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Liberty Advocate http://www.libertyadvocate.com
God Bless America by Karen Pansler Lam, J.D.
Patriotism is our Christian duty. The obligations of patriotism are epitomized in a single word – service. Service to God, to neighbor, and to country. The Christian will serve his country best by serving God first because God is the Author of liberty. There has always been a tendency to put religion and patriotism into fellowship. Samuel Francis Smith acknowledged God as the Author of liberty in the beloved patriotic song "America" (“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”).
Our fathers’ God, to Thee,
Author of liberty, To Thee we sing: Edwin H. Hughes explains how patriotism is part of the service of God. The
original Decalogue speaks of “the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
It thus lifts patriotism up to the Highest. Unless our Declaration of
Independence was wrong, and unless hundreds of documents sent out by our
official representative have been wrong, the teachers of patriotism and good
citizenship need not hesitate to relate their lesson to the deepest and most
reverent faiths of the human heart. Under such a conception of duties
performed conscientiously toward the nation are a part of the service of the
great God. Patriotism is serving God. Patriotism is a love of our homeland. It is our Christian duty to love, support, and defend “the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” It is not a sin to pray, “God bless America.”
PATRIOTISM AND RELIGION Patriotism is obeying the command to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” Love of your homeland and fellow citizens expands the affections by going beyond the threshold of your home: mutual service, mutual dependence, and mutual love. The love of our country and fellow citizens is more challenging and demanding than the love of family or the love of self. Noah Webster defines patriotism: PATRIOTISM, n. Love of one’s country; the passion which aims to serve one’s country, either in defending it from invasion, or protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institutions in vigor and purity. Patriotism is the characteristic of a good citizen, the noblest passion that animates a man in the character of a citizen. If we truly love “the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,” then we will secure the safety and welfare of America. The true patriot is devoted to the interests of his own nation – “America First.” Nationalism is necessary to the spirit of America: fidelity, faith, and determination among the citizen body which is the soul of a nation. Today, liberals promote internationalism and devilishly work to destroy the soul of America. Listen… The ultimate goal of the New Church Order and the New World Order is the overthrow of true Christianity and the overthrow of nationalism. Nationalism was ordained by God when He scattered men during the building of the Tower of Babel because “the people is one” and “now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” (Gen.11:1-9). The wicked confederates of the New Order conspire to replace Christian patriotism with international citizenship – a one-world religion and one-world government in defiance of God’s will of national sovereignty. Nationalism is despised by globalists who promote internationalism which is the subjection of America to the New World Order of global communism and the New Church Order of polytheism, or idolatry. Beware of globalists perverting nationalism and declaring godly nationalism – American patriotism – and the National Socialist (Nazi) Party are the same! Nationalism is not a sin. Patriotism is not a sin. The true patriot is unashamedly devoted to the interests of his own nation – his homeland. The true patriot is not ashamed to proclaim “America First.”
Patriotism in the Old Testament There were many patriots in the Bible – men and women – who loved their country, and zealously supported and defended it and its interests. Esther
For how can I endure to see the
evil that shall come unto my people? Esther is an example of Old Testament patriotism. Esther, a Jewess, was chosen as the new queen for Ahasuerus, the king of Persia. Her uncle Mordecai had incurred the hatred of Haman, the evil court favorite, and brought the threat of death to the Jews. Esther, through her position, was able to avert the tragedy and save her people. Reverend J.R. Thomson explains Esther and patriotism: I. PATRIOTISM IMPLIES A SENTIMENT OF SYMPATHY. Esther felt for her people, her kindred. Every lover of his country will not only rejoice in its prosperity, cherish a glow of pride and satisfaction in any great deeds of his countrymen, but will grieve over national calamities and mourn over national sins; will “sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the land.” II. PATRIOTISM DETERS MEN FROM DOING ANYTHING THAT CAN INJURE THEIR COUNTRY. If personal advantage can be secured by any harm to his country, the patriot will spurn the thought of so profiting himself at the expense of the nation. III. TRUE PATRIOTISM WILL LEAD MEN TO SEEK NOT ONLY THE MATERIAL PROSPERITY, BUT *THE REAL AND MORAL GREATNESS OF THEIR COMMON COUNTRY. They cannot contemplate uninterested, unmoved, a state of society “When wealth accumulates, and men decay.” The progress of knowledge, of virtue, of true religion amongst their kindred will be sought with ardour and zeal.
