Patriotism and religion

A correspondent (thanks, Ron!) shared this with us:

“Celebrate America, sponsored by First Assembly of God Church of Brazoria, TX included $10,000 worth of fireworks, a 50-foot United States flag, and a replica of the Liberty Bell….drama presentations including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and an illustrated sermon….A moonwalk, antique car show and volleyball….Homemade apple pie, snowcones, sodas, and hot dogs…at 25¢”  (Brazoria County News, 29 June 1995, p. 1). 

He then asked, Is this the work of the church?

While we will answer his question, we will first point out that while “patriotism” is not necessarily viewed as a sin in the Bible, it is certainly not seen as a way to worship (that is, serve and proclaim) the Creator. We also note that patriotism is not necessarily worship of the state (governments). You can be patriotic about your land, about the people and even the achievements and institutions (well, some of them). And not be happy or tolerate the government(s).

Indeed, patriotism is not even connected to being “law-abiding.” And indeed, may be a reason to be a lawbreaker and to oppose, even rebel, against a government.

But patriotism is not a “christian virtue,” despite what tens of thousands of religious leaders have stated or written. At least not anything in the Bible states this. The patriotism normally on display in the meetinghouses of many religions – especially “christian” ones – is not required by the Lord they claim to follow. Nor is it forbidden or frowned upon in the Scriptures. A congregation might not be condemned for showing patriotism, but…

But if your “patriotism” causes you to do several things, it can be as much a stumbling block and a spiritual danger as anything else a congregation (or any community) does. We suggest this falls into two broad categories.

First, when your patriotism extends to your priorities in serving and proclaiming something or someone. This includes obeying government(s) instead of obeying your God. (Including whatever moral code you believe to be right.) For christians, the apostle Simon Peter answered this clearly. He told the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of the nation of Judaea) “we must obey God rather than men.” Ultimately, tradition tells us he died because he adhered to this principle. He put God ahead of men. In essence, too many people (even those who claim to be followers of Christ – or Moses or Mohammed or Buddha) worship governments. The government becomes their god, or one of their gods. An idol, so to speak.

Second, and back to the purely religious point of our correspondent, when congregations host and pay for patriotic celebrations or even expressions of patriotism, they are wasting the resources that they should be using to serve and proclaim their God, their beliefs. Without going into a great deal of detail and doctrine, disciples in any religion are to carry out the will of their god. For followers of the Messiah, that includes evangelism (proclaiming His good news) and edification of one another: their brothers and sisters in their faith. Edification means “building up” – teaching and encouraging one another and caring for each other (sometimes broken out as “benevolence” – meeting physical needs).

Buying and displaying flags (giant or not), paying for fireworks, even putting on theatre performances glorifying men, do not qualify as service and proclamation. (Neither does selling food, even if the price is subsidized (25-cent hot dogs existed once upon a time, but no more: someone is paying most of the cost!) Moon walks, car shows, and volleyball games seem even more bizarre for a group, a congregation, that claims to be preaching and teaching and practicing their religion.

Although patriotism and serving (and proclaiming) government are not welded together, they often do link up in people’s minds and actions. Claiming to worship Deity while serving and glorifying government is as wrong, as evil, as human government itself is.

READ MORE