Loving God AND Your Country?

ARTICLE BY MATTHEW HOLST JULY 2013

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Earlier this month, I read with interest Rick Phillips's piece on the Fourth of
July celebrations in the context of a radically changing America. R.C. Sproul,
Jr. also has a piece here which deals with the issue of Christian patriotism.
Both are nuanced articles as far as blog posts allow. It is ironic, then, that the
usual America right-wing bravado comes not from the Americans, but from
the foreigner Liam Goligher who gives his thoughts on the "greatest country
on earth". However, as a subject of the United Kingdom (though resident in
the US) and as a Christian, one of Rick's points does not really resonate with
me. He argues that "We [Americans] must continue to love our country.
Nothing would more please or serve the radical secularists than for Christians
to jettison their patriotic impulses". It is this idea of loving our country which
occasions what follows.

It is always an interesting time of year for a foreigner to be in America. Every

Fourth of July, I jest with our church members that the Sunday morning
sermon closest to the Fourth will be on Romans 13 - submission to the civil
magistrate. People laugh...usually. The obvious historical reasons aside, it is
even more interesting for someone from Britain to be in the States on this
date because Britain is a peculiarly unpatriotic place - nothing like America in
that sense. I don't recall ever seeing Union flags displayed on people's
houses, except in peculiar circumstances such as a royal birth or sporting
achievement. The view of the armed forces in the UK has been nothing like
that in America; it is much more low-key and much less admired, to be quite
honest. To be clear, I am not saying that such is a good thing.

Moreover, Britain is itself a nation divided into four countries and four
separate identities. When asked where I am from, my answer is Wales, not the
UK. Speaking to most people over here, I inevitably have to explain where
Wales is located. As an aside, I was once talking to a seminary student, who
commented "You're not from around here are you?". I replied "No I'm from
Wales". To which he replied, in all seriousness, "Ah, a good Scotsman!" The
conversation ended pretty quickly after that. My point is that the UK has
multiple identities, with very few Welshmen being willing to accept the
moniker "Scottish" and absolutely no Welshman willing to accept the label
"English". In spite of a rich and varied history, and maybe because of it, the
UK does not have the same level or expressions of patriotism regularly
evidenced on this side of the Atlantic.

A further declaration at customs: I live in America, and chose to do so, at

least as much one can choose when accepting the call of God. I like America.
My wife is American and my children are American - well sort of. I don't think
I have any of the pre-disposed antipathy towards America that many
Europeans do, which antipathy is usually egged on by a liberal and biased
national media. America is, in many ways, a remarkable place, not just for the
mix of peoples one rubs shoulders with, but also for the very land itself. The
geography of America includes something for everyone - from the frozen
wastes of Alaska, to the deserts of the southwest, to the splendid Rockies, to
the swamps of the southern bayous, to the beautiful beaches and coastlines. I
fully intend on seeing more of this amazing country while I live here.

However, I feel uneasy when I read that Christians should love this country, or
any other country for that matter. One might retort, "You're Welsh; you have
nothing to be proud of!" A comment unworthy of a reply. Again, someone
replies, "You've already admitted you are unpatriotic; you wouldn't
understand what it is to be American." Mea culpa. Notwithstanding such
objections, I don't see anywhere in Scripture which calls me, or anyone for
that matter, to "love our country". Yet this was at the top of the list of Rick's
advice on how "Christians must respond as Americans". At the risk of biting
the hand that feeds me, so to speak, let me offer a few thoughts about this
idea.

"Loving one's country" strikes me as a peculiarly American, and American

Christian, thing to say. American patriotism has long been the slave to a
rather romantic view of American history. The amalgamation of the faith, or
at least, the church with politics, has undoubtedly given rise to the view that
somehow, America was once a Christian nation. (Just to be clear, I am not
charging Rick with this. I'm not charging him with anything actually, just
meditating on his piece). Rick, in fact, makes clear that he views the
development of America not in Christian, but theistic, terms. However, the
predominant opinion among American Christians is that America was a
Christian country, and the way to return it to said Christian roots is to
legislate that change (again, I don't think Rick is arguing for this). There are
better historians out there than I, but I doubt this romanticized view has ever
really been the case. Has America really ever been a Christian country? Is
there indeed such a thing in the new covenant era? If there were, one might,
as a Christian, be able to stretch to the term "love" for one's country.