IV. PATRIOTISM WILL LEAD TO PRACTICAL
EFFORT TO AVOID THREATENING DANGERS. The patriot is unwilling to
contemplate, to anticipate evil. But mere sentiment is insufficient, and he
will exert himself to avert the evil he dreads. Especially will he use any
influence he possesses with those who have the means, the power, the
opportunity of assisting to secure the safety and welfare of the country.
The examples of Ezra and Nehemiah, among the children of captivity, show us
what true patriotism will lead men to undertake and do and bear. But the
supreme example of patriotism and philanthropy is Jesus Christ, who wept
over Jerusalem as well as over the world, and who would fain have averted
ruin from the city he favored with his teaching and ministry, and in which
he shed his precious blood. Esther’s patriotism saved her people. Micah Micah is another example of Old Testament patriotism. The patriot desires the prevalence of piety in the nation, and to see the people bringing forth fruits of righteousness. Micah wailed, “Woe is me!” bewailing the moral condition of his country. Micah made it clear that the people of both Judah and Israel would be punished by the Lord for their sin and rebellion: idolatry, oppression, covetousness, contempt of the Word of God, and their rulers especially, both in church and state, with the abuse of their power. But in the future, God would restore His people through a remnant of those who would remain faithful to Him. Micah was a true patriot who lamented widespread depravity in his homeland.
New Testament: Jesus’ Patriotic Sorrow Jesus expresses patriotic sorrow for Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, Rev. W.F. Adeney explains Jesus was a patriot:
II. THE PITYING SAVIOUR. Jesus is grieved
and loth to think of the doom of the wicked city. 1.
It was his own city.
Not his native city, but the capital of his land, and the royal city, to
which he came as King (ch. xxi. 4,5). Jesus was a patriot. Another writer explains Jesus’ patriotic sorrow… Jesus had an especial love in his heart for Jerusalem. There was a patriotic grief in those tears of Christ, an additional pang in his heart, as he thought that it was Jerusalem itself, the city round which so many associations gathered, whose guilt and doom stood in clear, sad vision before him. Jerusalem was Judea, was Israel itself. It was the strength, the light, the glory, of the land. The Lord had wept over Jerusalem. Now again His sacred heart yearns with compassion for the city which He loved so well. Jerusalem was as a brood of chickens in His sight. He cared for them. He would have sheltered them all under His wings. But they refused. He wished to gather them together; they did not wish to be gathered together under the shelter of the Savior’s love. Do you see the parallelism between Judea and America? Surely, Jesus weeps over America. He gave us this land to found as a Christian nation, but we have allowed atheists and other infidels to suppress Christianity in public schools, wink at sexual perversion and other sin in the name of “tolerance,” replace repentance with humanitarian good works, ridicule holiness, and other ungodly behavior. We refuse to rightly divide the Word of God and willingly follow after false prophets. We refuse to hear preachers who preach the true Gospel. We do not wish to be gathered together under the shelter of the Savior’s love. How many Christians today show a patriotic grief over America’s wickedness? Jesus was a patriot and wept over Jerusalem. And we should weep with patriotic sorrow over America.
