How to be a Christian Patriot
How to be a Christian Patriot
July 3rd and July 4th, 2004
Introduction
We have been talking about prayer. We are believing to see a spirit of prayer or a prayer movement come for this church. This is an election year and we are still fighting a war on terrorism and a lot of things are happening. This is a time to see the value of prayer and seeking the hand of God. In the Kingdom of God we advance on our knees.
This is the weekend of the fourth of July so I sense that it would be pleasing to the Lord to talk about “How to be a Christian Patriot”. I spoke in the past about freedom and America’s place in our world as well as in our lives.
Can I be a Christian and be a patriot or should I just write the whole thing off and wait for Jesus to come? On the other hand should I throw my life into the affairs of men to the extent that I ignore the things of the Spirit and of God?
pa•tri•ot chiefly British noun
: one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests
pa•tri•ot•ism: love for or devotion to one’s country[1]
1. Value Our Government
Jeremiah 29
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon/: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” [2] /
-The Jews were taken captive and God told them to pray for and seek the peace of prosperity of the cities (and we could add countries) where they were to go.
-God said that the prosperity of the place where they went was linked to their own.
-He said to live their and be a part of the culture. Enjoy it!
-In other words, shoot off fireworks and eat junk food, it’s a holiday.
-It is so easy to resent rules but if there were no rules there could be no freedom.
-Rules keep people from having the right to shoot me because they disagree.
-Rules keep food producers from poisoning me and my family so their watermelons will grow bigger.
Romans 13
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
/6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. [3]/
-Government is God’s way of keeping order in a fallen world so the message of Jesus can go out to everyone.
-If you resent government go so place where it isn’t or isn’t very good, like Haiti.
-It is given by God to serve people while they serve God.
2. Value Our History
-When you look in your family tree you always find a few fruits and nuts.
(example with mom’s history)
-America’s family tree is like that. We have some bad eggs but some wonderful shining moments.
-If you are honest after studying America’s history and founding; you have to come to the same conclusion as the United States Supreme Court:
Our law and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind ... it is impossible that it should be otherwise and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian….This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation…that this is a Christian nation. We are founded to legislate, propagate, and secure Christianity.”
U.S. Supreme Court, 1892 Church of the Holy Trinity vs. The United States
At the time of the adoption of the Constitution and the amendments the universal sentiment was that Christianity should be encouraged, not any one sect.... There can be no substitute for Christianity ... that was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants. The great, vital and conservative element in our system is the belief of our people in the pure doctrines and divine truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- The U.S. House Judiciary Committee Report, 1853
Whatever strikes at the root of Christianity tends manifestly to the dissolution of civil government.
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1811
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."
Thomas Jefferson (But what does he know about it, he just helped author the founding documents of our country.)
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."
George Washington (But what does he know about it, he was just our first president?)
-Rediscover and value our history!
3. Value Our Freedom
-As I was preparing this message I was thinking that the two most important decisions most of us will make after church on the fourth of July is where to watch fireworks and what I was going to eat.
-I don’t have to decide which of my children gets to eat today. I don’t have to hide in the woods so the government doesn’t take me to jail for preaching the gospel.
-All over the world people don’t have those same privileges. I enjoy a level of freedom that is easy to take for granted.
-I don’t personally want to export America all over the world. I do want to export the principles that make her special.
-I can think of no greater principle than freedom.
-America has a freedom that allows opposing voices to be heard so the cream will rise to the top.
-Many nations tell you what to believe.
-God gives us the freedom to choose our beliefs and lifestyle.
Deuteronomy 30
19 /This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. [4]/
-He also makes it an open book test!
-This freedom came at a great cost. Many people died so we could live free.
-If we lose the value of freedom and stop teaching it to our children and grandchildren, no one will value it enough to sacrifice to keep it, especially by laying down their lives.
4. Value Our Destiny
-I think it is possible to be a Christian patriot.
-The first step is to realize that your first allegiance is to Jesus Christ.
-He is the ultimate authority.
-Something much more important than America is going on here.
-God is creating the future where the people who have chosen to submit to Him will rule and reign with Him.
-America is a means to an end and not an end in itself.
-We have the opportunity to have a revival that changes America forever.
-I read about the Wesleyan revival, and the Welsh revival, and the Cane Ridge revival in Kentucky and I am jealous.
-Why not a Great Awakening? Why not a revival that transcends politics and Supreme Courts and talk shows?
2 Chronicles 7
14 /if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. [5]/
-I want to impact other nations. That is God’s heart.
-The light that shines furthest shines brightest at home.
· WALK IN THE LIGHT AS AN EXAMPLE
· SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE
· GET INVOLVED IN YOUR SCHOOLS, THE GOVERNMENT, THE COMMUNITY
· GET EDUCATED AND VOTE
· FIND THE ADDRESSES AND E-MAILS AND PHONE NUMBERS OF YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND THE PRESIDENT
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations conspire a
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One. b
3 “Let us break their chains,” they say,
“and throw off their fetters.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my King c
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my Son d;
today I have become your Father. e
8 Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will rule them with an iron scepter f;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
/[6]/
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
/[7]/
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[1]Merriam-Webster, I. (1996, c1993). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (10th ed.). Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster.
[2]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Je 29:4). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[3]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ro 13:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[4]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Dt 30:19). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[5]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (2 Ch 7:14). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
a Hebrew; Septuagint rage
b Or anointed one
c Or king
d Or son; also in verse 12
e Or have begotten you
f Or will break them with a rod of iron
[6]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ps 2:1). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[7]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ps 2:10). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.