In a Christian country we might expect there to be a higher standard of public

conduct. We might expect public and private morality championed and a
measure of spiritual depth and progress. A Christian may well be able to love
such a country. Yet is this the case with America? Are we talking of loving
its history: the Fourth of July, revolution from tyrannical independence, etc.?
These are good things, but as a Christian can we say we love them? Can the
history of this country be loved when much of it is built on the back of
ungodly slavery? And what of the Civil War / War of Northern Aggression /
War between the States (take your pick) - when more Americans died than any
other conflict before or since? Or what of the fifty million or so of the unborn
who have been slaughtered here? Are we to love this? Or are we talking about
loving its institutions and structures: the Declaration of Independence, the
branches of government, the buildings, the pomp and ceremony and history
that belongs with them? I can hardly think of any Christian I know who would
say they love these things, and with good reason. Or are we talking about
loving the people of America? Christian love aside, do we really love the mix
of people in the States? The history of race relations in America sets the
standard for no country, to be sure. Again, I want to emphasize that I am not
charging Rick with saying these things, rather just highlighting serious
obstacles to the Christian in fulfilling Rick's counsel to love one's country.

Moreover, one should not confuse economic and military triumph with
Christianity or indeed what makes a nation great (or the "greatest nation on
earth"). I have the utmost respect for the American military, and in another
life, would have loved to serve in the military. The greatness of a country, and
thus its "loveableness" is surely not linked to the number of nuclear weapons
or Stealth fighters it possesses.

So when I read that a Christian is to love his country, I'm left a little bit
confused. What exactly am I to love? Presidents? Congressmen? Hills, valleys
streams, lakes (I have no difficulty loving them)? The people? The armed
forces? Government? I wonder if Rick's advice, which I regularly find beneficial
and prudent, has, on this matter, slipped into an amorphous Americanity - a
more subtle form of "God and Country" which is so prevalent in certain areas
of the church. Such is the kind of Christianity which has the American flag on
one side of the pulpit and the Christian flag (wherever that came from?) on
the other. America, like every other Western nation has had a remarkable yet
chequered history - morally, economically and militarily. What are we to love,
and what kind of love are we to show?

Moreover, I believe Rick expresses this somewhat rose-tinted view of

American history when he writes that "the blueprint of the pagan conquest of
America was discovered in the 1973 Roe vs Wade decision". I beg to differ.
Not wishing to minimize the atrocity that Roe vs Wade was and continues to
be, the blueprint for secularization and paganisation of America was etched
very firmly on the hearts of all unbelieving men, from the founders to our
latest President. To cite Roe vs Wade as the blueprint tends to portray
America, prior to 1973, as somehow closer to God and Christianity than post-
legalized abortion America. It was not. The seed and, indeed, the fruit of this
wickedness was manifested, both officially and informally, long before Roe vs
Wade. The Supreme Court's decision was not the catalyst nor indeed the
blueprint of the moral decline of the nation; it was the result. Granted it was a
particularly horrendous and heinous result, but what was evidenced in that
decision was not a formal departure from Christian morality. Rather it was
just another manifestation of that departure already blossoming in the hearts
of many Americans, long before 1973.
Rick's four point analysis of the cultural landscape is accurate and thought
provoking. We do face an explicitly anti-Christian force determined to
paganise America. There is mounting evidence that this administration will
use its powers illegitimately to further its goals. Pagan America does not seek
tolerance of all views but victory of its own. Surely the coming years will bring
further encroachments upon Christian and civil freedom. Sproul Jr. adds to
this when he writes "But while the government countenances it, and in some
instances even finances it, it is Americans, 1.2 million moms, and 1.2 million
boyfriends/fathers/husbands that murder their babies each year. And it is a
voting majority of citizens that continues to permit this. My country is made
up of people who think abortion, sodomy, theft, and aggressive war are all
good things that the state should support." So much for the greatest country
on earth.

However, when has this decline in public and private standards not been
present? Students of history and politics can well attest that this has been an
ongoing activity of government for decades and even centuries. Indeed,
democratically elected governments are in the business of legislating their
way over the opposition's way. Again, Roe vs Wade was a result, not a
catalyst. Moreover, true and sincere Christians have rarely held the balance of
power in America or anywhere else for that matter. Yes, the unbelieving heart
may, by the virtues of common grace, be restricted from a full-blown assault
on the Christian faith. However, by degree, every group of elected leaders in
American history have, in some way, assaulted the "values" of Christians. No
matter how good they are, it is in in the very nature of democratically-elected
governments to do so.

