Should Christians be Patriotic?

What does it mean to be patriotic, and is this something that Christians can or should embrace?

Patriotism is love for, or loyalty to, one's country.  We are not citizens of all nations, but of our nation!  We are "one nation, under God." and as the Boy Scout oath says, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country..."  The term, "American Christian," is an adjective followed by a noun.  We are Christians first, and Americans second.  We have a duty to live as dual citizens of the "City of God and the City of Man" (St. Augustine), and should keep that goal in the foreground as we live our lives and witness to our country.  Our true home is not here, but as we journey through life, we are called to be salt and light to our family, community, country, and world.  

It wasn't that long ago that most American Christians were proudly patriotic, but recent cultural and progressive changes have greatly influenced the Church.  There is now a secular progressive movement that not only decries patriotism, but in fact demonizes our country's founding principles, structure, and values.  In fact, some younger believers and pastors have been influenced by theologically liberal interpretations of biblical teachings about how justice relates to the relationship between church and state.  As our civilization has moved away from our shared theistic worldview, we have seen major decay in our moral societal fabric.  I've discussed this at length here.

The United States was founded on Christian principles and religious freedom.  The Christian worldview grounded our founding.  In reference to the people of Israel, the psalmist wrote "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..."  Time and again we see that moral behavior by a corporate nation can be favored or rewarded by God, and immoral behavior punished.  God has blessed us for that faithfulness.  But in the last 50 years, or so, we've radically abandoned that worldview.  There is wholesale rebellion against God and his principles in the hearts of people and in the societal mores.  

To be proud in something, it should be in reference to some accomplishment of virtue that can be celebrated.  It should exhibit some act or trait worthy of praise and honor.  Without these, it can just be called arrogance.  So, are there reasons to be proud of our country?  Taken as a whole, we can be proud of the good our country has done and continues to do.  We are proud of the world leadership our country has displayed against evil, even when it was not in our best interests to do so.  We can be proud of the innovative technological advancements our free capitalistic markets allow us to create.  We can be grateful to live in a country founded upon sound moral principles.  Frankly it is faulty thinking to assume the worst of our country and to claim that it represents the distorted picture claimed by progressives.  Is America a defective nation needing redemption or is it a shining light on the hill?  We don't celebrate the faults.  What rational person would?  That is why we can, and should, respect the historic characters of our nation for what they accomplished that was noble, and not for their character flaws.  

It is okay to be proud of the things that are good and noble.  Are you proud of your family?  We want to praise them when they do virtuous things and we want the best for them.  The same can be said of our fellow citizens.  We can have pride in Judeo-Christian culture, as a whole.  One lie told today by the relativists is that all cultures are of equal value.  This clearly cannot be the case, since they often have mutually exclusive values and truth claims.  Once again, we celebrate what is noble and praiseworthy, such as bravery and self-sacrifice, but not things like greed and selfishness, even though both can be found in any group of people.

Does a flag displayed by a church give a bad message?

Would a reasonable person be offended by a Swiss flag if visiting a church in Switzerland?  Would we interpret that to mean that Christianity is married to the Swiss society?  Would we misunderstand that they are claiming the superiority of Swiss Christians over all others?  Of course not!  This should be no more the case than if we have a banner in the sanctuary with the name of our city or local congregation. If that is considered offensive and misunderstood, then perhaps the problem is with the "offended" party?  These icons symbolize our association with a community of people in which we are jointly embedded.  In fact, Paul was proud of being a Roman citizen and also an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin.  He didn't deny his national identity, even though he clearly said that we are all viewed as equal in Christ.

So what about public endorsements or displays in or by churches?  Is is objectively "wrong" to have patriotic displays or events?  Is it allowed to honor military service men/women in a church service?  Is it morally objectionable for Christians to identify also as citizens of their nation or community?  Can a Christian in good conscience say the Pledge of Allegiance?  On what basis would such claims be valid?  If it is objectively the wrong thing to do, then it is wrong for all.  But if it is just preference or personal conviction, then that is different!

