Can Christians be Patriotic?

Happy Fourth of July! As fireworks light up the sky and we gather to celebrate the ideals of liberty and nationhood, it’s a powerful moment to reflect on what it truly means to be a faithful citizen.

Where do we draw the line between love of country and ultimate love of God?

In a world where political allegiances can demand our ultimate loyalty, how do we navigate our responsibilities as both citizens of earthly nations and members of God's eternal Kingdom?

History has seen the rise and fall of countless empires, kingdoms, and republics. Great nations emerge, flourish, and eventually fade. Yet, through it all, one Kingdom has endured and will last forever: the Kingdom of God. 

Dual Citizenship: Earthly Responsibilities, Heavenly Allegiance

Scripture offers us profound wisdom on this dual reality. Paul reminds us in Romans 13 that "every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." This means civil government exists by divine design, and we are called to respect its proper order.

Peter echoes this, instructing us to "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor" (1 Peter 2:17). We are to honor our nation’s leaders and institutions, but our deepest love is reserved for the family of faith, and our ultimate fear (reverential awe and worship) belongs to God alone. This establishes a clear hierarchy of loyalties: honor for our nation is important, but not more important than love for fellow believers and others, and even that isn't more important than the fear for God.

Jesus Himself encapsulated this balance with His brilliant response to the tax question: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:21). The coin bore Caesar's image, so it belonged to his domain. But we, as human beings, bear God's image (Genesis 1:27), meaning our ultimate allegiance is His. Our earthly obligations are real, but our obligation to God is total. As Paul tells the Philippians, "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20).

Our national identities, while significant, remain penultimate. Our deepest identity comes from our membership in God's eternal Kingdom.

The Limits of Patriotism: When God's Will Comes First

This dual citizenship means that while we are called to be exemplary citizens, our loyalty to God must always take precedence. The Apostles themselves modeled this when commanded to stop preaching about Christ: "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). When national demands contradict divine commands, our primary allegiance is clear. True Christian patriotism never allows love of country to become an idol, demanding the worship and absolute devotion reserved only for God. History reminds us of the dangers when patriotism morphs into idolatrous nationalism that seeks to replace divine authority.

Remember, what we both fear and love the most is our true god. I often see people who (on either side of the political spectrum) live in a state of perpetual anxiety about the state of our nation. I have to ask, what are you "fearing" here that eclipses God? What would happen if our nation didn't endure forever, if it fell apart, even if it descended into despotism or dictatorship? Would this be sad and lamentable? Absolutely.

But it wouldn't be the end of the world. The Kingdom of God would endure. Our true citizenship would remain secure. Even if we some-day had to practice our faith under persecution, well, it wouldn't be the first time that's happened to believers. It happens to people all around the world today as more people are actually martyred for their faith in Jesus now than at any time in history. If that was what we were called to, so be it. We could give thanks that we were considered worthy of suffering for Christ... for in Christ, we always suffer with Christ.

Now, I don't think that we're going to see the United States fall in our lifetimes. But the fear of something like that happening, the intense anger and passion people have about politics, reveals a deeper, more insidious problem. What is it they truly fear and trust the most? If you have faith in God, through Christ, there's nothing that can happen in this world that should leave you terrified.

Gratitude for Freedom and Sacrifice

As Christians in the United States, we have immense reason for gratitude this Fourth of July. The freedoms we enjoy – especially the freedom to worship, to gather, and to proclaim the Gospel – are precious gifts. These liberties, enshrined in our nation's founding principles, have allowed the Church to flourish and spread the Good News unhindered in many ways that are not possible elsewhere in the world.

And we must never forget the cost of these freedoms. This day is also a solemn reminder of the countless individuals who have volunteered, fought, and made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation. Their courage and dedication have secured the liberties we cherish, including our ability to practice our faith openly. We honor their memory and their service with deep appreciation, recognizing their selflessness as a profound act that has benefited us all.

Living as Citizens of Two Kingdoms

So, how do we live out this Christian patriotism?

1. Responsible Citizenship: We are called to contribute positively to the common good of our nation – paying taxes, praying for our leaders, participating in civic processes, and actively working for justice and peace within our society.

2. Prophetic Voice: We are also called to be a conscience for our nation, speaking out against injustice and calling our society to align more closely with God's moral law and His standards of truth and love.

3. Ultimate Allegiance: Above all, our love for country should never surpass our love for God, and our commitment to His eternal Kingdom should always take precedence over earthly allegiances.

This Fourth of July, as we celebrate earthly freedom, let's simultaneously reaffirm our ultimate allegiance to Christ the King. Let us give thanks for the nation we live in, for the freedoms we enjoy, and for the ways God has used our nation to promote a greater Kingdom throughout her relatively short history.

May our patriotism be tempered by humility, guided by Scripture, and always rooted in our identity as citizens of Heaven. For while nations rise and fall, Christ's Kingdom stands firm, forever.

So, yes... so long as it doesn't become "idolatrous," we can and in most cases should be patriotic. Just make sure that what's first remains first.

Make sure what you fear, love, and trust above all things is God alone.

And when we see our nation committing injustices, when we see the powers that be oppressing the poor, those who are suffering, we speak out.

But we do more than that.

We extend mercy to those for whom our nation doesn't.

We help the poor in our neighborhoods, in our communities, and we help the refugees settle and thrive.

Where the nation's compassion lacks... we thrive. We love even when the powers-that-be hate. We pray even when the world around us condemns and criticizes. When our leaders are imperfect, or fail, or even support what we think are great evils, we pray for them, and invoking a greater King, we embody His love where it's lacking in the world. We celebrate the security of our forever-citizenship even as the world remains anxious over politics.

 

In Jesus' name,

Judah

 

If you're interested in the intersection of faith and patriotism, you 'll probably enjoy by David Shepherd Thrillers. Check them out.