Patriotism is defined as the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country.  I am so thankful that the Lord allowed me to be born in America.  I’m sure almost all people are thankful for their own birthlands.  We tend to have an affinity for the nation of our birth.  In the USA, we tend to be devoted to our individual states and even our cities. 

I often hear the well-known phrase: God and Country.  To me, this can give the impression that we value and are devoted to our country as much as we are to the Lord.  As I stated earlier, I thank the Lord that He allowed me to be born in this country…we have so much freedom and so many opportunities…much more than almost any other nation.  Having been in several different nations, I can readily realize the value of living in the USA.  My devotion is to the Lord, so my patriotism is a reflection of my thankfulness. 

As believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, our eternal citizenship is Heaven.  We read in Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  No matter what nation we are from or live, as believers we all share that same eternal citizenship…Heaven.  The Lord Jesus tells us in John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”  With His death on the cross to purchase our redemption, the Lord has prepared an eternal home for us…in Heaven with Himself.  No wonder that as knowledgeable believers, “we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  We long to be with the Lord in our ETERNAL HOME. 

As a Christian, I believe the scriptures teach us to be loyal to our country, to obey our government and to pray for our leaders.

• “Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”  (Matthew 22:21).
• “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” (Romans 13:1).
• “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. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

So far, in our nation, there is no law to prevent Christians from gathering together.  There is no law that prevents believers from living as the scriptures teach us.  However, that could change at any moment, and it appears it could actually happen in the very near future.  What do we do if our government demands we do things that are contrary to the Bible.  We have the answer to that question in Acts, chapter 5, when the Lord’s disciples were commanded to stop preaching Christ.  We read in Acts 5:26-29, “Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN.”  Our allegiance must be to the Lord and if our country should ever command us to stop living openly and boldly for the Lord…we must obey God and not men! 

There is a difference between patriotism and nationalism.  Patriotism is a love for our own country, while nationalism is when we think that we are better than other nations.  Nationalism has no place in the Christian’s heart or life.

I do love my country and I am thankful to be a part of the USA.  Over the years, we have all witnessed evil prevailing over and over as our nation has increasingly gone away from the principles of the Word of God as the basis for our government.  Let me encourage all believers to use the freedom we still have to boldly serve the Lord and witness for Him, and let us be prayer warriors, constantly asking the Lord to bring about repentance and righteous ruling from our government.  We are told in Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”  The Lord is able to move the hearts of our leaders.  May we be consistent in praying for them.  (CC)  (590.2)