How can the Christian be patriotic?

What is patriotism and how can the Christian be patriotic?

The first rule of the faith is that God comes first.  The teachings of Jesus are primary in our life. Our families come second, we come second. The country comes next. The United States of America and the Christian faith are two separate things.

As much as we would like to wed the two concepts “Christian” and “nation” we cannot. I want the folks who govern this country to live out a deeply held Christian faith. What I know is, even those who hold to the faith, are not always able to make the Congress and Senate act according to the will of God. For that matter, Christians disagree on what the will of God might be in given situations.

The corporate “nation” will act in ways that the individual Christian might not ever consider.

The church should speak truth to power. If the church and state are one, that can never happen.

For example, the church was at the forefront of the civil rights movement, deeply involved in the anti-war movement (or the movement for peace), advocated for the poor and campaigned against the death penalty.

The church is meant to make the nation better, to hold it accountable, to speak up when the nation needs guidance.

I once wrote a letter to the newly elected Senator Wendell Ford, asking him not to pursue efforts to dam the Red River Gorge. His letter in response, gave me all the reasons it should be dammed.

We still have the Red River Gorge in original condition. I considered it part of my faith journey to express my opinion about this issue. I did, and just maybe, I made a difference.

The Christian is a patriot when he or she helps make the nation better. Waving the flag, marching in parades and singing the “Star Spangled Banner” all have their place. I love to do each one of those things.

But the real Christian patriot is working every day to keep the nation accountable to the principles of the faith, among which are peace, compassion, environmental stewardship and liberty and justice for all.

Moving to the deeper places,

Jeff