My point is simple: when has there ever been a government which has
refrained from opposing the church? More to the point, we should not be
surprised by this opposition! Ungodliness always seeks to lord itself over
others, especially Christians (John 15:18). That is not to say there have not
been "good" politicians, or ones to whom I, as an individual, would give my
support. My own view is that, in the balance of these matters, America,
complex nation though it is, has not and cannot be a "Christian nation". In
this respect, there seems to be little to "love" about any nation in this age.
This is my issue with Rick's particular counsel on this matter, and Liam's
overstatement of America's greatness. As one church member recently said to
me, as she self-diagnosed a problem she had with the re-election of President
Obama: "I'm too used to thinking like an American and not like a Christian." I
wonder if this is true for too many of us, both Americans and foreigners living
in America?

Loving something is a very powerful idea. Love is defined and shaped after
God's love for us; indeed, we do not know love outside of God's love. God is
love himself and any human love, whether believing or unbelieving, follows
God in this respect. The Biblical pattern for one's relationship to his country
seems more aimed at respect and honour, than love. In rendering to Caesar
what belongs to him, we submit to God's will in that He put in place the
powers that be. Yet love does not seem to enter into this paradigm: indeed
Abraham's love was not for the earthly realm but the heavenly one (Heb
11:10). I simply don't see in Scripture that the Christian is called to love his
country. Yes, he is to submit, yield obedience, give honour, even die for one's
country in armed conflict. But love I do not see.

In conclusion, I fully concur with Rick that we must speak out boldly on
Christian matters even at the risk of ridicule and persecution; we must love
our neighbours and communities, demonstrating the grace of God. We must
support godly leaders and we cannot violate God's Word. We must be Christ-
like and not worldly. We must be in prayer for all these matters and we must
indeed rise up with godly zeal in taking the gospel to all men. This is the
work of the Christian. To love one's country - especially, though not
exclusively - in the current moral and political climate, is not only
increasingly difficult, but possibly a burden none of us were intended to bear.
For (Too Much)
Love of
Country
Greg Boyd says patriotism can
become a spiritual problem.
BY RELEVANT OP ED / CURRENT JULY 02, 2010
 23

TWEET

I am thankful to live in a country that acknowledges

people have rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, and that empowers citizens to influence how
they are governed. I know how rare such freedom has
been throughout history, and how costly it has been to
acquire and protect. Im also proud of many other ideals
America stands for, such as the principle that all people
are created equal (though, were obviously still in the
process of living up to this one). So, I see no problem
with an American Christian being patriotic.

At the same time, followers of Jesus need to be very

careful. History shows us how easy it is for Christians to
forget that the Kingdom Jesus came to establish is not of
this world (John 18:36, TNIV). And its to His Kingdom
we are to pledge our sole allegiance.
Throughout history we find Christians buying the age-old
pagan lie that God uniquely favors their country, and
their national enemies are Gods enemies. Believing that
lie, patriotic Christians have tragically followed the
orders of earthly rulers and marched into battle for God
and country, rather than following the example of
Jesuswho gave His life for the people who persecuted
Him.

Ironically, in some cases the enemies Christians have

slaughtered have been other patriotic Christians who
happened to be born in other countries, or other parts of
the same country. Few things have done more to discredit
Christianity than the patriotic zeal with which Christians
have participated in violence.

Whoever claims to live in him, John teaches us, must

live as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). When we compromise our
commitment to living and loving like Jesus, weve
crossed the line between healthy and idolatrous
patriotism. Jesus and Paul repeatedly command us to
love, bless, pray for and do good to our enemies, and to
never retaliate or resort to violence. Its healthy to
patriotically appreciate the positive aspects of our
country and our form of government. But were putting
that patriotism in front of God the moment our allegiance
to our country motivates us to kill our enemies rather
than to die for them. And anything in our lives that comes
before God is idolatry.

The danger of idolatrous patriotism is not just about how

we compromise our love for enemies. If we become too
invested in our nation, we can forget our real citizenship
is in heaven (Philippians 1:27) and our job is to live as
ambassadors of Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:20). Rather than
manifesting the distinctive values of the Kingdom of
God, we can begin to assume the ideals of our culture are
Kingdom values.

I appreciate that America recognizes my rights to life,

liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but there is nothing
distinctly Kingdom about these rights. Theyre nowhere
to be found in the Bible. To the contrary, as a follower of
Jesus Im called to surrender my rights to life, liberty and
happiness, and instead submit to the will of God. These
rights are noble on a political level, but they can get in
the way of my call to seek first the Kingdom. Im grateful
America extends these rights to people, for most
countries throughout history have not. But my sole
allegiance is to the heavenly Kingdom that calls me to
surrender my rights. If I get too concerned with an
earthly country that frees me to pursue my rights, my
healthy patriotism becomes idolatrous. Ive put my
countrys ideals before God.
Along similar lines, history consistently shows when we
forget were foreigners and exiles in this world, we
can begin to associate our preferred form of government
or politics too closely with the Kingdom of God. Here,
too, its crucial we follow the example of Jesus.