PATRIOTS AND PROSPERITY The true patriot understands the foundation of national prosperity is in the possession of the Divine favor. God will grant His Divine blessing to those who seek Him. God “lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness” (Ps. 45:7), whether in the individual or in the nation. The people that seeks to be a prosperous nation must seek God’s face and act in accordance with His will. Then it will enjoy His blessing. The true patriot is interested in the political, economic, and religious prosperity of his homeland. Briefly… Political Prosperity: A Deep and Practical Interest in its Political Welfare It is desirable that our national policy and law should in all points harmonize with those highest teachings of morals which we find in the Word of God. The Ten Commandments relate to communities as well as to individuals. Our government leaders should ask, What would God have us do? and should do it. On such questions as murdering precious unborn babies, the demoralizing trade in booze, legalizing marijuana, perverting the laws of marriage, and other social issues, the State should adopt as its course that law which most accords with the will of God, and most furthers the spiritual as well as temporal benefit of man. Religion and morality and law are indivisible. We witness daily that when government is divorced from religion, wicked lawmakers pervert all that is true and right. Hence, despite the semblance of outward prosperity, the ongoing decay and debauchery of America will eventually end in the ruin of our nation. Economic Prosperity: A Practical Interest in its Material Well-being The main problem of government leaders is to secure a population, not only industrious and happy, but well paid, and therefore well fed, well clothed, and well housed. The true patriot is concerned when his fellow Americans are displaced by illegal immigrants, and burdened by those on public welfare who are too lazy to work. And he is concerned when corporations pocket huge profits, but their employees can not live a dignified and decent life. For example, Publix Super Markets denies many employees full-time employment so they won't have to give them benefits. Many part-time Publix employees are on public welfare, therefore denying them dignity and a decent living. Yet, Publix boasts of its generous philanthropy in the community! O ye hypocrite! Religious Prosperity: A Profound Interest in its Moral and Spiritual Condition The true patriot understands that if America achieves economic prosperity, but remains morally bankrupt, it is not a truly great nation. Therefore, he is concerned with the moral and spiritual condition of his nation. Increased church membership is not a sign of the increased piety of our nation. This is a fatal mistake of modern thinking. Modern churches have become worldly social clubs and socialist indoctrination centers. False preachers, like Rick Warren, preach social justice, and, instead of promoting a holy church, offer a social church where men and women and children are encouraged to wear casual clothes – shorts, flip flops, and other play clothes – to the “program.” This is part of their socialist agenda to usher in a classless communist society. False preachers, like Warren and Joel Osteen, preach a false gospel. True religion is the result of a change of heart produced by the Spirit of God. Jesus declares: "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). Notice, Jesus says we must be born again, not we should be born again. It is a requirement, not a suggestion. It is absolutely necessary if we are to be called one of His own. So, what does it mean to be born again? Read carefully and thoughtfully Matthew Henry's comment on Jesus' words...
[1.] What it is that is
required: to be born
again; that is,
First,
We must live a new
life. Birth is the
beginning of life; to be
born again
is to begin anew, as those that have hitherto lived either much amiss or to
little purpose. We must not think to patch up the old building, but begin
from the foundation.
Secondly, We must
have a new nature,
new principles, new affections, new aims. We must be born
anoµthen,
which signifies both
denuo—again, and
desuper—from above.
1. We must be born
anew; so the word is
taken,
Gal. 4:9,
and ab initio—from
the beginning,
Lu. 1:3.
By our first birth
we are corrupt, shapen in sin and iniquity; we must therefore undergo a
second birth; our souls must be
fashioned
and enlivened
anew. 2. We must be born
from above,
so the word is used by the evangelist, ch. 3:31; 19:11, and I take this to
be especially intended here, not excluding the other; for to be born
from above
supposes being born
again. But this new
birth has its rise
from heaven (ch.
1:13) and its tendency
to heaven: it is
to be born to a
divine and
heavenly
life, a life of communion with God and the upper world, and, in order to
this, it is to
partake of a divine nature
and bear the image of the heavenly. To repeat, Jesus declares: "Ye must be born again." When we are born again, we become new creatures in Christ. And by the power of the Holy Spirit we are purified and sanctified and perfected. We are being perfected to spend eternity in the presence of the Lord God Almighty. Listen… If you are not born again, you are not a true Christian. Ye must be born again. Sadly, many Americans profess to be Christians, but they have never been born again. They go to church, attend Bible study, and other outward acts, but their hearts have never been cleansed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. They ridicule holiness as being self-righteous. They deny the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to make us new creatures in Christ. Indeed, true patriots desire to see the spiritual transformation of America. But this cannot happen unless we preach the true Gospel and pray for God to send the Comforter to “reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). If a true revival were to sweep across America, we would enjoy religious prosperity: joy, contentment, and influence. We would be a blessed nation.
Blessed is
the nation whose God is the Lord. To repeat, the true patriot understands that if America achieves economic prosperity, but remains morally bankrupt, it is not a truly great nation.
