:thumbsup::applause:
NOT waving the flag, but God will also want to know why so many of His own adopted pro abortion/gay rights, kept voting in bad anb immoral persons into public offices!
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:thumbsup::applause:
That was your prerogative.
I love being an American. I’m grateful to God that I was born and live here.
I freely admit that we are not God’s chosen people nor are we the “John Wayne” to the rest of the world’s bad guys.
However, being patriotic and showing gratitude to God and to the people who forged my country and the men and women who protect it today (home and abroad) moves me. I can’t sing any patriotic song without being moved to tears and choking a little.
Every morning at my school we say the Pledge of Allegiance and I don’t play around at that time. I demand that every student put his hand over his heart and say the words. I don’t demand a whole lot from my students as far as not taking their viewpoint into consideration – but showing respect during the Pledge of Allegiance is one of those times when the demand is warranted.
In my essay writing class, I have used many patriotic themes as writing prompts: the Pledge of Allegiance, the Preamble, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, Patrick Henry’s The War Inevitable, the lyrics to America, the Beautiful and more. It’s important for students to know WHY we say the Pledge and what it means.
We are commanded in the bible to give honor to those in authority and pray for them.
We are a flawed nation and a nation diving headfirst into a pit of iniquity and rebellion against God.
I say that’s the best time to BE patriotic – to remember how God has blessed us in the past and used us in the past and to renew our relationship as a nation WITH him. God can restore American to the right relationship with him.
I know that there are a myriad number of people in our country who hate our country – and some leave and live elsewhere. I say more power to them.
As for me, I won't apologize for being an American. Instead, I'll cheer on the good, work to fix the bad, and help raise the generation coming up to live in gratitude to God for our nation and repentance to God for our nation's sins.
I’ll choose to stay here and wave my flag, raise my choking singing voice, and pray fervently for my leaders – be they Godly or not. I was born here – God entrusted a very small part of this nation TO me.
I take that seriously.
“Every good citizen makes his country’s honor his own, and cherishes it not only as precious but as sacred. He is willing to risk his life in its defense and its conscious that he gains protection while he gives it.”
~Andrew Jackson
What say you?
I say no. It's part of the reason why I left the USA.
I wonder too, if patriotism is partly to blame for why the USA is not sending out as many missionaries. And by missionaries, I simply mean Christians who submit to Jesus as Lord and take the great commission seriously to reach every tribe, tongue, and nation w/ the gospel.
If God is so star-spangled about the USA, then why leave? After all, it was a punishment when Israel left the Promised Land, right?
Right on!FWIW, I don't see anything inherently evil in having a person be both patriotic and (as the OP put it, "a good Christian.")
The problem arises when a person puts way too much importance on being "patriotic" rather than being "a 'good' Christian."
I believe that most of us who post here in "BB Land" appreciate the freedoms that we enjoy -- freedoms that came at a great cost, not only to the brave men and women who sacrificed their own lives in service to our nation, but also (and MORE IMPORTANTLY!!) to our Crucified and Risen Savior!!
These Scriptures are relevant as to how we should relate to our government. You're right on target. However, there are other Scriptures that apply even more directly. I'll add them in another post.Since we as mortals have to live out our lives here on this earth, we are often confronted with the challenge(s) of dealing with a set of conflicting priorities: How much loyalty should we ascribe to, as the Apostle Paul put it in Romans 13, "...the powers that be ...." as contrasted to that of what should be, as Christ put it in Revelation 2:4, ".... our first love ...."
For "Yours Truly" (and I'm quite certain for the rest of us here in "BB Land"), it's a daily challenge for all of us to be able to maintain the high standards that Joshua (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) set for all us that's found in the last part of Joshua 24:15 -- ".... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Oh, man. Is God calling me there? "Lord, I'm listening...."Hey John,
We can get root beer here now (if we are willing to pay for it)
Once you've lived overseas for a few decades like you and I have, I think Heaven becomes closer and America farther! Every furlough the USA looks more and more debauched. Japan is more socially conservative in many ways than "Christian" America!As usual your post is balanced and clear. I do miss yet States at times, but have to say I really like my life here as well. It's a different land with different ways, but God is the same here as there.
I believe the blood of those babies cries out to God, and the recent extreme weather being experienced there is only the beginning.This is a hard issue. I have to wonder about loving and being proud of a country that has allowed for the murder of some 50 million of its children.
Does all the good America done outweigh that?
This is a hard issue. I have to wonder about loving and being proud of a country that has allowed for the murder of some 50 million of its children.
Does all the good America done outweigh that?
Oh, man. Is God calling me there? "Lord, I'm listening...."
Once you've lived overseas for a few decades like you and I have, I think Heaven becomes closer and America farther! Every furlough the USA looks more and more debauched. Japan is more socially conservative in many ways than "Christian" America!
What say you?
I say no. It's part of the reason why I left the USA.
I wonder too, if patriotism is partly to blame for why the USA is not sending out as many missionaries. And by missionaries, I simply mean Christians who submit to Jesus as Lord and take the great commission seriously to reach every tribe, tongue, and nation w/ the gospel.
If God is so star-spangled about the USA, then why leave? After all, it was a punishment when Israel left the Promised Land, right?
That was your prerogative.
I love being an American. I’m grateful to God that I was born and live here.
I freely admit that we are not God’s chosen people nor are we the “John Wayne” to the rest of the world’s bad guys.
However, being patriotic and showing gratitude to God and to the people who forged my country and the men and women who protect it today (home and abroad) moves me. I can’t sing any patriotic song without being moved to tears and choking a little.
Every morning at my school we say the Pledge of Allegiance and I don’t play around at that time. I demand that every student put his hand over his heart and say the words. I don’t demand a whole lot from my students as far as not taking their viewpoint into consideration – but showing respect during the Pledge of Allegiance is one of those times when the demand is warranted.
In my essay writing class, I have used many patriotic themes as writing prompts: the Pledge of Allegiance, the Preamble, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, Patrick Henry’s The War Inevitable, the lyrics to America, the Beautiful and more. It’s important for students to know WHY we say the Pledge and what it means.
We are commanded in the bible to give honor to those in authority and pray for them.
We are a flawed nation and a nation diving headfirst into a pit of iniquity and rebellion against God.
I say that’s the best time to BE patriotic – to remember how God has blessed us in the past and used us in the past and to renew our relationship as a nation WITH him. God can restore American to the right relationship with him.
I know that there are a myriad number of people in our country who hate our country – and some leave and live elsewhere. I say more power to them.
As for me, I won't apologize for being an American. Instead, I'll cheer on the good, work to fix the bad, and help raise the generation coming up to live in gratitude to God for our nation and repentance to God for our nation's sins.
I’ll choose to stay here and wave my flag, raise my choking singing voice, and pray fervently for my leaders – be they Godly or not. I was born here – God entrusted a very small part of this nation TO me.
I take that seriously.
“Every good citizen makes his country’s honor his own, and cherishes it not only as precious but as sacred. He is willing to risk his life in its defense and its conscious that he gains protection while he gives it.”
~Andrew Jackson
Statements like this show you have no idea what it means to be patriotic.
Surely you don't contend that killing babies is the same as those things? Shouldn't Americans feel guilty about 50 million dead children?
Surely you don't contend that killing babies is the same as those things? Shouldn't Americans feel guilty about 50 million dead children?
They should and those who continue to support the "party of death", the democrat party, are guilty of this American Holocaust! That goes double for those professing Christians on this BB who support the "party of death", Crabtownboy being the most vocal!.