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WHAT IS PATRIOTISM

(II Chronicles 7:14)
July 5, 2009

Saying the Pledge of Allegiance does not make you patriotic. Singing the Star Spangled Banner does not make you patriotic. Wearing a red, white and blue lapel pen does not make you patriotic. Having a "God Bless America" bumper sticker does not make you patriotic. Raising a flag in your front yard does not make you patriotic.

These are simply symbolic gestures. Anyone can do these things. Christians can do them and criminals can do them. Such acts can be done from pure motives or impure motives. So what is a true patriot?

I. FIRST, WE DEMONSTRATE PATRIOTISM BY OBEYING THE LAWS OF THE LAND.

Paul said, "You must obey the government. You must obey not only because you might be punished, but because you know it is the right thing to do." (Rom. 13:5, edb).

Now, being law abiding doesn't mean that we're to be mindless and gullible. Laws have often been unjust when it comes to women's rights and minority rights. Laws about slavery and segregation were wrong. Laws in Russia and Iran have been wrong. No government has the right to require its citizens to obey unjust and immoral laws.

The Scriptures clarify this, when the disciples taught about Jesus, after being forbidden to do so. Peter and the other apostles answered, "We must obey God, not men!" (Acts 5:29, edb).

Therefore, obeying the law means following productive rules and regulations and working to change unproductive rules and regulations. Some people, claiming to be super patriotic love to repeat the quote, "My country, right or wrong." But they don't finish that statement which says, "If right, to be kept right; if wrong, to be put right." So, a patriot supports the laws of the land when they're right, but works to change the laws when they're wrong.

II. NEXT, WE DEMONSTRATE PATRIOTISM BY VOTING INTELLIGENTLY ON ELECTION DAY.

A Democracy is only as strong as its informed and active population. Solomon said, "Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be happy." (Prov. 16:20)

"My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight" (Prov. 3:21).

"Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them" (Prov. 18:15).

"A wise person can overcome weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good." (Ecc. 9:18).

We often neglect our civic duty because we think our vote won't matter much. But just one vote can make a tremendous difference. There are many examples which prove this fact. For instance, Henry Shoemaker, an Indiana farmer used a home-made ballot in 1842 to vote for Madison March for State Representative. The ballot was accepted and Marsh was elected by one vote. The next year, the state legislature elected a United States Senator by a margin of one vote. It was Marsh's vote that sent Edward A Hannegan to Washington.
Early in 1845 the Senate was split on admitting Texas to the Union. Hannegan was presiding. Texas became a state because of one vote - Hannegan's.

Your one vote and your one voice is important.

When apathy, ignorance and selfishness affects our choices great evil result. A patriot makes wise decisions concerning legislation and candidates.

III. FINALLY, WE DEMONSTRATE PATRIOTISM BY PRACTICING GOOD CITIZENSHIP IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

Peter said, "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king." (I Peter 2:16-17).

Paul said, "Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." (Rom. 12:10)
"We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord." (Rom. 15:2).

"Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters." Gal. 6:10).

Herbert V. Prochnow, president of the First National Bank of Chicago, concluded a commencement address at the University of Wisconsin with these words: "This is every citizen's decision and the one great objective in life: to take whatever occupation or profession one may be in - doctor, businessman, farmer, banker, attorney, school teacher or housewife - and to live nobly - to live for those ideals that will outlast your own existence.

"As a good citizen earnestly trying to live a good life, you have certain responsibilities. If you demand wise and honest government in your city, your state and your country, you must recognize that wise and honest government is the product of wise and honest citizens, and nothing else.

"If you demand that crime is punished, you must support honest law enforcement in your community without any personal privileges or exceptions for yourself.

"If you demand unfair advantages, government bonuses and special privileges for your business, your city, or you family, remember that the price of such selfishness is the destruction of a nation.

"If you demand balanced budgets of your government, you must not advocate expenditures, which bring unbalanced budgets. Every dollar which a government spends comes from the toil of its citizens.

"If you demand freedom of worship for yourself, you must respect the rights of other religions.

"If you demand free speech, you must not suppress it in others, or use it to destroy the government which gives you that privilege.

"If you demand that the government give you economic security, you must not forget that a nation's strength comes from each person standing on his own two feet. "

"If you would like to live in a community in which you may have pride, then dedicate yourself to your own responsibilities in that community. A patriot practices these principles of citizenship."

In the play Green Pastures, Noah said to the Lord, "I ain't very much, but I'm all I got." Well, you're all you've got. The question is, What are you going to do with it.

The story is told of a village in an area that is rainy for a short period of time and dry throughout the rest of the year. The village elders announced a plan: Each day, every person in the village was to bring one cup of water to a large tank in the center of town during the rainy season. Then when the dry season came and water was scarce, the village would have water.

The villagers all agreed and cheered the plan. The rainy season came and went. Dust began to settle, the ground began to crack from the dryness and water became scarce. Finally, the day arrived when the elders decided that the tank should be opened and the precious water should be shared. Everyone gathered around the tank with containers. Unfortunately, when the elders opened the tank, there was not one drop of water inside.

Only then was it learned that each of the men and women who had agreed to the elder's plan had assumed that his or her little cup of water would not be missed, and so the tank was empty.

This teaches an important lesson. It's easy to think that no one will notice our unfaithfulness when we skip church or decide not to fulfill a promise or meet an obligation. "No one will notice" or "It's no big deal."

But unfaithfulness hurts those who are depending on us and it hurts us. We may think breaking just one law won't matter; just failing to vote won't make a difference; just avoiding community service won't be missed. But they will. We are the Democracy! We are the Government! We matter! A government "of the people, by the people and for the people" will "perish from the earth" if we shirk our responsibility.

If you are faithful, you'll receive faithfulness back - from God and from others. God honors our productive behavior, not our words and symbols. The Scripture says, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land." (II Chron. 7:14).

Patriotism involves concern, responsibility and service.

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(WC1363)
Copyrighted 2009 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS MESSAGE IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE. The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works.

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Miles E Wesner