One of the Ten Commandments tells followers not to worship man-made idols. Patriotism seems like worship of a flag, which seems to resemble an idol. The nation-state is a man-made legal entity. The bible also says that the nations are but dust (Isaiah 40:15). So I was wondering whether patriotism is appropriate Christian beheavior.
2007-01-14 05:46:07 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Isaiah 40:6-17 says, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field....
"Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
"Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing."
The Ten Commandments forbids symbols or idols and in Matthew's Gospel Jesus tells us to follow the commandments. Peter in Acts 5:29 says we must obey God and not the laws of men (a nation is nothing but the laws of men).
2007-01-14 06:16:23 · update #1
I don't think the bible ever advocates Patriotism. When God the Babylonians to punish the kingdom of Judah for its sins, he sent them prophets like Jeremiah to instruct them not to be patriotic, not to fight the enemy invaders, but rather to submit to the Babylonians and go peacefully into exile, and to seek the good of the foreign city where they would be exiled to. They disobeyed and fought the Babylonians with the result that many of them died when they did not have to, and Jerusalem and the temple was burnt to the ground.
When Jesus said to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, he was being extremely un-patriotic, because Caesar was the king of the Roman invaders who were occupying his country. It would be like an Iraqi saying to his fellow Iraqis "give George Bush our oil".
When patriotic people tried to crown Jesus king, hoping he would lead them in a patriotic war aginst the Romans, he hid from them. When Pilate asked Jesus if he was king of the Jews, Jesus said he was but his was a spiritual kingdom, not the kind of kingdom that people are patriotic to, or else his disciples would fight. It was patriotic people who put Jesus to death, the high priest said it was better that one man (Jesus) die than the whole nation perish, and those who wanted Jesus dead appealed to Pilate's patriotism, saying that if he was a patriotic Roman he should execute Jesus under the Roman version of the patriot act.
And when Paul said that as far as possible Christians should obey the authorities, remember he was imprisoned by those authorities and executed by them later.
2007-01-14 08:32:51 · answer #1 · answered by Beng T 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Patriotism is a virtue. Apparently you are unable to discern the difference between worship and veneration. Patriotic Americans worship God, not the flag. God is the source of our Rights, according to the Declaration of Independence. Respecting and venerating the flag is demonstrating our respect for what we believe the best man-made system yet devised.
No other nation began with the idea that Rights come from our Creator, and no legitimate government can take them away. Compare that to the constitutions of other nations, which specify the rights of their subjects, followed by the ominous disclaimer: "except as provided by law".
Congress has passed several police-state "Anti-Terrorism" bills in recent years, including the PATRIOT Act. These laws are un-constitutional. They violate our Rights as enumerated in the Bill of Rights. So what does that make our politicians? Well, since the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, it makes them criminals.
We have the best system of government ever devised by man. Its just that we have been asleep at the switch. We have elected people to office that are driven by greed and corruption. We are losing our freedom, because we are no longer a virtuous nation.
We still have the opportunity to throw these criminals out. The problem is, we need to replace them with good men and women who are going to serve us, and follow their oath to the Constitution.
2007-01-14 14:23:11 · answer #2 · answered by iraqisax 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Old Law is no more. It is for "our study". We are to follow the New Testament. Those commands were written for a different group of people (The Israelites). We are told to follow our government leaders. It is NOT a SIN to be Patriotic or to even go to War, if necessary. I am not sure that I could shoot another person even if my life were at risk but I still support our troops that are overseas. I believe that our FATHER is in charge of our lives and will do what is best for us. Have a great week!
Eds
2007-01-14 13:57:52 · answer #3 · answered by Eds 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I see no reason to believe that Americans "worship" the flag of the United States. There are no churches or congregations that meet to bow down before it. No one prays to the flag. It is merely a symbol of freedom, the very freedom that allows us to worship in our beliefs in Christianity, Buddhism, etc. I believe you are reaching here.
2007-01-14 13:54:55 · answer #4 · answered by Randzz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
having love for ones country is not sinfull in the least for did not Jesus tell us to obey the leaders over us and to render unto ceasar that wich is ceasars!
(Rom.13:1-7
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
2007-01-14 13:51:17 · answer #5 · answered by revdauphinee 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure I don't bow down to the flag and pray to it.
You don't have to worship America to be a patriot.
Don't be so extreme.
We should be thankful for all the freedoms we have been granted in America. How is that a sin?
2007-01-14 13:51:57 · answer #6 · answered by rachel 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
saying god is higher than country would be valid when his doctrine is that of love. If the muslims say Allah is higher than country than that country and all morality is bound for destruction. The right thing in that case would be to say that morality and human values are higher than country so we donot end up fighting the wrong wars for the country and massacring poor innocent people!
2007-01-14 13:53:37 · answer #7 · answered by Rajan S 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't worship the flag, I respect it and we unite behind it.
Do you pray to the flag? No, you pray to God.
Worry not and stand united behind our flag which is a symbol.
2007-01-14 13:50:30 · answer #8 · answered by no free rides 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no, and your logic is WAY off. Patriotism is the appreciation of your fellow countrymen, not "worshipping a flag".
2007-01-14 13:51:11 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
But its just respect for it..yeah i think the over do it a little sometimes too (like with the rules for it and stuff and how it can only be folded in certain ways and crap like that)
2007-01-14 13:51:34 · answer #10 · answered by MF 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