Patriotism
I enjoy reading biographies. Not long ago I read one that had been on my reading list for a long time: My Grandfather’s Son: A Memoir, by Clarence Thomas. In this work Justice Thomas tells how he was raised by grandparents and particularly it was his grandfather who had a lasting, life-shaping impact upon his work ethic, faith, and sense of responsibility. There was gratitude expressed for his grandfather, even though he was open about the reality that he also made a lot of mistakes that made Thomas’ growing up years hard.
There is much we can learn from Justice Thomas about how to view our country. In this year in which we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence, there is an important question we can ask and answer, especially those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ. Should we be patriotic, especially since, like with Justice Thomas’ grandfather, our country has not been perfect? Let me provide a sampling of reasons why we should.
1. We should be patriotic since at its core it involves thanks for our good country.
Just like with Justice Thomas and his grandfather, so we should give thanks for our country, even though it is not perfect.
We are called often in Scripture to give thanks. For example: “Give thanks to [the LORD]” (Psalm 100:4); “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2); “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
We should give thanks for the freedom we experience in this country, the rule of law that has guided us, the work ethic that has shaped it and enabled it to flourish. Of course, we can always improve, but it is a problem if we are not thankful for what God has given us in and what He has done for this country.
2. We should be patriotic since it does not necessarily put our country above God.
Because Jesus taught that we should love Him above all other things and relationships (Luke 14:26), some have concluded we cannot have a love for or be thankful for our country at all. Yet, we are never told in Scripture we should not love anyone since we are to love our God and Savior supremely. In fact, our love for God results in loving others (Matthew 22:37-40) and our love for God supremely should lead to our thankful and joyful acceptance of His good gifts (1 Tim. 6:17). This should include our country.
3. We should be patriotic since it involves thanksgiving and God has brought about the existence and flourishing of this country.
Since God “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11) and since not even a sparrow “will fall to the ground apart from your Father” (Matthew 10:29), it leads us to see that God is behind the rise of this country. This does not mean that everything in or ever done by this country has God’s “stamp-of-approval” upon it. Yet, in this only country that has ever been founded on a creed, wrote G. K. Chesterton, the creed that, “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” we should be grateful for this country, the hope it has afforded us, and others.
God stands behind and smiles on this country’s goal in the legal system and law enforcement that protects the law abiding and penalizes the law breaking (Romans 13:3-4).
So…
Go ahead and be patriotic. Give thanks for these 250 years. And, pray and work toward making the next 250 years even better!
Your Joyful, Patriotic Pastor,
Tom
There is much we can learn from Justice Thomas about how to view our country. In this year in which we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence, there is an important question we can ask and answer, especially those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ. Should we be patriotic, especially since, like with Justice Thomas’ grandfather, our country has not been perfect? Let me provide a sampling of reasons why we should.
1. We should be patriotic since at its core it involves thanks for our good country.
Just like with Justice Thomas and his grandfather, so we should give thanks for our country, even though it is not perfect.
We are called often in Scripture to give thanks. For example: “Give thanks to [the LORD]” (Psalm 100:4); “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2); “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
We should give thanks for the freedom we experience in this country, the rule of law that has guided us, the work ethic that has shaped it and enabled it to flourish. Of course, we can always improve, but it is a problem if we are not thankful for what God has given us in and what He has done for this country.
2. We should be patriotic since it does not necessarily put our country above God.
Because Jesus taught that we should love Him above all other things and relationships (Luke 14:26), some have concluded we cannot have a love for or be thankful for our country at all. Yet, we are never told in Scripture we should not love anyone since we are to love our God and Savior supremely. In fact, our love for God results in loving others (Matthew 22:37-40) and our love for God supremely should lead to our thankful and joyful acceptance of His good gifts (1 Tim. 6:17). This should include our country.
3. We should be patriotic since it involves thanksgiving and God has brought about the existence and flourishing of this country.
Since God “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11) and since not even a sparrow “will fall to the ground apart from your Father” (Matthew 10:29), it leads us to see that God is behind the rise of this country. This does not mean that everything in or ever done by this country has God’s “stamp-of-approval” upon it. Yet, in this only country that has ever been founded on a creed, wrote G. K. Chesterton, the creed that, “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” we should be grateful for this country, the hope it has afforded us, and others.
God stands behind and smiles on this country’s goal in the legal system and law enforcement that protects the law abiding and penalizes the law breaking (Romans 13:3-4).
So…
Go ahead and be patriotic. Give thanks for these 250 years. And, pray and work toward making the next 250 years even better!
Your Joyful, Patriotic Pastor,
Tom
Posted in Shepherding From a Joyful Pastor
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