PRACTICAL
PATRIOTISM IN True Christianity enters practically into all the relations and interests of human life. Our forefathers wisely understood that Christian principles are adapted to guide and govern the conduct of Christ’s people through all time, including government. Government is ordained by God for the protection of life and property, for the repression of crime, and for the rewarding and encouraging of virtue (Romans 13:1-7). The true Christian understands that God has given us this land to possess. Therefore, we must defend it and work for the safety and welfare of our homeland. The important obligations of American patriotism are: 1. Worship God. 2. Serve our fellow men as best we can. 3. Make of ourselves the best men and women we are capable of becoming. 4. Obey the laws of the land and support those who administer the laws. 5. Vote conscientiously and intelligently at local and national elections, so good and competent persons may be placed in public office. 6. Support the recognized and time-honored institutions of a civilized community: true churches; educational institutions that educate (not indoctrinate students with socialism/communism); agencies of law enforcement, such as police and courts; local, state and government departments, chambers of commerce, societies devoted to patriotic and other worthy motives; etc. To explain further… Obey the law. We must obey the law. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers...Whosever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” (Rom. 13:1, 2). This duty is binding whether we like a legislative act or whether we dislike it. Law for the most part is designed to repress crime, to maintain peace and tranquility, to afford protection to the honest, industrious, law-abiding. Therefore, to commit wrong of any kind, whether theft, or slander, or violence, is both evil in itself and is transgression of the law. When men have been elected and laws are made, it is a citizen’s duty to respect their authority. If we do not like them, we have the privilege of trying to get them changed by peaceful means, but we have no right to refuse outright to obey them. However, no man is under obligation to obey a civil law which contradicts the express and unmistakable Law of God. Where the law of a nation conflicts with the Law of God, then it is clearly the Christian’s duty to obey God rather than men. For example, the Apostles Peter and John declined to obey the Jewish council at Jerusalem when they were commanded to speak no more in the Name of Jesus. The good citizen, then, respects the law. He sees in it the sovereign will of the people. He accepts its provisions in the same way that a good sportsman accepts the rules of a game. He honors all rightful authority. Perform civic service. Another duty of citizenship is to render civic service, that is, to serve on juries, to hold office, and to accept membership on public boards. Sadly, many Christians today refuse to take public office. The character of a government depends on the character of its officials. If Christians are unwilling to serve the State, those who are incapable or selfish or evil will manage its affairs. The result will be harmful to all. Those who run for public office must remember government is an ordinance of God, and officials are the ministers of God. The Apostle Paul explains those in authority over us are ministers of God (Rom. 13:1-7). Just as God ordained ministers in the Church, God ordained ministers in the government. In other words, a minister is an ambassador of Christ in any office, sacred or secular. A minister is an agent appointed to transact or manage business under the authority of Christ. Public officials act as God’s agents and have God-given authority to administer justice. It is their God-given duty to protect life and property, repress crime, determine quarrels, right the wrongs, punish offenders, preserve national peace and order, and so forth. Vote. Voting is a privilege, but it is also a vital obligation. Since government is an ordinance of God, and officials are the ministers of God, we must do all we can to elect government leaders who will be true ministers of God. We must unite to secure Christian representatives for our nation that was founded as a Christian nation. We will vote for those candidates who most uphold Biblical principles, and refuse to vote for evildoers who demand the right to murder precious unborn babies (Jer. 1:5; 32:35), rebel against the Biblical marriage of a man and a woman (Eph. 5:22-33), applaud homosexuality (Rom. 1:26, 27), and other wickedness.
I have hated the
congregation of evildoers;
We must not love the
congregation of evildoers. Political warfare is spiritual warfare. It is a battle between good and evil. And true patriots will not sit with the wicked. True patriots will sit with the righteous. In 1788, Rev. Samuel Langdon preached about our civic duty in his sermon “The Republic of the Israelites an Example to the American States.”
On the people, therefore, of these United
States it depends whether wise men, or fools, good or bad men, shall govern
them; whether they shall have righteous laws, a faithful administration of
government, and permanent good order, peace, and liberty; or, on the
contrary, feel insupportable burdens, and see all their affairs run to
confusion and ruin.
