Classic Me: Christianity is Not Patriotism!

November 17th, 2008 by J.R. Miller Leave a reply »

There is one great misunderstanding among many politically active Christians today and that is that being a Christian is the same as loving your country. The reality is that the two are distinct and not necessarily dependant. Devotion to God is a much higher call, and it is possible for an individual to despise his own country while still loving God and for a man to love his country and hate God.

However, when it comes to having a positive impact upon your country, George Washington points out an important relationship between these two categories. Washington observed that a man who loves his country will always seek its best, and that ultimately involves the two “pillars” of religion and morality.

Too often we, as Christians, get caught up in political agendas to ‘save’ the country instead of concerning ourselves with the task of making disciples. The easy solution is to sometimes try and change the law when we should charge ourselves and allow God to use us to change the hearts and minds of others.

Throughout history nations have believed themselves to be the new chosen people of God. Rome, England, and even we in the United States have fallen into this trap. The Gospel of Jesus Christ tells us that no nation has become God’s new Israel, but rather it is the spiritual seed of Abraham which encompasses the whole world that has become the chosen people of God. It is not denoted by skin color or politics or nationality or geography, it is submission to Jesus Christ that makes us a people of God.

I love my country and consider myself a Patriot of the United States. I think God has played a great role in our history, but only as we have been in submission to Him. I am always a Christian, for that is what God has called me to be. We as a people have left that path to seek our own way.

I am a Patriot to what has been and what may be, but not to what we have become.

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I wrote the above post more than 10 years ago.  Some parts I dislike and some parts I still dig.  For better, or worse,  I share with you this glimpse into my past and into my journey of faith in Christ Jesus. 
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