True Patriotism

Each Independence Day my family and I go to watch the fireworks and the parade along with others in the Community. As we were enjoying the festivities this year, I notice some people were wearing some form of red, white, and blue. Being a lover of Old Glory myself I didn’t think much of it. As I thought about it some more and had to ask myself, “does wearing red, white, and blue or waving the American flag make someone a true patriot?” Sadly, I had to answer, “no”. There’s nothing wrong with wearing the colors of our country or waving and displaying our flag. However, it must be much more than this. So, if waving the American flag and/or wearing something red, white, and blue does not make one a patriot, then what does make someone a true patriot?

Websters Dictionary of 1828 defines patriotism as:

PAT'RIOTISM ,noun Love of one's country; the passion which aims to serve one's country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity. patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen.

As Webster’s Dictionary defines it, patriotism is more than just wearing our countries colors or waving and displaying our flag. Patriotism should be a passion in our hearts that seeks to serve the country which we claim to love. It serves in many ways whether in the military or soup kitchen. Patriotism defends our nations laws and long-established institutions. It’s being involved in our communities whether serving on the school board or helping at a local organization. Patriotism should motivate us to action.

In addition to the above definition of patriotism, I also believe there is a spiritual aspect as well to patriotism. Nehemiah 1:1-11 shows how much this one man loved his country that he fasted and prayed for days to God for his country.

Ezra 7 and 8:21-23 also shows how Ezra gathered the people together to help rebuild the holy temple of Jerusalem which had laid in ruins for decades. However, before the people set out on their journey to rebuild the temple Ezra assembled everyone to fast and pray so they could beseech the Lord’s intervention and assistance (Ezra 8:21-23). We need this kind of patriotism today more than ever.

Even our founding fathers acknowledged the Almighty in times of great peril in our country. In late 1860 when a national conflict was about to begin, President James Buchanan called on the nation to fast and pray. In his proclamation President Buchanan stated:

“In this the hour of our calamity and peril, to whom shall we resort for relief but to the God of our fathers? His omnipotent arm only can save us from the awful effects of our own crimes and follies — our own ingratitude and guilt towards our Heavenly Father.

Let us, then, with deep contrition and penitent sorrow, unite in humbling ourselves before the Most High, in confessing our individual and national sins, and in acknowledging the injustice of our punishment. Let us implore Him to remove from our hearts that false pride of opinion which would impel us to persevere in wrong for the sake of consistency, rather than yield a just submission to the unforeseen exigencies by which we are now surrounded. Let us with deep reverence beseech him to restore the friendship and good will which prevailed in former days among the people of the several States; and, above all, to save us from the horrors of civil war and “blood-guiltiness.” Let our fervent prayers ascend to His Throne that He would not desert us in this hour of extreme peril, but remember us as he did our fathers in the darkest days of the revolution; and preserve our Constitution and our Union, the work of their hands, for ages yet to come.

An Omnipotent Providence may overrule existing evils for permanent good. He can make the wrath of man to praise Him, and the remainder of wrath he can restrain. — Let me invoke every individual, in whatever sphere of like he may be placed, to feel a personal responsibility to God and his country for keeping this day holy, and for contributing all in his power to remove our actual and impending calamities”.[i]

Not only are we to fast and pray, but as patriots we are also to acknowledge God as a nation. October 17th 1789 President George Washington declared in his proclamation:

“WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor”[ii]

Unfortunately, there are consequences for nations who fail to acknowledge God (Psalm 79:6, Jeremiah 10:25). It is sad that in our nation today we may be experiencing these consequences.

Friends, today we need true patriots. We need people who love our country so much that they are willing to serve, protect, fast, and pray for our nation during these trying times. We need people who will acknowledge God and seek His face. It is time we get on bended knees and seek forgiveness for our nation’s sins. 2 Chronicles 7:14 shows what the Lord will do if we humble ourselves, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. This is what we need to do as a nation. If we fail to do this as a nation, we will reap what we have sown.

It is my hope and prayer everyone who reads these words would be convicted and begin to demonstrate true patriotism that our nation so desperately needs. God Bless.

Patrick Labriola

Founder, Saving Faith Ministries

[i] Proclamation - Humiliation Fasting and Prayer - 1860 - WallBuilders [ii] Proclamation - Thanksgiving Day - 1789 - WallBuilders