Originally posted July 4, 2006. Edited for accuracy on February 14, 2009.

Is it the duty of the American Christian to be patriotic to his or her own country? Is flying the flag, protecting it from desecration, and standing up for the leaders of the country an important part of faith and values? Or, asked more directly, has loyalty to the United States of America become equivalent to salvation and Godly living? In many American churches, it seems that this is becoming the case.

Consider that in many contemporary evangelical American hymnals there is “patriotic hymns” section, but many of the “hymns” are songs of devotion to the nation (conveniently written with Christian verbiage) rather than the Creator of the people of the nation. (Thankfully, this is not the case with the Trinity Hymnal!) Consider how commonplace it is to see a flag flying in the sanctuary of a church. Consider how frequent it is that the worship service on the first Sunday in July actually focuses on the nation. It is as though the country has become an object of worship next to God himself.

It is also extremely common in these church groups for believers to become very involved in partisan politics. While cultural involvement is a good thing, even a mandated thing, and party involvement can be one of the means to a goal, many Christians seem to make the Republican Party a key element of their identity and wrongly assume the goals of that party will serve to make the nation a better place and draw it back to God. The politicians and analysts have taken notice, referring to this large group of religious conservatives using terms such as “the core base of the Republican Party,” “values voters,” “Religious Right,” or similar names. It has to be considered as a fact that an integral part of the American Christian’s identity and reputation is tied to the politics of this particular political party. Through the means of clever public relations tactics and campaign marketing, the Republican Party has been successful in convincing Christians to regard active party membership as a patriotic duty to the nation and also another aspect of carrying out God’s work. In 2004, at least one American church made news when the church leadership expelled anyone who did not vote Republican, as party affiliation had become a more central issue than sound doctrine.

Politicians who hold to “conservative values” and frequently appeal to Christian voters through religious messages or by appearing to champion issues dear to Christians become elevated on a figurative pedestal. It reaches the point where some of the Christian voters will look the other way if any of these men were to do wrong, as it is believed that if these men are such strong Christians, God’s hand must be on their actions. Thus, the people give these men a license to do almost anything they please, through mandates given by re-election. This borders on a Pelagian view of the goodness of man, failing to consider that even if a Christian it does not mean these men are beyond sin.

What defines the American Christian’s goals and values? What is his identity? While we may consider our primary goals to be living according to Biblical teaching, evangelizing and witnessing, and worshiping God, those on the outside look at us and see a major political player. The Church has become an active and recognizable political group, such that the “evangelical vote” is one of the most coveted groups on Republican election nights.

Why has the Church chosen to take this route with political involvement? On the surface, it appears that most Christians chose to identify themselves with the Republican agenda as a response to the increasingly liberal agenda of the Democratic Party decades ago. Perhaps the Church also saw what was once the family, faith, and values agenda of the Republican Party as being in line with Christian teaching and chose to join the cause in order to have a powerful political force that seemed in line with the Bible. However, the question that must be asked is, “why has the Church seen such a need for political activism?”

The union between the Church and politics can be traced back to the Roman Emperor Constantine, who made the Roman Catholic Church the state religion of the Roman Empire in order to use the Church to fulfill political and social means. From that point on through the Reformation and afterward, the Church and the ruling class were linked together. “Christianity” was used as a means of conquest, both in the Crusades and in the conquest of the New World. What really were political wars and quests for gold and riches were both hidden under the guise of furthering Christianity and purging so-called evil.

This set the precedent for the post-Reformation Protestant ideal of reforming whole nations according to Christian teaching—effectively using outward elements such as politics to reform a society rather than emphasizing God’s inward work and His grace. In the modern era this carries on with programs and key phrases such as “reclaiming America for Christ” — using political power to make a nation inherently Christian. However, this is a road to certain failure as it follows along the same path as the medieval Crusades and exploration voyages: forcing outward behavioral and social change while doing little in the way of true heart change.

