Nationalism as Idolatry

No, I am asking you if you love Jesus must you hate your country. Is that so? and do you?

 

Well I am curious how you have determined what is in the heart of "to many conservative professing christians". As far as what Jesus did you will find it hard to actually come up with a context for what Jesus did in relation to Nationalism. The Jews were in bondage to Rome and did not have their own country. It appears you have just thrown waht Jesus did into the mix to justify your point. But clearly there is not context with regards to Jesus in your point.

 

So by that, would we be correct in assuming you would not join the US military and be willing to die for your country? No "let freedom ring?" No "pledge allegiance to the flag and the United States of America?"

 

I served for 17 years before being medically retired..............absolutely no regrets. I knew what my priorities were........never questioned them.......the Kingdom of God was far greater. As a young man I felt that I would contribute at least three years of my life in service as I have enjoyed many freedoms that citizens of many other nations can only dream of.........I felt blessed in that respect. I really don't know why I made a career out of the Army......parts of it I liked......parts of it I loathed..........overall it was a job......the way I looked at it anyway. No regrets here whatsoever.......I lost some good friends. Would I do it again? I don't know - I just know I don't have any regrets. :smilewinkgrin:

 

Good question?

Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
1 Kings 10:9

Israel Beloved of God

2 “ I have loved you,” says the LORD. .............
Malachi 1:2

 

So you can not participate in one thing because you love another more. So you exclude everything from your life except God. Do you love your children, DO you love God more? Then you should refrain from showing love to your children, useing your logic.

 

I think that this is one of those issues where if you go to far to EITHER side then you are wrong.

You are wrong if you consider being American and Christian the same thing, if you think that America has a pass from God due to...... well just being American. You are wrong if you think the stars and stripes are posted behind Gods throne.

You are equally wrong if you think that just becasue you love God the most and put him as number one that you have to abandon your love for country and family.

It is all about priority. I love my God, my family and my country. IN that order.

 

There is no need to participate. There is also absolutly no reason not to. So that leaves us with personal preference.

 

But you do plenty of other things that are not scriptural practice. You read Stephen King books. Can you defend that practice with scripture?

 

My interpretation of the scripture is that it's talking about who is master over your life and that by hate it means put aside that other master. Mixing patriotism and Christianity is not acceptable because it does not involve putting aside the other master (our country). I personally think that in light of other scripture we are called to be good citizens. Our feelings for America must not be on the same level as our committment to Jesus.

 

Of course they can not be on the same level of committment. Obviously our love for and committment to Jesus is much higher. But that does not mean that we also can not love our country, does it?

 

Christians should love America?

The Founding Fathers started a war . . . and they would not like anyone changing what they started . . . Believing that they were even remotely Christian is just flat out modern and liberal rhetoric.

Christians loving America. Bah Humbug! They should hate America and move to Iraq.

Mostly kidding. But, it is sad that we should even have a discussion about the merit of a Christian loving America.

IMHO.

 

You have quoted him on your signiture.

 

I was just thinking about that the other day. It seems there are a lot of America-worshipers in the churches today and yes, some of them even post here.

Worshipers of their Constitutional rights, the Constitution, the flag, etc. Let's think about that before we so arrogantly ask God to bless just America.

 

As I recall, the OP was comparing nationalism with idolatry, but virtually no one has followed that theme, and no one has given Biblical proof that nationalism is ergo idolatry.

 

But you see, I live with true idolatry every day of my life. I see Japanese bowing down to Buddha, their ancestors, Shinto idols, nature, etc. What you are calling worship is not Biblical at all--or if you think it is, please give Scripture.