America Then and Now
The United States of America This is my country, and I am proud to share it with millions. It has an amazing history and was built by good men, women, and children who believed in freedom as an unalienable right given to all people by their Creator. Unfortunately, a lot of this history has been lost to many Americans. We would like to be a part of recovering this history--be it good or bad. How much value specific knowledge has is up for debate, but one thing is for certain, knowledge of many sorts is essential for making important decisions and to find the truth. "And the truth will set you free" (John 8:32, NIV).
Patriotism and Christianity--Why should a Christian care about patriotism or America's history when our allegiance is to God?
There has long been a struggle to understand a Christian's role in love and duty to an earthly country. Some have opted to stay out of state affairs entirely, while others show passive patriotism. Still others have displayed a zeal for their country that is puzzling and disturbing to other Christians.
My experience
As a kid, Iwas often puzzled about how I should feel. I was patriotic, but I admit I wasn't ever very passionate about it until September 11, 2001. I was raised in a church that put strong emphasis on the end time prophecies of the Bible, and I was taught that in the end, all countries including America would do things that would limit our freedom to worship God. With this in mind, I wondered how I could have a passionate allegiance to my country.
This all changed with the terrorist attacks on 9-11 when I was thirteen. I finally began to understand. My primitive understanding was this: I love God and I love my country. But I love my God more, because it is He who has given me my country, and not my country that has given me Him. Therefore, my allegiance to God is stronger.
Over the years, my understanding has developed more. This is my view now: Allegiance to my country is allegiance to my God. I am aware that that sounds rather...Nazi-like. Please read on before you judge it; it is nothing like that. This leads to
True Patriotism
True patriotism is not doing whatever those in power tell you to do. True patriotism is doing what is best for your country. As a Christian, I believe that means fighting for freedom for all people. I will expound upon my personal view of what is best for my country later (mainly on the Politics page). I respect that there will be significant differences in opinion on this, but that does not make any of us any less patriotic.
Patriotism and Christianity--Why should a Christian care about patriotism or America's history when our allegiance is to God?
There has long been a struggle to understand a Christian's role in love and duty to an earthly country. Some have opted to stay out of state affairs entirely, while others show passive patriotism. Still others have displayed a zeal for their country that is puzzling and disturbing to other Christians.
My experience
As a kid, Iwas often puzzled about how I should feel. I was patriotic, but I admit I wasn't ever very passionate about it until September 11, 2001. I was raised in a church that put strong emphasis on the end time prophecies of the Bible, and I was taught that in the end, all countries including America would do things that would limit our freedom to worship God. With this in mind, I wondered how I could have a passionate allegiance to my country.
This all changed with the terrorist attacks on 9-11 when I was thirteen. I finally began to understand. My primitive understanding was this: I love God and I love my country. But I love my God more, because it is He who has given me my country, and not my country that has given me Him. Therefore, my allegiance to God is stronger.
Over the years, my understanding has developed more. This is my view now: Allegiance to my country is allegiance to my God. I am aware that that sounds rather...Nazi-like. Please read on before you judge it; it is nothing like that. This leads to
True Patriotism
True patriotism is not doing whatever those in power tell you to do. True patriotism is doing what is best for your country. As a Christian, I believe that means fighting for freedom for all people. I will expound upon my personal view of what is best for my country later (mainly on the Politics page). I respect that there will be significant differences in opinion on this, but that does not make any of us any less patriotic.