Proper Patriotism

Proper Patriotism

I recently saw an article that listed the many bad things in our nation’s history. The list is true, there are some very evil things that have been done in the name of our nation, just as evil is done sometimes even in God’s name. Yet I was grieved that the list included only the bad, none of the good. We do that with people, we do that with political parties, companies. We seem to want to paint everything either black or white. If a person has wronged us, we have trouble seeing the good. If we have really been blessed, we have trouble seeing anything wrong. 

So I saw this summary of the United States that included Vietnam, and treatment of Native Americans, and slavery, and on and on. All of the things listed were true, and looking at the list by itself, one certainly could conclude this nation is evil. Yet it lacked many of the very positive effects of the nation. The many inventions that help the world, made possible through free enterprise. The intervention on behalf of oppressed people, set free from tyranny. The wealth that has been spent to alleviate poverty, rid the the world of certain diseases, and to fund the spreading of the gospel. 

You could look at our nation and say it was built on the backs of slaves, but that is an incomplete picture. We are also the nation that had a moral conscience that ended slavery, though we still need to fight it. Many of the wrongs have been righted. Many still remain to be addressed, but no nation is perfect. Just as we see flawed people, and to do justice to each of them, we must not paint them black because of one misdeed or see them as perfect because of some good they have done. All of us are flawed.

I remember talking about funerals at Bible college. What do we do to honor someone who people are well aware had flaws? Well, we need not lie, but we can show honor to a life lived, even in its flaws. We are not ignorant to the flaws, but we need not focus on them either. It is sad to me when people take the character flaws of the dearly departed and make jokes about it, as though that somehow excuses the person, saying things like, “well, we all know that’s just how so and so was”. Instead, we should focus on the good about them, and honor them. Once they are dead, we can’t reform their negative traits. Perhaps we should have addressed it while they were still alive, but once they have passed, there isn't much point. As an old employer of mine once said, “We all have our piccolos”. 

We celebrate this weekend people who have died for their nation. Some died in wars that were considered by just about everyone to be just wars. Others fought in allegiance to country in wars that seemed to be mistakes. We must realize that no system of government is perfect, any more than the men and women in that system are perfect. We acknowledge our nation’s failings, we should work together to repair the mistakes, but we should also celebrate the many good things that have come because men and women over two centuries have made a sacrifice. 

Just as we sometimes eulogize a person who died, sometimes we need to eulogize our own wrong thinking. And this morning, some might need to eulogize their idea of patriotism. However, as we hopefully bury our own world idea of patriotism, let us replace it with God’s view of patriotism. You see, in the judgment, it is clear that there will be a judgment of individuals, a judgment of churches, and a judgment of nations. We will all have to face our shortcomings in each instance, and yet the end has not yet come, so we have an opportunity to address the shortcomings in our life, and finish better than we are doing right now, as individuals, as a church, and as a nation. 

What we really need in each of those areas is to hunger and thirst for righteousness. You see, the Bible is clear about our desire for peace, and our call to be a people of peace. Now, being a people of peace does not mean we never fight in battles. You see, peace is much more than the absence of military conflict. Peace is a condition of the heart, and for the Christian, sometimes one of the most enviable characteristics we have that world looks at us with jealously is peace. 

As I consider our national heritage, we have had many great leaders who were champions of peace. Yet these were not weaklings. Abraham Lincoln was a peacemaker who had to win a war. Ronald Reagan won the cold war by political and economic means, rather than fighting. Peace sometimes comes because of strength, as FDR famously said, “Walk softly and carry a big stick”. Both in our nations history, and in the account of scripture, when people have sought peace, it was usually sown in righteousness. You cannot have peace without righteousness. Peace that makes deals with evil will never last. This has been proven throughout history. Just as appeasement did not work in dealing with the Nazis, appeasement will not work today if it means appeasing the moral degradation that many in our nation want us to simply give in to without a fight. 

Men and women of peace are what we need to be, as individuals, as a church, and as a nation. In each of these spheres, we have a choice to make attempts at peace, or to stay out of potential conflicts, thinking we will be safe as long as we don’t interfere in the enemy’s plans. If we avoid speaking out, for example, on abortion, we will not find ourselves in the crosshairs of the abortion lobby. But we will not have peace, because peace is sown in righteousness. 