This leads directly into the next point: the issue of jingoism. Jingoism is described as a fanatical devotion, almost religious in nature, to one’s homeland. This is often manifest as an attitude that one’s nation can do no wrong and is superior to all other nations. Especially dangerous is when this attitude is mixed with religion so that it is believed that one nation, above all others, has a special blessing from God. That, in turn, leads one to believe that God has given one nation a mandate to extend itself to other nations. This belief is quite prevalent among American Christians, who can also cite many cases of the faith of the Founding Fathers, the faith of Presidents, and the Christian principles behind the nation’s great documents. But the faith of individuals does not make their product inherently Christian. Furthermore, God does not specifically work with corporate bodies and nations; His work is with the individual.

It cannot be denied that there are many references in the Old Testament to God’s blessing on a nation. But the important distinction here is that it seems to consistently refer to the nation of Israel during the period in which God worked with His covenant people in a theocratic, national sense. For the last two millennia, the covenant people have not been an earthly political entity defined by man-made borders but rather members of a Kingdom that is not of this world. This perspective changes everything on national identity and political associations. Christ’s mission was not to create an earthly kingdom from which to reign, nor was it to overthrow the evil and polytheistic Roman Empire. (This was the error of the Zealots, and it carries on to modern times.) His kingdom is the invisible church — those whom He chose from all nations of the world. In the Church, ethnic background, political affiliation, and national citizenship are meaningless, as they are things of the world that will pass away. Whether you are a Liberal or a Conservative, an American or a Zambian, a Republican or a Democrat, etc., it has no implications on the Kingdom of God as God is not a member of any of these groups.

This perspective should change many things for the Christian’s political identity. When we realize that our identity is in Christ and our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), temporal affiliations lose their meaning and significance. In the Kingdom of God, we are not regarded as “Americans” but rather as “Christians.” We are not primarily ambassadors for our earthly nation, but rather ambassadors for our heavenly nation. (See Ephesians 2:19.)

With this in mind, is it important that society be transformed and made Christian? Yes, absolutely. But I think that this can only be done through God’s work in the hearts of men. The transformation must be invisible before it can become visible. Using political means to achieve change is not the way Jesus worked when He walked on earth; it is the way of the Zealots. It will not win souls; it will make enemies. I see no reason to believe that the Church will be judged for failing to Christianize a nation. Instead, if anything, the Church could be criticized for becoming tied to the world. Did Jesus ever condemn the people of Judea and Galilee for failing to convert the Roman authorities and transform the government? Are the Christians in nations such as China being judged for allowing the government to continue as it is? Then why is it so prevalent in America for Christians to believe that they will be held accountable if the government is not Christian? Have we lost our identity in Christ to the point that we must find fulfillment in our earthly identity? Or do we think that Christ needs the United States of America in order to fulfill His will for His Kingdom?

Our political ties can even cause harm to our witness to the rest of the world. Because the Church has become so tied to the American political system, anything unpopular political choice in the United States is associated with the American Church. The moral state of our nation—the place we call “a Christian nation”—has become such that followers of false religions are appalled by our lack of morality. And who is blamed? Right, the “Christians.” Because the “church” in the United States has chosen the route of political association and earthly change, we cannot effectively share the message of the Kingdom of God without political issues becoming a hindrance; either for the speaker or the receiver. The world seeks true Christianity, not what they see as American political “Christianity.” Sadly, we brought this on ourselves by sacrificing much for some temporal political influence.

What can we do? It is important for us, the Christians in America, to repent from trying to serve two masters (earthly kingdom and heavenly kingdom). We should be ambassadors to this world; not ambassadors from one earthly nation to another, but rather ambassadors from a heavenly kingdom. We should not go into the world to promote an earthly nation over another, but to do what we can to make visible the invisible, but nevertheless real Kingdom. And we should not pledge our allegiance to anything but God and that which is perfect and unchanging—that which cannot be taken away or be corrupted. Otherwise we enter into duplicity and risk the snare of idolatry.

And finally, do support your nation. Pray for your leaders and authorities as is commanded (1 Timothy 2:2), and remember that God is in control of all (Proverbs 21:1). Vote for those who would be most likely to lead the country in the right direction, regardless of which party they hail from; do your duty to “Caesar”. But do not lose sight of your true citizenship. God has not called us as “Americans” but rather as His bride. Our loyalty and worship is directed to Him, not to our temporary home. Our home country or political affiliation does not elevate or degrade our position in His kingdom.

Referenced Scriptures

All Scripture is quoted from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

John 18:33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Philippians 3:17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Ephesians 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

1Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.