Should a good Christian be patriotic?

[Greektim]

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?

 

[Revmitchell]

Well then it is best you left.

 

[Zaac]

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?

Nope. I don't think one has anything to do with the other. However a lot of churches have tried to tie the two together.

We have someone right now trying to equate Christianity and right wing.

Jesus has the Father and the Holy Ghost. There ain't room for politics, patriotism, or any of that stuff that breeds idols.

Christian Iranians probably wouldn't be very patriotic because of the atrocities of their stance towards Christians.

 

[Zaac]

And I might add that a lot of the Christians I hear talk about Patriotism aren't so much patriotic as they are hedonistic and concerned about self and their stuff. :laugh:

 

[Greektim]

Well then it is best you left.

Don't worry... I (like Paul) retain my citizenship for diplomatic reasons. I come back frequently.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

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?

Thats interesting that you mention it because I have been considering just that question. Im doing this because I believe that the USA has lost allot of there empathy for those less off than themselves. And I further believe that the church in general has no true passion for great commission work.

Let me ask you something though. Say you lived in NAZI Germany & you saw atrocities happening every day.....only you come from a privileged family with wealth & position in society. Would you stand up to the Nazi's or just let things play out (knowing full well that you might loose all / including your life?)

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Patriotism and faith have nothing to do with each other. The Bible is clear on our relation to secular government it. We are to obey its laws. We are to pay our taxes. And we are to pray for those in authority.

 

[Crabtownboy]

I believe C4K is heading in the right direction. We all should be good citizens. However, Christ and our culture and our politics should never be confused and I believe they often are.

I do not believe an American flag should be in the church. To display the national flag makes that flag part of the sacred architecture of the church and to visitors from other lands it most likely would be offensive. A flag says something about our theology. It is a watering down of Christ's message. To me it turns Christianity from a sacred religion to a civil religion as worse and at best indicates this is true.

Many on the board often respond to a post by saying where is that in scripture. I do not believe there is any place, any verse in scripture that can honestly be interpreted to mean, fly a national flag in church.

There may be churches in Europe where the national flag is displayed. I have never seen any church in Europe, South America or Asia that displayed the national flag.

 

[evenifigoalone]

I see nothing wrong with being patriotic, but I don't see it as being connected to my faith.
I think patriotism is a good thing, but sometimes the definition is misunderstood.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

There may be churches in Europe where the national flag is displayed. I have never seen any church in Europe, South America or Asia that displayed the national flag.

Our church displays the Irish flag this time every year - we share our hired facilities with a Montessori School with all their seasonal decorations

 

[ktn4eg]

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!!

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."

 

[Scarlett O.]

Should a good Christian be patriotic. I say no. It's part of the reason why I left the USA.

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

 

[evenifigoalone]

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

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

[ShagNappy]

As believers, we are not of this world. Aliens. Some would even say illegal aliens because we are not wanted here. My allegiance is with my Lord's Kingdom. I have been a flag waving patriot but now I just don't care.

Contrary to what some will come along and say, I am not anti-American. Rather, I fully believe we are to be about the Lord's work, not about America's work, or Canada's work, etc.

I feel confident in saying that when I stand before God He will care if I shared the Gospel, not whether or not I waved the American flag and stood for the Anthem.

 

[Yeshua1]

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?

can we be citizens of heaven, and yet also have pride in our nation?

To want this nation to live up to the image that her founding fathers started with?

Would say YES, but do NOT take it to mean America is always right.period, nor that we have anyrhing within us that makes us nbetter than others, its just for other than Isreal, we actually tried to buld a society based upon laws and standards of God!

THAT is what has made US great, as we were a people who tried to uphold godly standards, who had a heart to send out missionaries, publish bibles etc

last several decades have seen her through renounce her godly heritage, and become secularized, just as Europe has been now!

 

[Rhys]

Patriotism is a worldly perversion; the Chinese and North Koreans are some of the most patriotic people on earth. A good Christian should instead be a "good citizen" in the land, in accordance with Matthew 22/Mark 12/Luke 20 and Romans 13: not necessarily of the land.

 

[Scarlett O.]

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?

Good gravy, I'm just now really reading the second part of your OP. I was so taken aback by the first part, I guess the second part didn't sink in.

I don't know where you live now, but I have to wonder how many Christian missionaries does your new homeland send out - proportionately, of course.

If you aren't happy because America's Christians don't send out enough international missionaries as you deem fit (I have no clue how many that is for you), it seems to me you should have stayed put and fought to increase that number.

Not run away, and from your new perch, complain about it and encourage the rest of who have stayed to eschew patriotism.

I have no clue what you last sentence even means - you will have to help with that one.

 

[Revmitchell]

I have no clue what you last sentence even means - you will have to help with that one.

Liberals make exaggerated statements like that to demonize being patriotic.

 

[Yeshua1]

Liberals make exaggerated statements like that to demonize being patriotic.

many liberals also believe that even having sovereign nations is wrong, as we should have a central world govt, as we would then cease from wars, poverty, as all would get same from world world wide leadership, Antichrist anyone?

 

[Zaac]

As believers, we are not of this world. Aliens. Some would even say illegal aliens because we are not wanted here. My allegiance is with my Lord's Kingdom. I have been a flag waving patriot but now I just don't care.

Contrary to what some will come along and say, I am not anti-American. Rather, I fully believe we are to be about the Lord's work, not about America's work, or Canada's work, etc.

I feel confident in saying that when I stand before God He will care if I shared the Gospel, not whether or not I waved the American flag and stood for the Anthem.

:thumbsup::applause: