The Christian Patriot

The movie, “The Patriot,” had its fans and its critics. Some, with a mind to the contrary, viewed the violence in the name of patriotism disgusting. True, the British “redcoats” were portrayed as tyrannical villains, but the patriot was merciless as he settled scores in the name of liberty. Where were the Christians in the war of independence from Great Britain? They were on both sides and equally convinced that they were in the right. Modern Americans sit under the tree of freedom from their British overlords because many Christians took up the fight for the establishment of a new nation.

The American Civil War brought Christians into conflict with one another over the right of states to secede from the union. Where one was born seems largely to have determined loyalties. In some cases brother fought against brother. Christians who were not necessarily for slavery rallied to the defense of their families and state. Wars such as the War Between the States and Revolutionary War in America forced the church to think about what constitutes good citizenship as revealed in the Scriptures. Even in our own day the war in Iraq has some Christians at odds with one another over its legitimacy.

On this July 4th the features of biblical patriotism need to be revisited. The Bible does not endorse any particular form of government. Whether it is a dictatorship, oligarchy, monarchy, or a democracy, God’s people are to obey the laws of their government. Civil government has a two-fold God-given purpose. The good of society by being a terror to evil-doers and praising those who exemplify good citizenship constitute the essence of good government. This is accomplished by the protection of life and property and the preservation of peace and order. Through fines, imprisonment, confiscation of property, and the execution of the death penalty human governments function to repress evil. This all reminds us of the value of law as a restraint to wrong doing. Those who say that morality can’t be legislated are right if they mean you can’t have laws to prevent anger. But laws and penalties against crimes of violence and murder are not morally neutral. God has ordained human government to protect its citizens in an evil world.

A fierce debate rages today over the relationship between church and state in a constitutional republic. What seems to have been lost in appeals to a strict separation of church and state is the will of our founding fathers, namely a free church in a free state. The Bible does not subordinate the church to the state nor the state to the church. The state is not to establish a state church, but nowhere in the founding documents of our nation is it declared that God is to be banished from the public square. Those who are working for a secular state are conspicuously promoting unconstitutional endeavors and schemes of rebellion against God Almighty.

Patriotism for the Christian honors the right to serve in the military. This is not a violation of responsibility to obey God’s laws. In relation to the spiritual kingdom God’s servants do not fight (Jn. 18:36). This, however, does not conflict with bearing arms and fighting for one’s country. When the war is a just war, soldiering is both a service to one’s nation and a ministry on behalf of God (Rom. 13:4). A biblically enlightened conscience led some to fight as Loyalists to the throne of England in the Revolutionary War and others to fight as American patriots. The Civil War created a similar divergence of action. God’s judgment is equitable and according to His infinite wisdom. Today we have young men and women serving in our armed forces all over the world. Many have given their lives in the service of their country. This is an honorable and noble cause. They need our support and prayers.

The nations of this world will not bow their knees to Jesus Christ until He returns in glory at His second coming. Human government does not hold the solution to moral and social ills. Nations are doomed to futile efforts as they seek to bring about a utopia. But, like Daniel and his three friends, the church of Jesus Christ is to serve God by holding its respective governments accountable to God. At the same time service is to be rendered to one’s nation as a true patriot as long as no demand is made to disobey God. Christian patriots know that one day the kingdom of the world will become “the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”

Dr. Howard E. Dial
Berachah Bible Church