It’s July so patriotism is a bit of a hot topic in America this month.  I have heard comments from friends that they don’t feel as much like celebrating this country due to current events.  A new Gallup poll also shows that fewer people feel proud of America.  According to the Gallop poll both Republicans and Democrats pride in America is at least correlated by who is president at the time, although it has less effect on Republicans than Democrats.

I am proud of being an American, and I do think it’s the greatest country on Earth.  That doesn’t mean I think it’s perfect (far from it), but I do think it gets more right than wrong.  I’m also not comfortable with my pride in America being dependent on politics.  I’ve often wondered at people who never say positive things about this country, but almost exclusively negative comments.  If these same people talked that way about their significant other, but still claimed to love that person, who would believe their love is real?  Who would believe the one complaining is content with their life?

I’ve been trying to memorize Jeremiah 29:11-13.  That whole chapter is really a letter from God to the Jews who have been taken away from Jerusalem to captivity in Babylonia.  In this letter God tells the Jews to settle and carry on with their lives in this new land.  They would be staying there for seventy years, and most of the captives would never return to their homeland.  Verse 7 of chapter 29 says “And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.”

When someone becomes saved, at that moment they become citizens of Heaven.  That individual really becomes a dual citizen, but they’re still living in their earthly country.  Like a foreign diplomat, they’re living in a country that is not their real home, but they are still representatives of their true country, Heaven.    

Like the Jews in captivity, we should be praying for the land that God has put us in.  To me, an element of patriotism is feel appreciation for God’s will in where I am living.  I fully expect Christians in France, Canada, Mexico, or many other countries to feel proud and love the country that God has put them in.  I don’t see a problem with churches in America putting American flags in their sanctuaries, just like I don’t see a problem with churches in other countries putting their national flags up.  (Note – I find it ironic and appropriate that the fireworks image was actually taken in Serbia!) I also want to acknowledge that God motivates many people to move from their country of birth to another country.

I truly do not think it’s acceptable, especially for Christians, to constantly complain about the country one is living in, but not be motivated to move elsewhere.  The United Nations recognizes 193 countries and many people around the world make sacrifices to change their nationality.  If you truly cannot come up with at least one positive thing for every negative about the country you live in, is the problem you or the country?  Is God calling you to stay where you are and find contentment there, or is He calling you to move? 

Again, I’m not saying that America is perfect because it is led by humans who don’t always do God’s will.  What I am trying to say is that God has a place for every person on Earth.  Where you are is not an accident.  If God is not leading you to move to another country, then it is possible that your dissatisfaction in your country is really dissatisfaction with God’s will.  How can you truly be a good representative of your ultimate home in Heaven, if you are not content with where God has called you to represent His kingdom on Earth?