It does makes sense to consider the reasons for such identification or promotion.  Churches, and their leaders, should be clear about the purpose behind their choices, doctrine, and actions.  For instance, why does a congregation display a flag in church?   What are their reasons?  What are the reasons to make a change at this point in time?  One would hope that it is not because of caving in to current cultural demands or perceptions.  I really have a hard time thinking that many churches are promoting white nationalism or some sort of nationalized Christianity.  I suspect that many do it out of respect for the sacrifices made to keep the freedoms that we have, including the freedom of worship and expression.  We rightly should thank God for our country and the freedoms we have here.  We should recognize the peace, health, safety, relative prosperity, and freedom it has brought to many here and throughout the world.  There is a big difference between giving thanks for a nation and worshipping the nation.

‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people—for  kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.’ (1 Tim 2:1-2)

The song "America the Beautiful" is a inspirational example of the praiseworthy aspects of our country and its heritage.  It praises sacrifice, liberation, pioneers, courage, nobleness, beauty, awesome vistas, patriot dreams, and goodness.  These we celebrate, not the failings or mistakes.   The flag can serve as a reminder that God is at work in both kingdoms, that we should pray for our country and leaders, of our duty as citizens of this nation, and appreciation for those who served and currently serve in the defense of our freedoms.

Some thoughts about symbols and activities that could "offend" people in the church might be in order here.  We do need to be sensitive to the spiritual walk of others, since not everyone is at the same level of maturity.  We need to consider the discussion Paul gives about the "weaker brother" in Romans 14 and 1 Cor. 8.  On the other hand, this has to be balanced with opportunities to teach, explain, and grow disciples.  We don't always do that by acceding to the lowest common denominator.  For instance, what if a small minority of people or a visitor finds the American flag to be offensive?  Does that immediately mean that it needs to be taken down?    As followers of Jesus we should not easily take offense and should be quick to forgive perceived offenses.  

Before we answer that, let's take the roof off.  For example, if there is one vegan man in the congregation who wants to attend the men's breakfast, but feels he can't fellowship because they have promoted it with "BACON", should it be banned (or potlucks with meat for that matter)?  If some people think that the Christmas tree is a pagan symbol and has no place in the church building, then what?  Taken to the extreme, we clearly see the flaws in a one-side reaction.  This is closely related to the rotten core of the left's cancel culture of today.  We need to model real tolerance, and teach by example when needed.  Sometimes this can be done publicly, while sometimes we need to take people aside and have more personal discussions.

It is claimed by some that displaying a flag promotes flag worship, or at least confusion about what we worship.  This is a very simplistic view that few reasonable people would really conclude from seeing a flag in church.  At a minimum, they should not assume the worst motives for the display.  Does a flag display harm our ability to reach non-Americans or illegal immigrants?  Maybe, but in the same way that a guilty person may feel uncomfortable in a small group with a police officer.  Again, unless there is evidence to the contrary, imputing poor motives to the church is the wrong thing to do.  Well, doesn't this put needless obstacles to the worship of those visiting from other countries, whether as citizens or immigrants?  Not anymore than we would feel in another country.  It seems like the right attitude to have is to respect your host country and their traditions.  None of these objections hold up as valid, reasonable objectives to displaying an American flag in a Christian church in the United States.

George Washington said “While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”  We might do well to take his advice, instead of the opinions of progressive Millennials.  While Christian duties are a higher calling, it does not have to conflict with patriotic character as well. 

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Note on Flag Etiquette - "When used on a speaker’s platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America, should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman’s or speaker’s right as he faces the audience. Prior to the Flag Code changes in 1976, the display procedure was somewhat different. Now the staffed flag should always be placed to the right of the speaker without regard to a platform or floor level."

What We Gained in 2020

 

In a previous post I discussed some of the losses we had during this last year.  For some perspective, let's take a look at what we might have learned or gained from our experiences this last year.

