Christian Patriotism on the 4th of July

Here are some musings for the 4th of July regarding Christians and patriotism. In keeping with the Neither/Nor theme of this blog, I find myself refusing two popular notions of patriotism. The first is a close identification of faith and country that sees this as God’s chosen nation (even a Christian nation) and bristles at any criticism of it—from within or without—as somehow an attack on our core values. The second approach, which I also reject, is hyper-critical of everything American and misses no opportunity to denigrate a way of life that has been a blessing to millions, both here and abroad.

I like Solzhenitsyn’s response to leaders of the Soviet Union when they criticized him as a traitor and anti-patriotic for his courageous stand against Soviet abuses at home and abroad. He said, essentially, a patriot is someone who wants his or her country to be the most just, humane, and freedom-loving place that it can be—that is, one that actually lives up to its stated values. He considered himself a hardcore Russian patriot who called his society back to its highest ideals, even if that made its leaders uncomfortable.

The operative verse for Christian patriotism (or that of any other religion) is Jeremiah 29:7—“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” The Hebrew word translated “peace and prosperity” is shalom, a foundational biblical word and principle (which will recur in this blog).

In short, believers should be “good news” to their neighborhoods, cities, and country. And if we are, more often than not (though not always) we will be recognized as such. There is a sense in which we are aliens (“in exile”) in this world (“the world is not my home; I’m just a passin’ through”), but we are “resident aliens” (to use an OT term), and we should work to help our society flourish.

So neither the knee-jerk chauvinism of “America—love it or leave it,” nor the “evil America” of those with no gratitude for the blessings they enjoy in living here. Criticize it because you are grateful and because you want everyone to share in the blessing. And understand that we are called to do more than either bless or criticize it; we are called to work on its behalf.

Enjoy the fireworks!