Despite the fact that He lived in an age when plenty of

political and nationalistic issues were being hotly
debated, Jesus never displayed the slightest interest in
such matters. He didnt come to bring us a new and
improved version of the Kingdom of the world. He
came to inaugurate a Kingdom that is not of this world.
Its a Kingdom that is no more Israeli than it is
Palestinian; no more American than it is Iraqi; and no
more socialist than it is democratic. Instead, its a
Kingdom that encompasses people from every nation and
political persuasion, for it puts on display the one new
humanity Jesus died to create (Ephesians 2:15). In this
Kingdom, Paul declares, there is no longer any Jew or
Greek (Galatians 3:27-29). In our Kingdom, all national,
tribal, ethnic, gender, social and economic distinctions
are insignificant.
So over the Fourth of July weekendand all yearbe
appreciative of your country. Be patriotic. But make sure
your patriotism pales in comparison to your sacrifice,
commitment and allegiance to the Kingdom of God.

Gregory a. Boyd is the author of The Myth of a Christian

Religion and The Myth of a Christian Nation (both
Zondervan). Hes the founder and pastor of Woodland
Hills Church in St. Paul, MN. This article originally
appeared in RELEVANT.
Why I choose to
love this country
'I know that as in any superhero story, our own heroes will come
in and save the day, hopefully sooner than later'

Alvin Santos
Published 2:49 PM, July 31, 2014

Updated 1:25 PM, June 03, 2015

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I love the Philippines. This is something that comes as
naturally as saying I love my mother. And could very well
be the reason why we also call it our motherland.
I love this country despite the fact that many of our people are
perceived to be corrupt, corruptible or both. I believe that there
are much greater forces working together or separately to
correct this and I trust I shall live to see a better nation of more
honest citizens.

I love this country despite the fact that our people keep on
electing more wrong than right people in government offices. I
know that as in any superhero story, our own heroes will come
in and save the day, hopefully sooner than later. I also feel that
we've finally gotten it right this time. And this is a good, no, its a
great sign.

I love this country in spite of how poorly constructed and

managed its main airport is. The fact that its constantly brought
up as a national concern means hope and to have hope is good.
Good enough for me at least. There are hundreds of beautiful
reasons to still go and see this country which more than make
up for the little inconveniences that we may experience in an
airport.

Have you even been to Boracay, Bicol or Cebu? Theyre

beautiful! I myself have not been to so many places in the
Philippines which cannot be traveled by land as much as I have
been to places overseas. I am raring to see what else is out
there that we can offer.

I love this country in spite of how bad the traffic situation and its
roads are. This means more time spent with family or friends,
exercising our vocal chords while driving alone in the car,
reading a good book in the bus going home from work or even
praying the rosary, meditating or just going along our daily
conversations with God.
I love this country in spite of how densely populated it is now
with over 100 million people crowding its streets. I am proud that
we do not leave our families especially our elders to other
people's care and take them to nursing homes even if we can
afford it.
I love this country in spite of how badly polluted its streets have
become that even the mildest of rainstorms or mere rain
showers create so much damage and devastation to our
livelihood, our homes or sometimes and worse, even our very
own lives. This only provides platforms where we are constantly
reminded of how immensely we are indomitable in spirit. I dont
think Ive ever seen so many people walk along flooded streets
still with smiles plastered on their faces, waving at the cameras
like they were movie stars. Its amazing!

I love this country in spite of how many of its good citizens flee it
for what they think are greener pastures. This means more
revenue from overseas Filipino workers (OFW) remittances and
better lives for all the families left behind.

I love this country in spite of its pronounced social chasms

where we find most of our fellowmen thriving below fair and
humane living conditions. It is in this situation that we are
reminded of and experience the goodness of the human spirit
and how amazingly we manage to live in a democracy and in
peace.

Love is a decision. And while I can think of a hundred other

reasons not to love this country, I easily choose otherwise just
because it is MY country. So go on sprightly ahead in the bright
future my fellow Filipinos. Rappler.com

Alvin Santos earned a degree in Manufacturing Engineering and

Management at the De La Salle University and works as a
banker for a multi-national organization. He is a full-blooded
Lasallian, writer-hobbyist, a sports enthusiast and hosts for
travelers around the world through travel sites like Flipkey,
Airbnb and Travelmob but first and most of all, a proud Filipino.