• Gain of more family time.  Our family has a phrase "Forced Family Time" or FFT, and it is now really that.  
• Gain of an appreciation for the freedom of assembly and worship.  We miss the physical gathering together and personal contact.
• Gain of time for spiritual reflection and connection.  In times of crisis, many people turn to God and His people for comfort and support, as they realize their own failings and limitations.  Christianity never was meant to be for the Lone Ranger, but rather it is a community of believers who have  love (ἀγάπη, agapē) for each other.  
• Gain of opportunities to serve others.  No matter who you are, there most likely are others that you can reach out to.  We can lend a hand up, or give a shoulder (virtual or not) to cry on.  
• Gain of more free time to work on projects.  Fewer excuses to Get-R-Done.
• Gain of more reading and learning time.  Time to learn and grow.  Time to get lost into both old and new books.
• Gain of remote connections.  Communicating through Zoom, MS Teams , or others to maintain social and professional contact.
• Gain of perspective on what is really important.  The important things of life are not material.  Rather they are spiritual and relational.
• Gain of confidence.  We found that we can survive, through the help of God and others.  We learned that it is okay to depend on others and to be a lifeline for those that need it.
• Gain of solidarity.  The knowledge of who will stand by you when things get tough, and who won't, is enlightening.  We found out who was willing to do the right things, instead of the expedient ones.  We saw who was willing to deny or condone corruption to gain power and control.
• Gain of creativity motivation.  They say "necessity is the mother of invention."  Well, we saw some creative ways to deal with challenges.  And we saw some ridiculous solutions too.
• Gain of laughter.  We saw people responding to challenges in interesting and creative ways that were often "too" out of the box.
• Gain of alternative news and social media platforms.  We now have sources that don't censor or "fact check" information like Facebook,  Twitter, and the main stream media.  Parler, MeWe, Gab, NewsMax, BlazeTV, DailyWire, and others provide options for those fed up with the outright bias and social engineering of these other platforms.
• Gain of worldview differentiation.  We clearly observed the differences between the worldviews and methods of liberals vs. conservatives.  We witnessed riots vs. peaceful protests.  We saw obvious fraud and illegal stacking the deck in elections vs. legally challenging suspect and invalid election results.  Some supported ensuring illegal votes to be counted from ineligible voters, mailing ballots out indiscriminately, and intentionally hiding vote counting processes -- thereby enabling fraud.  Others worked to prevent corruption in elections and to prevent it in future ones.  One side embraces Machiavellian ethics, where the ends justify the means, while the other side wants integrity and accountability, where only legitimate votes count.
• Gain of lowered expenses due to lower auto use.  Less commute and travel for some.  But more local exploring and adventures.
• Gain of more time from reduced commute to work.  Now it is just walking into my office with my coffee.  Though I do miss my drive-time musings, talk shows, and podcasts.
• Gain of appreciation for a full pantry and toilet paper stock.  It was amazing to see runs on grocery supplies and transient shortages of basics.
• Gain of time to catch up on streaming services.  Binging Netflix, or catching up on our favorite shows, provided some escape.  It was great to have both the Mandalorian and Star Trek Discovery pay nostalgic homage to the original movies and series.
• Gain of a Civil War victory.  OSU over U of O.  Go Beavs!
• Gain of astronomical treats.  We got a rare conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn to form a "Christmas Star" on the 2020 Winter Solstice.  Don't forget the Comet NEOWISE also.
• Gain of gratitude for the miracles of modern medicine and science.  Thankfulness for a rapid development of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.  Blessed for skilled doctors that served our family this year and gave us all more time together.

As we leave 2020 behind and move to 2021, I pray that we can soberly mourn what we lost, and embrace and rejoice in what we gained.  

What We Lost in 2020

The year 2020 has been a hard one, perhaps the hardest most of us have ever experienced.  In looking back at this year, there are several things that we have lost or that have been severely damaged.  It is yet to be seen if these are permanent.

