AM I NOT A PATRIOT?!
my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom
-Derek Webb
I know that some may disagree with me and that is fine. I know we all have our little issues, but when I see a t-shirt like the pic above my blood pressure rises a few points. I want to ask the person what REALLY is the message you are trying to get across? IS your first concern the Gospel? Do you want the person who reads this to ask you about Jesus or about America?
Don't get me wrong I love my country. I love the freedoms that I have enjoyed for my 30 years here on this earth. I respect the men and women who fight to defend those freedoms. I admire the men who sat down over 200 years ago and drafted the Constitution. What an amazing document that is! As if saying to future generations, HERE is the kind of country that we want to see built.
It is amazing to me how much of the early fathers based our Constitution on Biblical Values. And yet I have to remind myself that America is NOT in the Bible! As great as this land is, It was not spoken of in the Holy Scriptures. This is not the new Land of Canaan! George W. Bush did not usher in the Second Coming as I think many hoped he would.
I just know that there are many people in our churches that can get real misty eyed at the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, but when we sing of Christ redemptive work on the cross they sing as if out of duty and not passion.
I guess over the years I have come to realize that I am not in the "America: Love It or Leave It" crowd. As much as I love my country, I know that the Gospel is for all nations. And as some need to remember, this world is not our home. One day we will all become very patriotic, not for America, but for a New Jerusalem!
I know these thoughts are very scattered and I probably should have taken more time to develop them. I know that there is another statement in that pic: One Nation Under God. There is so much I could say about that., but I'll save that for another day. Until then ask yourself this question: Do you see a Muslim as an enemy of America or as a sinner in need of grace?
