A.At present, many people are very concerned for the future of our nation.
1.One glimpse of the evening news will show you all the trouble around us: war, terrorism, earthquakes, hurricanes, declining job markets, rising gas prices, rising food prices, etc.
2.The message that the popular news media is sending is that “the sky is falling” and we all need to panic and worry.
B.As Christians, what should our attitude be toward the nation in which we live?
1.Christians are not immune to the problems that affect our nation, but to what degree should they concern us?
2.While the news media and politicians see all the nation’s problems in terms of economics and politics, should not Christians view the nation in spiritual and moral terms?
3.Presently, let us consider our relationship to the nation in which we live.
II.PATRIOTISM
A.What is the meaning of patriotism?
1.By its common and modern use, the term “patriotism” means “zealous love for one’s country.”
2.In literal terms, “patriotism” comes from the Greek word patrios, which means “of one’s fathers.”
a.In Greek, pater means “father.”It is the root of our English word “paternity.”
b.Regarding patriotism or patrios, we have many so-called fathers who came before us and established our form of government and our way of life.
i.For example, Abraham Lincoln said, “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” (Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863).
ii.In this sense, a patriot is one who seeks to conform to the ways of his fathers.
B.What should patriotism mean for a Christian?
1.Certainly, we who are Christians have responsibilities toward our country.
a.The Scriptures instruct us to submit to our government (Rom. 13:1-5).
b.We are also to pay taxes (Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:6-8).
c.We are also to honor and pray for our rulers (1Tim. 2:1-2; 1Pet. 2:17).
d.Some have disputed what a Christian’s role should be regarding voting, civil service, military service, etc.However, the Scriptures have not bound us on these matters.
2.Let us understand that the responsibilities that we have toward our country are entirely grounded in our relationship with our Father in heaven.
a.Our fathers founded this nation, but our Father in heaven is the origin of all men.
i.Notice Ephesians 3:14-15 – “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father (Pater), from whom every family (patria) in heaven and on earth derives its name.”Every person, whether he acknowledges it or not, has his origin in God.
ii.In the sense that patriotism is conforming to the ways of our Father, Christians must be patriotic.We submit to government, pay taxes, and pray for our leaders because it is the will of our Father in heaven who created us.
b.Not only do we have our origin from our Father in heaven, but Christians’ citizenship is in heaven also (Phil. 3:20).
i.This is not to say that we cannot be citizens of a worldly nation also, but our first allegiance must always be to our heavenly Father and His kingdom (Matt. 6:33).
ii.We must also understand that God’s people are not in a single worldly nation.Instead, His people are in the Lord’s church throughout the world (1Pet. 2:9-10).
3.If we love our Father and we love our country, then let us glorify Him and work to save her.
a.Consider Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”
i.Just as salt is a preservative, so also Christians can preserve our nation.
ii.Let us therefore keep ourselves pure from the world so that the salt does not lose its flavor and become good for nothing and unable to preserve.
b.Also consider Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
i.In one effort, we can both glorify God and shine a guiding light to our nation.
ii.To do so, Christians must “be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom (we) appear as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).
III.WHAT IF OUR NATION FALLS?
A.God has always punished nations for their sins.
1.The history of the world’s nations is summarized in one Scriptural principle – “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 14:34).
a.When nations have followed after righteousness, they have prospered in God’s blessings.
b.However, when nations have turned to sin, they have fallen.
i.The Old Testament is filled with prophecies against wicked nations (Assyria, Babylon, Edom, Egypt, Moab, Philistia, etc.).History has recorded their ends.
ii.Even God’s own people in Israel and Judah were not immune to the disgrace of sin.They, like the others, fell as a result of their wickedness.
2.The same principle that has always governed the nations will govern ours as well.
a.God does not respect our nation above any other.
i.Notice Isaiah 40:17 – “All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.”
ii.God can effortlessly overthrow our nation like any other – “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust” (Isa. 40:15).
b.Therefore, if we pursue righteousness as a nation, then we can expect to be exalted.However, if we pursue sin, then we can expect a disgraceful downfall.
B.Nevertheless, God will not sweep away the righteous with the wicked.
1.Wicked people and nations have come and gone, but God has always preserved His faithful people.
a.When God destroyed the world by water, He preserved Noah and his family (Gen. 6-9).
b.When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He spared righteous Lot and his family (Gen. 18:16-19:29; 2Pet. 2:7-9).
c.When God sent Israel and Judah into captivity, He preserved a remnant of faithful people (Isa. 10:20-22; 37:32; Jer. 23:3).
d.The church itself has endured almost two thousand years of nations, kingdoms, and empires.Most of those governments are gone forever, but the church remains.
2.Therefore, we have no reason to fear or worry as long as we have peace with God.
a.Notice Proverbs 3:25-26 – “Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.”
b.Likewise, consider Hebrews 13:5-6 – “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The LORD is my Helper, I will not be afraid.What will man do to me?’”
c.Truly, it is God who provides our security and sustenance, not a nation or a government.
i.Food, shelter, clothing, etc., come from God, not men.
ii.Even if we should be without these things, our souls will endure through Christ, for our lives do not consist of our possessions (Luke 12:15).
IV.CONCLUSION
A.We all have legitimate concerns for our nation.Let us cast those concerns upon our Father in heaven through prayer in Christ’s name (Matt. 6:25-34; Phil. 4:6-7; Heb. 4:14-16; 1Pet. 5:7).
B.Let us also work to exalt God and His righteousness so that we may have the best effect possible on our fellow citizens of this nation.
C.When we have done these things, then let not our minds be troubled, for the Lord will be our confidence regardless of what becomes of this nation, this world, or this life.