• Loss of life.  Probably the first thing that comes to mind is the pandemic caused by a novel virus that originated in China.  The deaths due to COVID-19 have cast a shadow on this year.  The reactions to it ranged from panic and fear to isolation and anger, as people tried to deal with all the ramifications of a widespread, unknown, and silent disease.
• Loss of connections and physical touch.  We had isolation of those in the hospitals and care facilities.  We avoid handshakes and hugs, which were replaced with elbow bumps and virtual high 5's.  When walking down the street or passing someone in a store, we can see the worry and fear of physical contact or even close proximity.  
• Loss of jobs, dreams, and opportunities to pursue happiness.  We've experience unequally applied lockdowns and unjustified persecution of people desperate to preserve their small businesses, while the government favored others.  People have lost livelihoods, savings, and homes.  Private businesses lost jobs and income, while government employees got paid for not working.  Riots and violence against innocent people and businesses destroyed lives and dreams.
• Loss of homes due to wildfires.  Across the county, we lost many homes, lives, and forests to out of control fires.  Whether from decades of forest mismanagement, from climate changes, or just bad luck, the devastation is real.  While we can rebuild, it is tragic.
• Loss of confidence in the integrity of the election process.  Illegal changes in violation of the constitution were allowed to stand.  Voting process changes were quickly made that were ill-conceived and that lacked standard safeguards against fraud.  When there was obvious fraud, especially in large Democrat controlled swing state cities, courts would not hear or rule on the merits of these challenges.  State leaders either are complicit in changing procedures or are unwilling to stand up to the suspicious activity.  There is widespread anger and dismay at the perceived loss of integrity in the electoral system where cheating is allowed to stand.  We've lost the illusion of fair elections and the ability to address wrongs when uncovered in a timely enough manner to make a difference.
• Loss of a media that values truth over agendas. We have seen coverups and lack of real investigative reporting.  We got distortions and biased reporting.  We had social media platforms do active and biased censoring of controversial opinions and thoughts.  Few believe in the independence and fairness of the "fact-checkers."  Dictionaries redefine words to fit "woke" agendas.  They hid information damaging to preferred political groups, while spreading distortions of records and doing one-sided negative reporting.  There is a lack of integrity or apparent interest in discovering the truth.  Frequent attacks are made on undercover reporters who find uncomfortable fraud or embarrassing statements and/or activities. 
• Loss of trust of experts.  Several times, the "experts" have made proclamations and then within weeks or months changed their claims.  It is becoming obvious that calls to "follow the science" are not necessarily that, but instead are ploys to shut up opposition to their agenda.  While there are secure scientific facts in some areas, there are also disputed assertions that are not beyond challenge by rational, informed people.
• Loss of freedoms.  In a short period of time, we have lost the freedom of association, to travel,  to gather in worship, or to even have family holiday events.  Mandates were made to force mask wearing and other shutdowns without good scientific justifications. There has been persecution of religious activities and non-enforcement of regulations for preferred political gatherings and riots.
• Loss of consent of the governed.  The power of the people to be willingly governed with their consent was damaged.  Instead, because of fear or lack of will, we allowed "Emergency" declarations and mandates to be issued, often in violation of state laws and constitutions, or far in excess of the lawful limits.  When these were challenged, the partisan courts failed to act.  State legislative representatives failed to reign in the governors' and mayors' abuse of power.  
• Loss of respect for political leaders.  Many pushed draconian measures, but then were caught doing the same activities themselves.  Privileged attitudes show their disdain for the masses.  We saw corruption of leaders in government and the "justice" department.
• Loss of quality education.  Educational experiences have suffered, as online learning has not worked for many.  In-person classes have been inconsistently scheduled and then dropped, causing disruptions for many families.  Recent college graduates have struggled to find jobs in the pandemic economy, but still face student loan repayments in the near future.
• Loss of equal protection under the law.  Unequal enforcement and application of laws has become apparent, particularly during the violent protests and riots.  Conservative groups and individuals were singled out, while mass unlawfulness was condoned, ignored, or failed to be prosecuted.  Voter ballots were subjected to different validation standards based on politics.  Loss of respect for authority follows when this kind of injustice is seen.  