Listen… Keep well informed on public questions. Closely related to the duty of taking part in government is the obligation of citizens to be well informed on civic questions. It is not enough for a citizen to act; his duty is to act well, for otherwise he may do harm rather than good. A citizen is under obligation, therefore, to study public questions. How can he act wisely on matters that he does not understand? There is no sense in giving a man or woman the ballot who does not know enough to have an intelligent opinion about the questions with which the government has to deal. A nation which believes in a republican government ought to have every citizen as thoroughly educated as his own abilities will permit. Every true patriot will put more important things first. He will get off social media, turn off the television, stop wasting valuable time, and educate himself on public questions. Love our country. As citizens it is our duty, as well as our privilege, to love our country. This means more than celebrating the Fourth of July, or saluting the flag, or standing when we hear “The Star-Spangled Banner.” There are many Americans who consider themselves patriotic because they fly the American flag, stand for the national anthem, and so forth. But they rob the taxpayers by living on welfare and disability, despise national morality, and are too selfish to work for the best interests of their nation. They are false patriots. Love of country calls for devotion, sacrifice, service. The true patriot feels a deep affection for his country. He cherishes its past, believes in its ideals, has faith in its future. He shows his devotion by personal sacrifices for the common welfare. He performs faithfully the ordinary, humdrum duties of everyday life. He appreciates the virtues and merits of America, but is not blind to its defects or shortcomings.
QUALITIES OF THE GOOD CITIZEN The patriot who is a citizen in spirit as well as in name has regard for the well-being of America at all times and strives to learn and fulfill his duties. Irrefutably, God-fearing people make the best citizens. Briefly, here are a few qualities of the good citizen. Knowledgeable and wise. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Prov. 4:7). The good citizen is knowledgeable and wise. He is knowledgeable, or well-informed. He knows the true history of our Christian nation instead of the false history propagated by atheists and other infidels. He seeks facts and Truth, not lies. And he is wise. Having knowledge, he has the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and what is false; between what is fit and proper, and what is improper. A government can be no better than the citizens that support it. The success of our republican government is very dependent upon a knowledgeable and wise citizenry. Courageous. “Be thou strong and very courageous” (Josh. 1:7). The good citizen is courageous: brave; bold; unshaken by fear; ready to face difficulties and dangers. He stands up for what is right. He will stand up and courageously declare that America was founded as a Christian nation. He will not back down or compromise with liars and other evildoers. He will not allow liberals to bully him into silence. He will boldly uphold all Truth, especially the Truth of the Gospel. Christ is his Commander, and he is engaged in spiritual warfare. The anthem of the true patriot is “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” Honest. “Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly” (Heb. 13:18). The good citizen is honest. He is fair in dealing with others. He does not use trickery or fraud. He acts at all times according to justice or correct moral principles. Unselfish. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Mat.7:12). The good citizen is unselfish. He is considerate of other citizens. He places public welfare above the welfare of self. He sacrifices his own interests, if need be, for the common good. Peaceable. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18). Christianity requires that honorable and peaceable conduct should be distinctive in our relations to all men: mutual forbearance, sympathy, and cooperation. The good citizen does not antagonize others and is free from private feuds or quarrels. But Paul acknowledges it may not always be possible to live peaceably with some men: "if it be possible." Thrifty. “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up” (Prov. 21:20). The good citizen is industrious, saving, and otherwise diligent in conserving his means. He earns money and forms the habit of saving. Saving means to live below one’s income, no matter how small the income may be. It means to put aside something regularly out of one’s earnings, no matter how little the saving may be. Let’s face it, many people are always poor because they do not know how to handle money. When they get a little extra money, they spend it, perhaps for some foolish extravagance or unnecessary pleasure. Others make foolish ventures in business or permit themselves to be defrauded in a get-rich-quick scam. And much poverty is due to plain laziness. America is a nation of spenders. Billions of dollars are thrown away every year on trifles. And billions more are wasted on gambling (including the lottery), booze, cigarettes, drugs, and other harmful activities and substances. Thrift is necessary both for individual success and for good citizenship. It is only by thrift that the individual may provide for the “rainy day” of sickness and old age. Thrift