A characteristic of wisdom is meekness. Don’t confuse meekness with weakness. It is not weak to speak softly. Especially if we are carrying the big stick of righteousness. But when we speak at people who disagree with us in ways that are frankly evil, shouting down the opposition, or getting into a verbal push and shove match, we have already lost in our striving for righteousness. We will not have peace. So how can we win arguments without using world ways? We will trust tin God as our defender, and we will learn His statues and precepts, becoming student of His Word, so that we can quietly and confidently speak truth into the world around us, as individuals, as a church, and as a nation. 

James 3:13–18 ESV

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Have you ever known the kind of person you might call a brawler? Yes, they sometimes exist in the church as well. A brawler is someone who will argue just to argue, even taking positions different than they did five minutes ago, just for thrill of the argument. They will shout down rather than reason down. They will win by their sheer will to win, without regard to who is left wounded. In a way, these are the tiny dictators that most of us, at some point in our life will encounter. 

What is really going on behind their bluster, though, is a great weakness and insecurity. Their self-value comes from the appearance of winning or being right. This is often an indication that they have no idea who they are in Christ. When your identity is in Christ, you begin to let go of the need to look good, to win the argument, to be right. But the brawler has no peace, and no righteousness. and you will never hear someone refer to the brawler as someone with wisdom, unless the brawler, like any tiny dictator, has found people of an even more weak mind to be their sycophants. 

James asks this question “Who is wise and understanding among you?” and give the answer “By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom”. Wisdom is so often found in the one who feels the least need to speak loudly. Wisdom is found in the meek. Someone was telling me how they admired a man, a person who served in multiple high-level government positions. This man could be berated, accused of lying and horrible things by a reporter interviewing him, and would always calmly answer, if necessary correcting the accusations, but never getting flustered. I often thought if I were in that position, I would teach that reporter a lesson and give them a verbal dressing down, yet this man always kept his cool. 

Why? For a couple reasons: holding the highest security clearances, this man always knew more than whoever was asking the questions. He had spent a life in the upper echelons of decision making in matters of national security. He had been in the situation room for countless national emergencies. And in light of that, no reporter was going to rattle this unflappable man. 

And we know other government officials, who, as soon as the questioning gets tough, whine like babies, berate the reporter, and even threaten those who dare to challenge them. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. Wow! Notice in vs 15 the descriptors given for the boaster. they get progressively worse. First, it is earthly. Second, unspiritual. and if that isn't enough, it is demonic. 

And then he says, and this agrees with all of scripture, that where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. We are told today that our nation was built on rugged individualism. I disagree, and even if that were true, it would be unbiblical. God did not create the human race to be rugged individuals. He created the human race for fellowship. You see, jealously and selfish ambition, which here are called demonic by James, are made virtues by those who would convince you that America is all about self indulgence and getting rich. 

But our nation was not founded on selfish, rugged, individualism, but on sacrifice, working together, and being a community. Certainly there were pioneer types, who advanced the nation further west, which meant settling away from others. They were certainly rugged, and in one sense, doing it as individuals. But not one person did it entirely on their own. They purchased supplies, or were given land or other incentives to settle the new country, but ultimately, no one ever lived a life as an individual. From the day of birth, we are dependent on others. Those people who ultimately become hermits may be the only rugged individuals, but that was not the norm of our nation and never will be, and it certainly is not a biblical idea in any way, shape or form.

When you hear that the whole point of America or the American dream is whatever hollywood concocted life looks like, that was not how our nation started. Yes, there have been mistakes, and periods of outright evil, but in general, our nation was founded not on rugged individualism but on self-sacrifice. However, we can see that in one sense, this passage of James was prophetic concerning our country. What happens when there is jealousy and selfish ambition (sometimes in the form of rugged individualism)? There will be disorder and every vile practice. What do we see in the news every day in our nation? disorder and every vile practice. Why? Because these are what follow after jealousy and selfish ambition.