• Loss of Unity.  In 2020, America is more divided than ever politically, morally, and philosophically.  In many ways, there is little common ground left.  Belief in the basic goodness of the fundamental principles of the founding of our nation and culture, or even objective moral grounding of our society, is no longer shared. There is a widening of the divide between conservatives and progressive liberals based on greatly divergent views of morality and goals.
• Loss of respect for laws and law enforcement.  Active calls for abolishing or defunding the police abound.  There have been attacks and murders of police and pro-police supporters.  Leftist protestors have consistently called for killing police, have falsely claimed that police purposefully kill blacks, and often even assault officers.  Even public figures attack their integrity.
• Loss of political balance.  We see it within the Democrat party, as it has increasingly become more socialist and radically anti-traditional values and institutions. Loss of unity also showed within the Republican party, as it became polarized between Trump supporters believing in pro-American policies, and the "deep state", entrenched establishment, and never-Trumpers actively seeking to undermine his agenda. Power struggles rule the day.
• Loss of real tolerance.  Cancel culture and restrictions of free speech now reign.   Social media claims disinformation and/or selectively filters content and reach because of disputed claims.  There is widespread disgust/dismay at the so-called "justice" movement by many.  We jail those politically opposed, but free criminals in the name of saving them from COVID-19.  We hear calls to abolish or reduce penalties for violent criminals, yet mourn the executions of murderers.  We have legalized or decriminalized drugs, both hard and popular, but we don't tolerate those who disagree.  True tolerance allows differences of opinions to be held, debated, and challenged.  The new tolerance demonizes and attacks those who disagree.
• Loss of the joy of gathering together and watching sports.  Because of pandemic overreactions, we cancelled many events and placed ridiculous restrictions on players practicing and interacting with each other.  We had "bubbles" and limited schedules.  We had coaches forced to wear masks, but not the players.  We had empty stadiums filled with cardboard cutouts and canned crowd noise.  Seems more like the Truman Show than real life.
• Loss of entertainment quality and quantity.  Delayed or cancelled TV/movie production caused a shortage of new content.  Many movies were delayed being released in theaters because they couldn't make enough money with mostly empty theaters either.  Ironically, people are tempted to have too much screen time and have less healthy activity.  While not new, almost every show now has to push political, social, and immoral agendas down our throats.
• Loss of biological common sense.  There is less safety, modesty, fairness, and common sense about biology in sports competition and in locker rooms.  Court rulings demanded that men who self-identify as women be allowed to compete against biological women and to have equal access to women's locker rooms.  Many women lost scholarship opportunities and were denied the ability to compete on a level playing field.  In the locker room, we lost the right to innocence and the normalcy of not having opposite sex people see one naked.
• Loss of sports as an escape.  Another sports loss was when we had to choose between enjoying a game or being forced to watch players disrespect our country and flag.  In the name of a Marxist political movement, they openly displayed banners, wore slogans, and showed disdain for our country.  The protests are based on the false premise that America is a fatally flawed, racist country and that our core institutions need to be destroyed and remade in their utopian vision of human nature.  Can't we just enjoy some entertainment without having an agenda thrown in our face?
• Loss of hope.  Probably one of the biggest losses for many this year was a loss of hope.  Hope that eventually this will pass.  Hope that we will get back to normal and not have to accept a "new" normal.  Hope that none of their loved ones will be lost because of a disease or to die alone.  Hope that our nation will not be radically changed forever.  Suicides are up.  Abuse is up.  Drug and alcohol use is up.  We are less healthy and more stressed.

So is there hope?  I believe there is, but it is not to be found in secular philosophies, social engineering, or nontheistic worldviews.  Ultimately it is found in the Christian faith.  But we can't give up either and the fight needs to go on, even when it looks bleak.  Evil wins when good people refuse to stand up and fight against it.   We are called to be both Salt and Light in the world.  We are called to be in the world, but not of it.  We can't do that by refusing to play our part.