The True Patriotism of a Christian
True Patriotism is not wanting what a man wants for your country, or even what you yourself think is right, but what God wills. In all things, God’s ultimate will is accomplished. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mat 6:10)
True Patriotism is not selfish pride and arrogance in our country's accomplishments. As Christians, we are to walk not in strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Php 2:3)
True Patriotism is the heart of intercession. We are to be watchmen intercessors over our nation. Paul said in Colossians 4, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving”.
True Patriotism is not the desire to turn our governments into "Christian", but our "heart's desire" should be that all men may be saved. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
(Col 1:27-29)
True Patriotism is seeing our present governments, no matter how evil, as appointed by God as ministers on His behalf, and submitting to them. (Romans 13:4)
We ought to obey God rather than men. not to rebel against our God-given authorities. We are to “subject to the governing authorities”. But what if the government is unjust and abuses its rights? We are still to recognize them as God-appointed. We are to give them the respect they deserve. They will be held accountable to God, but we must first respect them, and obey them, and “render therefore to all their due” (Romans 13:7)
Peter and the other apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” We obey God by submitting to our governing authorities, because that is what God commands us to do.
Men may riot, men may demonstrate, men may protest, but we as Christians know that rebellion against authorities is sin. All rebellion is sin. By rebelling against authorities we rebel against God, because it is God who put those authorities over us.
Always remember that God is our ultimate authority and obey God rather than men. In all things submit to Christ, the head of all the church (Col 1:18), but still respecting our earthly governments as God commanded. When our authorities ask us to sin, and in that so rebel against God, we are to respectfully obey God rather than men. We do not protest or rebel, but we obey God and live through the consequences of that, always remembering that
… We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
(Rom 5:3-5)
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
(1Pe 3:17)
We must all ultimately realize that our walk on earth is only temporal, and we are all citizens of the spiritual Israel, the bud grafted in (Romans 11) which is now in the spiritual realm, but will soon be in the physical as well. (During the millennium, after the tribulation where Jesus comes back to reign)
(1Ch 29:15)For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1Ti 2:1-2)
Now, as for the issue for our rights – what rights? Our old man, our sinful nature, who died with Christ , is the one who owns these rights. Our new man, raised with Christ, not being of this world but being of the Kingdom of God, does not cling to earthly temporal rights of citizens of this earth, but rather clings to mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col 1:27b)
We are to put Christ as the preeminence in our lives and follow in His truths.
We are to submit to governing authorities, and whoever else God puts over us as an “umbrella” of authority (parents, employers, etc) BUT knowing that Christ is the ultimate authority and in all we do we are accountable to God.
Col 3:1
(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
(2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
(4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
(5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
(6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
(7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
(8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
(9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
(10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
(11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
(12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
(14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
(15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
(18) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
(19) Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
(20) Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
(21) Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
(22) Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
(23) And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
(24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
(25) But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
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