One of the most important questions facing followers of Christ is whether they can be patriots, too. The Bible teaches us that when we are born again by the Holy Spirit we gain a new Father, a new family, and become citizens of a new kingdom.
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, Colossians 1:13 (NLT) But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:20 (NLT)
Being born again requires us to declare allegiance to the king of heaven.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)
Christians are subject to the Lord Jesus and seek to live by his Word.
One of God’s incommunicable attributes is his immutability. He never changes. (James 1:17) The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Covenant. Even though the temporary Old Covenant of Law was abolished with the resurrection of Christ, the entirety of scripture points to the Lord Jesus. Jesus explained and expanded upon what is written in other portions of the Bible. Proper exegesis takes into account the whole of the Bible and works to understand and harmonize seemingly contradictory passages.
Love is the overarching theme of the Bible. (Matthew 22:36-40)
As important as is the law of love, however, it does not abrogate God’s justice. Mercy and truth meet together in our Lord Jesus. (Psalm 85:10)
The God who loves us past comprehension will cast into hell those who refuse his generous offer of reconciliation through the gospel. Jesus said:
“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. Luke 12:4-5 (NLT)
Anyone who dismisses the God of justice in favor of one who only loves everyone, regardless of their response to the gospel, morality, or conduct, is serving a false god of their own making.
God’s love does not prevent conflict, either. The term “tough love” was coined to describe taking a stance that creates conflict in the best interest of someone who needs confrontation and correction.
Love works with justice to set people free, even if it creates tension and conflict initially.
Sometimes a husband’s or father’s love compels him to do violence to an attacker in order to protect his family. Self-defense is justified in the Bible. (Exodus 22:2) Likewise, nations need defending, too. It is altogether proper for a nation to take up arms in defense of the homeland. Otherwise tyranny would easily dominate. The Bible clearly teaches this. The kingdom of Israel under it’s judges and kings fought often to remove oppression, defend its borders, and destroy enemies. Ecclesiastes teaches that there is a time for peace and a time for war. (Eccl. 3:8)
Christ’s teachings on turning the other cheek do not prohibit our using self-defense when appropriate.
In like manner, our citizenship in God’s kingdom does not eliminate the claims of citizenship made by the country in which we live.
In the present state of affairs, God’s kingdom transcends but does not eliminate earthly kingdoms. It appears that when Jesus returns every competing kingdom and loyalty will bow the knee to the Lord Jesus.
As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. Daniel 7:13-14 (NLT)
Until then we must learn to live in the tension created by the competing priorities and loyalties created by our having dual citizenship in God’s kingdom and the nation in which we live here on earth.
Christ’s authority is extended through those who represent him. The more people in a given area who make the decision to submit their lives to him, the greater will be the impact of God’s kingdom there. As citizens of God’s kingdom become more involved in earthly forms of government, those governments will begin to have traits of the kingdom of God – justice, love, truth, righteousness, mercy, generosity, etc.
Freedom is a defining characteristic of God’s kingdom and of all governments that operate as he intends. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
Since the Magna Carta, English common law has demanded that the role of government is to protect the rights of its citizens. When Great Britain began to oppress its colonial citizens in America, the colonists resisted, insisting that they were being treated unjustly. In other words, Great Britain had become a tyrant which failed to abide by its own laws. Those who felt strongly about this injustice eventually chose to formally rebel against the King and declare independence, thus launching the American Revolution.
The War of Independence inaugurated a nation built on the belief that a government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. This is how authority also works in the church. No church leader can force someone to obey his or her directives. People choose to come under such authority, which is expected to behave in a godly way.
The principle of liberty is a distinguishing mark of the kingdom of God. (John 8:36)
The preservation of liberty also is built into our Constitution.
The purpose of government under God is to protect its people and punish those who do evil.
The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. Romans 13:4 (NLT)
All legitimate government operates within God’s “Magna Carta” found in Romans 13.
Any government that goes outside of God’s purpose and uses its power to tyrannize its people has wandered away from any sense of divine legitimacy.
It now represents Satan, whose purpose is to enslave, kill, steal, and destroy. (John 10:10) All freedom-loving people, including those who serve Christ, should refuse to submit to such satanic oppression, whether it is found in a person or a government or sin.
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36 (NLT)
Jesus understood, as we should, that it altogether proper for us to take up arms on behalf of an earthly kingdom. Unlike the kingdom of God, such kingdoms rely on force and weaponry. The majority of believers generally accept this civic responsibility.
Even though the United States has never perfectly fulfilled its noble aspiration of “liberty and justice for all,” the goal has served as a guiding light for over two centuries. If our founding fathers, many of whom were Christians, believed that such a government was worth risking life, fortune, and reputation to obtain, what should be our attitude as Christians toward preserving it?
David Caldwell was one of the most famous preachers from the Revolutionary era from our area. He was a pastor of two Presbyterian Churches, an educator, farmer, and physician. His sermons were so influential that the British agreed to pay a bounty of two hundred pounds for his capture. One of his sermons escaped being burned when General Cornwallis seized his farm in the lead up to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The title was “The Character and Doom of the Sluggard,” which I have published in its entirety. Here is an excerpt.
We have therefore come to that trying period in our history in which it is manifest that the Americans must either stoop under a load of the vilest slavery, or resist their imperious and haughty oppressors; but what will follow must be of the utmost importance to every individual of these United Colonies; and should be the hearty concern of every honest American.
Caldwell makes a convincing case that being a patriot in defense of our God-given liberties, even to the point of armed conflict, is a natural result of being a good citizen of the kingdom of God.
In other words, to submit to tyranny without a fight because of laziness or fear is a sin which will impoverish and enslave the one who refuses to take a stand, as well as generations to come.
All tyranny must be fought either before or after it gains control. It is much easier to do it before.
Sadly, anti-god propaganda has managed to convince large numbers of people who call themselves Christians that it is unchristian to be patriotic. The mantra that I have heard over and over is that we must distinguish between the gospel and Americanism. I agree with that in general, but I do not agree that being a Christian prohibits us from being a patriotic American. We have a dual citizenship with dual demands.
It is possible to be good citizens of both realms, if we can properly navigate competing priorities and loyalties.
Satan is trying to establish his one-world government before King Jesus sets up his. Until the coming of the Lord, we will have nation states to which we owe allegiance. Patriotism toward these nation states, particularly America, gets in the way of the devil’s plan. Satan is working to topple all such allegiances to bring us under his one-world despotic rule. Christians, who understands that Christ will usher in a benevolent world order and unity, should beware being duped by Satan’s counterfeit. The devil is clever at making his plan seem good, when actually his intent is always to enslave and kill us. We cannot surrender to him, even for a moment. We must stand against all forms of tyranny until the coming of the Lord. Only Jesus will be able to properly govern the world. All others are imposters with evil designs.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)
As Christians I believe we can and should resist all tyranny because it is antithetical to the gospel. It is inconceivable that Christians would roll over and submit to despotism without a fight, especially American believers who understand the value of freedom. If we fail to make a stand, history may judge that we were unworthy recipients of the heritage passed down to us by the sacrifices and courage of our forefathers.
