Rick Philips has some nice thoughts about Christians and patriotism. We should always remember our citizenship is in heaven first and foremost. Philips shares some notions that Christians must reject:
1. Christians must reject a longing for national preeminence and power. How well I remember the fiery passion of my youth, determined that America would be first in all things. As a Christian, I no longer crave earthly glory for my nation, but rather God’s blessing . As a Christian I embrace the principle of Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”
2. Christians do not accept the statement: “My Nation, Right or Wrong.” A disciple of Christ must be loyal to God and his commands, even if it means speaking against his or her nation. As a Christian, I am horrified by sins widely embraced in America and consider it my duty to oppose in lawful ways the wide range of evil that increasingly dominates our culture. As a servant of Christ I am appalled both by the empty materialistic idolatry that often attaches itself to the political right and even more so by the pagan evil espoused by the political left. In any case, my desire is for our political leaders to appeal to God’s Word as our founding fathers so often did.
3. Christians are not nationalists who despise rival nations. As a believer in Jesus, I look on Christians of all races, tongues, and nations as brothers in Christ, and I consider non-Christians of all nations as fellow sinners in need of my loving witness to the gospel. My chief desire as a believer is that stated in Psalm 67:3, “O God, let all the peoples praise you!”
