Nationalism as Idolatry

I think I'm with John on this. This January in my country's premier city, they just paraded a statue of the Black Nazarene and everybody was stepping over everybody trying to rub their kerchiefs and kiss that statue's hand.
That is idolatry, too.

 

Idolatry doesn't have to be a little statue. It is:

1. Anything you put on par with God
2. Anything you allow to stand between you and God
3. Anything that is unGodly that you include with your walk with God

 

I think the word "nationalism" carries with it different meanings to different people, so whether it's idolitry or not depends. This could be compared to "Gods' soveieignty", to a calvinist this means on thing and to non-calvinists it means another and varying shades in between depending on your theological leanings.

 

It is only arrogant to those who need socialism.

 

I asked for Scripture. You gave none.

 

Definitely!

 

Nationalism, in and of itself, is not idolatry. To love your country is not idolatry. To love God less than country is idolatry.

I love America, but if God were to tell me my "time" was today, I'd accept that.

 

Doesn't that depend upon what loving our country involves?

 

I think I see what you are getting at, If our country askes us to do something that God asks us not to then absolutly we should choose our commitment to God. That is why I say it is about priorities. Our commitment to God is number one, then family then country. I love all three in that order.

 

Well done ABCJim.

 

I cannot recall seeing in my lifetime, ANY professing born-again Christian kneeling and kissing the hand of the President or a member of Congress, or anyone bowing and kissing the steps or worshipping the White House or Capitol Building. Also, I have never been to a Baptist church service, even on Memorial Day, where worshippers are supposed to kiss the American flag or worship it, any elected official, or the Constitution. Your "points" are absurd.

IMO, it is rather arrogant for those who think the "global community" deserves precedence over nationalism to accuse Christian Americans who love their country and are thankful for their country and the freedoms and blessings God has bestowed upon our nation of being idol worshippers. If someone isn't thankful for the freedoms they have in this country and those who have sacrificed for those freedoms and have an ungrateful heart towards God for the blessings He has bestowed on America, perhaps they would rather live in Iraq or China.

To sum it up, here's how I feel about it:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1070322185969436606

 

I must say that I'm surprised at how naive your response is. Is a physical act of worship required to worship something? Of course not. Idolatry is anything that is non-Godly getting in the way of Godliness.

And yes, whether some want to accept that or not, it's the height of arrogance to suggest that God bless us to the exclusion of the rest of his creation- just because we managed to kill more than the other guy.

 

Oh, come now, you seem to have your own little definition of idolatry which you refuse to prove from Scripture, yet we are supposed to accept it. You claim to be a Baptist or you wouldn't be posting here. What happened to the Baptist distinctive, "The Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice"?

 

"My own little definition?"

The only online Bible dictionary I can find is Easton's, and they point to this NT verse to sum it up:

What in the world does being a Baptist have to do with this discussion?

 

No one can debate with your type of circular reasoning. If you hate the USA so much, move to a nation that is better than this one. You pick it. There are probably some people on here who'll chip in to buy your one-way ticket. I know I will.

 

:laugh: You're silly.

I'll refrain from mischaracterizing your position as you have done mine. I personally find the practice to be dishonest.

 

Baptists live by the Scripture, but you were not. You still are not. The verse you quoted does not mention idolatry.

You are not even living by Easton. He doesn't define idolatry as you do. Here is his definition (without the following explanation):

"Idolatry: image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Ro 1:21-25: men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (Ro 1:28).

The forms of idolatry are, (1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc.

(2.) Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature.

(3.) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors, or of heroes. "

 

Citizen - If you live near a VA Hospital, you should visit the men hospitalized there and share your point of view. I am very familiar with the men at the local VA Hospital here........I'd doubt they let you stay for long.

 

To further clarify, Easton mentioned Matt. 6:24 that Citizen quotes in this way at the end of his explanation: "In the New Testament the term idolatry is used to designate covetousness (Mt 6:24; Lu 16:13; Col 3:5; Eph 5:5)."

Citizen used Easton to buttress his position by mentioning one single verse Easton quoted--without giving Easton's definition (thus making it seem that Easton defined idolatry his way) or the context in which Easton quoted it, which is that covetousness can be idolatry.

Try again, Citizen. Do you have any Scripture at all that promotes your position?