From my earliest days, I was a Patriot. In the fall of 1974, I left Balmoral Elementary School for the third-grade class at Oak Forest Christian Academy, a new K-12 school that was a ministry of my family’s church. Our mascot…the Patriots.
My uniform pants were checkered red, white, and blue. A tie pattern, taken from the star field on the United States flag, worn daily on a red, white, or blue dress shirt finished off my clothing routine. One of our main athletic rivals, the ministry of another local church, chose Minutemen for their mascot. The 1960s and 70s were a time for throwing off pride in America, but for us and many like us, we were not going to participate.
In less than two years, the country would celebrate its bicentennial, but the United States was in a dark place. President Richard Nixon resigned his office, the only U.S. president ever to do so. The two-decade conflict called The Vietnam War was nearing its end. The economy was tanking. The inflation rate in 1974 was 11.04% while home mortgage rates were at 9.19% and would climb to 16.63% over the next few years. Despite it all there were many who believed America was the best country on the planet.
Patriotism was an important part of the curriculum and the activity at my Christian school. On a daily basis, we pledged our allegiance to the flag and to the Republic for which it stands. Our concerts included songs about the nation. We memorized the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Reading assignments filled my mind with the superiority of representative government and capitalism while warning me of the abuses of communism, fascism, and socialism. We celebrated our bicentennial and hoped for better days ahead. Like I said, I’ve been a patriot for a long time, and I’m proud to say I am still one today.
I don’t have a fantastic immigration story. Actually, I’m not sure what that story is. My mom was a Christensen / Birkland and my birth father a Jackson. Somewhere in the past, someone in my ancestry came from Norway and Germany or maybe Sweden and England. I don’t really know. What I do know is I am an American. In the providence of God, I am what I am.
I’m not a patriot first. My first loyalty belongs to Jesus Christ, and it is loyalty to Christ that makes me patriotic. To paraphrase Elisabeth Elliot, “The fact that I am a patriot does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian makes me a different kind of patriot.”
My Christianity informs me to thank God for government (Romans 13:1). I don’t live in anarchy. By God’s grace, I live under the rule of law.
My Christianity compels me to pray for the government over me (1 Timothy 2:1-2). They need salvation in Jesus, protection from those who would do them harm, and resistance to the temptations of power.
My Christianity requires me to obey government when at all possible (1 Peter 2:13-15). There are many laws and regulations I don’t like. Frankly, I think some are dumb, but I am not free to pick and choose which laws I will obey and which I won’t. I will honor my Lord by obeying government.
My Christianity tells me to respect police officers, presidents, and everyone in between (Romans 13:7). When Paul told the Roman church to give honor to whom honor was due, he lived under an administration that beat first and asked questions later (Acts 16:22). Despite regular encounters with systemic opposition, nowhere does Paul hurl vitriol at Caesar or any of his subordinates. The one time he gets close, he quickly humbles himself before the authority (Acts 23:5).
My Christianity prompts me to follow the pattern God instructed his ancient people, “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:7). I too am an exile (1 Peter 2:11) and will do all I can to make America great, peaceful, and prosperous. I’ll lead a family because family is the foundation of a nation. I’ll defend my neighbors from enemies domestic and foreign. I will respect my neighbor’s property and not take from him what belongs to him. Where possible I will act politically to promote morality and diminish immorality because “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).
I am a Christian because of the grace and mercy of God. I want to be the best Christian I can be. I am an American because of the providence of God. I want to be the best patriot I can be. May every American Christian share this value for the glory of God and for the good of all people.
As always, I welcome your feedback and any suggestions you might have for an upcoming Lunchtime Musing.
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Mike VerWay
Pastor for Preaching & Vision