But we have an alternative. We do not need to be conformed to this world. If there is disorder, or lack of peace, it is because of a lack of righteousness. James 3:17–18

James 3:17–18 ESV

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

It is interesting that he associates a harvest of righteousness that is sown in peace. Righteousness does not bear fruit without peace. You see, James is linking them together, and the writer of Hebrews does as well: Hebrews 12:11

Hebrews 12:11 ESV

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

If disorder, which is confusion, accompanies the evil of jealousy and selfish ambition, where is the Christian to find himself? The evil brings disorder or confusion, and righteousness brings peace. Paul said: 

1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

So I started by saying I was going to eulogize worldly patriotism, and hopefully replace it with a God-centered view. Most of you have been at a funeral and have heard a eulogy read. Here is the eulogy of worldly patriotism:

Worldly patriotism for many began as a young child. While being taught many wonderful things about his country, they developed a deep love and admiration. They loved the flag, the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance, and the recognition of veterans. They would often tear up while hearing the national anthem. They would see the political speeches on TV and their heart would swell when the anyone spoke of the power and might and goodness of the nation. They sometimes join the military in large part because of love of country and a feeling of obligation that to enjoy the freedoms offered by the constitution, they should at the very least serve. 

That patriotism is not all wrong, but is often based mostly upon a worldly understanding. Now we lay that worldly patriotism to rest, in hopes of replacing it with a more biblical patriotism. 

I want you to understand me clearly: I am not saying don’t love your country. I can tell you that very often these days I and many others pray and weep for this country. We may look at others who hate our country and say “Who are they?” We are free, and freedom means things aren't always the way we want them.”

But today, I realize my patriotism must be glorifying to God. He is not glorified when we gloss over evil in our history, whether as individuals, as a church, or as a nation. He is not glorified when we have jealousy and selfish ambition, whether as individuals, as a church, or as a nation. He is not glorified when we stand idly by as children are molested, addicts are ignored in their misery, immorality of every kind is celebrated, when the right to free speech is suppressed for those who speak for righteousness. He is not glorified when we stand idly by and observe these things, whether in our personal lives, in the church, or in our nation. 

We all long for peace and righteousness to be restored in our nation, in our church, and in our individual lives, yet we do not take the action needed to affect a change. We have become lazy. We have a consumer mentality. Someone else is getting paid to do that, they ought to do better! Or we have an entitlement mentality, that says, it is owed to me that someone do something about this mess! Well, let me say this: when it comes to expecting things to get better around us, we cannot afford to have a consumer mentality or an entitlement mentality, whether it is in our individual lives, our church, or our nation. It is up to each individual to become a person of peace, and that means becoming also a person of righteousness. 

It is a biblical thing to memorialize people and events, but this should never be to glorify the person, or the nation, but to glorify God Almighty. When he assigned a feast, or commanded a memorial, or when  godly biblical leader like Joshua built memorials, it wasn't to glorify what the people had done, but what God had done. And God has done much in our nation, despite the people.

Perhaps one of the greatest things the US can claim is that the worldwide spread of the gospel was largely spread through the wealth of this nation for over a century, and that funding came from generous hearts of people who longed to see the world reached with the love of Christ. And yet, over that same period of time, we became a people who think that since we give to a ministry, we are off the hook. That is the consumer mentality. We still each have a responsibility to advance the kingdom of God. This is done in sharing the gospel personally, but what we have seen today as we opened the Word together is that we need to be a people of righteousness and peace. 

Romans 14:17–19 ESV

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

So as you celebrate this long weekend, and remember those who died for our nation, give glory to God. You see, the bible has clearly taught us that the whole reason for remembering history is not just to learn from history, but to remember what God has done, how he is faithful, how he follows through on his commitments, how he shows mercy and judgment and grace and discipline, all of which are for the good of those who love him. Remember your family, friends, and others that you honor this weekend, remember them for the good they did, and don’t gloss over the flaws, but think about how you can glorify God as you honor them. 

I am assigning a reading for you. I ask you to read this passage today or tomorrow and remember that God does indeed call upon us to patriotism and to recalling the past, but for one reason: To bring Him the glory. The passage is Psalm 78. I would read it, but it is a little long to read through right now. Read is and remember. I close with the opening of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. Paul tells the people that he remembers them. We all would do well to reflect from time to time on those who have been a part of our lives as well:

Philippians 1:3–11 ESV

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.