means providing for the future. Thrift involves making a choice. It is a choice between the satisfaction of present wants and the sacrifice of present enjoyment for the sake of greater satisfaction and service in the future. The good citizen is not extravagant, but spends wisely and saves wisely. Industrious. “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Prov. 10:4). Many blessings are the result of labor and thrift. Occupation or work is necessary to the development of character and the enjoyment of life. Those who are industrious in their calling are blessed and are a blessing to their family, community, and nation: the housewife who wholeheartedly makes a godly home; the student who diligently studies to prepare to use his talents for God’s glory; the hardworking man who untiringly supports his family. The true patriot is not a freeloader living off the fruit of the labor of others. He is a hard worker, providing for his family with the work of his own hands. “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Tim. 5:8). Reverend W.F. Adeney explains the importance of labor and thrift: It is the duty of everybody to see that he is not dependent upon other people’s labors if he can help himself. The man who squanders his money in prosperous times, and throws himself on public charity directly he is ill or out of work, is guilty of gross selfishness amounting to dishonesty. One thing is certain: giving aid to people who really do not need it may produce far more harm than good. Public and church welfare takes away from the lazy the energy and enterprise which all ought to have and imposes an unfair burden on those who try to provide for their own needs. More important, it is condemned by the Bible: “This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). Idle men and women are a terrible waste to a nation. They are useless citizens. Money and time wasted on the lazy could be better spent on education, playgrounds, and other benefits for the productive members of the community. God might have provided us with manna or quail as He did in the Israelites in the wilderness. But instead of putting food outside our doorstep, He gives us hands and abilities with which to work for it. The true patriot acts on the words, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). Neighborly. “Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself” (Mat. 22:39). “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor” (Rom. 13:10). A good citizen is a good neighbor. One of the best ways to have a good neighborhood is to be a good neighbor. Even though a person does not know his neighbors, he should respect his neighbors’ rights. Being a good neighbor includes being good stewards of our property. Run-down houses and unkept yards bring down property values. Moreover, we are judged by our home’s appearance. Neighbors will note whether or not the house is in good repair, the condition of the grounds and fences, the presence or absence of flower beds, shrubs, and trees. These things are signs of the interest taken by the parents and children in their home. They are also signs of the character and happiness of the family. The true patriot will live neighborly. He will not injure his neighbor and seeks the best interests of the neighborhood. Thankful. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Ps. 33:12). A good citizen is thankful for the faith of our fathers that founded America as a Christian nation. The true patriot cherishes our Christian heritage, such as the hymns of faith. And he is thankful for ministers who preach the true Gospel, Bible-believing churches, true Christian schools, and other individuals and institutions that faithfully work to preserve and restore America’s Christian heritage. Godly. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:19, 20). The good citizen lives a godly life by caring for the health of his body and his mind. He does what tends to promote the health of his body; and contributes to the health of his mind. He does not drink booze, smoke, use drugs, or commit sexual sins because he understands that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Matthew Henry explains: V. The fifth argument against this sin [fornication] is that the bodies of Christians are the temples of the Holy Ghost which is in them, and which they have of God, v. 19. He that is joined to Christ is one spirit. He is yielded up to him, is consecrated thereby, and set apart for his use, and is hereupon possessed, and occupied, and inhabited, by his Holy Spirit. This is the proper notion of a temple—a place where God dwells, and sacred to his use, by his own claim and his creature’s surrender. Such temples real Christians are of the Holy Ghost. Must he not therefore be God? But the inference is plain that hence we are not our own. We are yielded up to God, and possessed by and for God; nay, and this is virtue of a purchase made of us: You are bought with a price. In short, our bodies were made for God, they were purchased for him. If we are Christians indeed they are yielded to him, and he inhabits and occupies them by his Spirit: so that our bodies are not our own, but his. And shall we desecrate his temple, defile it, prostitute it, and offer it up to the use and service of a harlot? Horrid sacrilege! This is robbing God in the worst sense. Note, The temple of the Holy Ghost must be kept holy. Our bodies must be kept as his whose they are, and fit for his use and residence. The temple of the Holy Ghost must be kept holy.
