1940’s. Korea is harder to love. That’s why it is called “storge”love. Since the kind of love we are to have for our country is constantly changing, it is dangerous to link patriotism and Christianity too close together.
First,it can lead us to believe that the essence of being a good Christian is being a good citizen. The focus of our discipleship then becomes not spiritual but national, and we begin to view the nation as God’s primary way of accomplishing His goals. So my main ministry is helping get America on the right track because that is the only way God can do His work. This is not true. I desire revival in America as much as anyone, but I have little faith that government is going to bring it about.
Second,we can go to the other extreme and rather than believing the nation is God’s primary partner, the nation becomes God’s primary enemy. With all the corruption and anti-Christian sentiment in America today, it is easy to fall into this trap. This is when we begin to acquate being a good Christian with working against the nation because we believe that God can only accomplish His goals through social reform. This is not true either!
We are pilgrims. We are exiles, refugees in a very anti-Christian culture. The Bible says, “Our citizenship is in heaven.” We are citizens of heaven. We are sojourners and pilgrims on the earth. So, whatever form the intensity of your patriotism takes, let it be a deep sense that we are more closely bound to God, to His kingdom, to His word, to His church, to His people regardless of their nationality, than we are to our closest unbelieving fellow citizen or family member right here in America. To miss this means our patriotism is drifting over into idolatry.
God is our King, not man. His kingdom is our final allegiance, but under that banner it is right to be thankful that God gave us our land. God gave me my citizenship as an American. I didn’t deserve to be born here. It wasn’t my choice. I don’t deserve this place any more than I deserve any other common or special grace. It is right to be thankful that people paid a high price to preserve our land with its freedoms and its distinctives and blessings.
Could we one day decide it is best to remove the flag from our church and cease to be patriots as we understand the word today? Yes, although it saddens me to say it, that day may come. Patriotism is conditional. When this flag no longer stands for what is right, when this flag becomes a lie, when this flag represents a hatred for God and for what is right; it will have no place in the church. That is exactly what many patriot preachers determined about the British flag during the American Revolution.
Should a Christian be patriotic? Within reason, yes. At the same time, a Christian’s ultimate faith, love, and obedience are to be reserved for God and His kingdom alone.
God bless America, land that I love.
Dr. Worthington has been in the ministry over forty years and serves as President of Pathway Ministries.