Let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, Matthew Henry encourages us to glorify God both with body and soul: Sin is filthiness, and there are defilements of body and mind. There are sins of the flesh, that are committed with the body, and sins of the spirit, spiritual wickedness; and we must cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of both, for God is to be glorified both with body and soul. We must strive for holiness. Also, the good citizen believes religious matters are of vital concern to every person as well as to the nation. Therefore, he reads the Bible and prays for understanding so he is not dependent upon others for its teachings; regulates his life by Biblical rules of conduct; uses his gifts and talents for the glory of God; understands the important role of true churches in the community and attends a Bible-believing church with reverent and holy worship that truly glorifies God; reverently celebrates the holy days of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter; and in other acts is conspicuously devout. Happy is the nation that dwells in homes of purity, peace, love, piety! The true patriot lives in obedience to God’s commands. Cooperative. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom. 13:1). The good citizen cooperates with government officials in securing and promoting peace and temperance, morality and honesty, truthfulness and justice. All these virtues are necessary to national well-being. True patriots will be the best citizens of our country. Faithful. “Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach...And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work” (Neh. 2:17, 18). The good citizen is faithful to God and the land He has given us to possess. A people given to treasonable practices cannot be either prosperous or happy. Sadly, many citizens today commit treason against God and against America by adhering to our enemies, giving them aid and comfort. Traitors demand that we allow our enemies to freely come into America and rob us of our American and Christian heritage and culture; and rob us of our safety and peace. Even many professing Christians have been hoodwinked into feeling we should not enforce immigration laws or secure our borders by building a wall. But the Bible does not condemn defensive walls. Walls were a chief means of defense in the Biblical period. David glorifies God for Jerusalem’s security: “He hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee” (Ps. 147:13). Jerusalem was surrounded by its protecting wall, and its citizens could live in safety and rest in peace. Matthew Henry explains:
Jerusalem and Zion must praise God,
I. For the prosperity and flourishing state of their civil interests,
v. 13,
v. 14. For their common safety. They had gates, and kept their gates
barred in times of danger; but that would not have been an effectual
security to them if God had not strengthened the bars of their gates
and fortified their fortifications. The most probable means we can devise
for our own preservation will not answer the end, unless God give his
blessing with them; we must therefore in the careful and diligent use of
those means, depend upon him for that blessing, and attribute the
undisturbed repose of our land more to the wall of fire than to the wall of
water round about us,
Zec. 2:5 . The opposition to Nehemiah rebuilding the defensive wall by Sanballat and other enemies combined ridicule, threat, and craft. Nehemiah organized a defensive force and armed his workers so they could protect themselves against an enemy attack. Many workers labored on the wall with their construction tools in one hand and their weapons in the other. Nehemiah appointed a trumpeter to stand by him, and if he should see any danger, or hear any alarm, this trumpeter could blow his trumpet. He also ordered all the people to continue in Jerusalem to guard it by night, as well as to work by day. The wall was completed within 52 days. Then Ezra and the princes, priests, and Levites dedicated the completed walls surrounding Jerusalem for their defense against assaults from without and their unity and order as a people. Even the holy city, the New Jerusalem, is surrounded by a wall to secure the saints from all evils and enemies (Rev. 21). Only the sanctified may enter the gate. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life and have not been blotted out may live within the walls of that glorious city (21:27; Ps. 69:28). Anyone who believes borders and defensive walls are unbiblical is ignorant. They are necessary so citizens may live in security and peace. The true patriot loves his country, and zealously defends it and its interests. The true patriot bases his beliefs and actions on Biblical principles concerning our national safety and welfare. These are just a few qualities of the good citizen – the true patriot.
GOD BLESS AMERICA Patriotism is not a sin. Patriotism is our Christian duty. America is our homeland - “the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Patriotism is a love of our nation. There were many patriots in the Bible – men and women – who loved their nation, and zealously supported and defended it and its interests. Jesus was a patriot. The true patriot serves his country best by serving God first. He understands that if America is to be blessed with political, economic, and religious prosperity, then we must first seek God's face and act in accordance with His will. Then we will enjoy His blessing.
Blessed is
the nation whose God is the Lord. My dear fellow Christian American... It is not a sin to prayerfully sing "God Bless America."
November 2018 http://www.libertyadvocate.com
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