This has really been pressing on me especially as we lead up to America's celebration of her independence. As I have already stated prior to this blog, I love America. I really do and it pains me to see her being traumatized as she is. I love my country. Period. BUT...
But the level of admiration and love for America from within the "church" concerns me. I mean, who are we really serving here? Jesus or the U.S.A.? It is sad to say but even our patriotism can become an idol. Even our stand for
Now please don't get me wrong here. There are many things we, the church, should be standing FOR and AGAINST in this nation because if the church will never stand and speak truth, how will this world ever come to KNOW the truth!?!?!? For instance, our stand on abortion HAS to be unwavering and we should do our patriotic duty to vote against it and anyone who stands for it. But, ultimately, that stance is not American patriotism. It is, instead, a KINGDOM STANCE!
Allow me to share another verse with you from Philippians 3:17-21. It says "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ; whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame- who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."
Ok, first, if anything the church should be LEADING the rest of the country and world in the things of God but we cannot currently do so as we have argued within ourselves for so long and sinned without repentance for so long that the world disbelieves that there is any longer any power in this sleeping giant. But this blog isn't about that. This blog is about the FACT that our allegiance should not lie with whatever country we are a part of. Our FIRST AND MAIN allegiance should be to the Kingdom of God. Our citizenship, if we are truly a part of the Bride of Christ, is heaven...is God's kingdom.
1 Peter 2:9 says that we are a HOLY NATION. Well, he most certainly isn't talking about America or any other nation on this planet. He is talking about that nation that, as the writer of Hebrews says, cannot be shaken. He is talking about that nation whose foundation is none other than the ROCK that is Jesus the Messiah!
What I fear is that there are are so many who claim citizenship to this unshakable Kingdom of God, who are more tied to their American identity than their "Holy Nation" identity! When we value our American citizenship (or any planetary nation) over that of the Kingdom of God, then we have allowed our love for country to become an idol and we will surely crash when she crashes....and she WILL CRASH.
As Philippians 3 says "But our citizenship is in heaven". A true citizen of heaven, of the unshakable Kingdom of God, will realize and understand that all of these things we see (Matthew 24) must be so that God's kingdom can ultimately be ushered in!
As we draw closer to the end of life as we know it on planet Earth, we will see more and more of a call to be a "global citizen" and to do our part as a "global citizens". You will hear and see more of a move towards globalization as it becomes completely unpopular to be an American or a Brit or African or Indian, Frenchman or Italiano. We WILL see this. Don't be duped, swayed or otherwise bamboozled. But also don't fret or be anxious when you see these things take place. If you are the true church, His remnant, the Bride of Christ, then you are an alien on this Earth anyway. Our identity is not tied to this planet. Don't allow your American patriotism to become an idol because there will be a wind of doctrine moving through this earth that says "if you love your nation, become a global citizen so that we can all be "better together". Also, you may want to be careful of that line...."better together". It isn't a bad thing by itself but there is an agenda behind it that is linked to none other than the anti-christ himself.
I honestly have so much more to say...so much more on my heart and I have a feeling I will blog some more...stay tuned! Meanwhile, I leave you with this place of focus and encouragement....
BE SOBER. BE VIGILANT. BE KINGDOM-MINDED. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE CROSS AND YOUR MIND ON JESUS. RUN THIS LAST LEG OF THE RACE WITH ENDURANCE....LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER. FEAR NOT FOR HE IS WITH YOU ALWAYS....EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD!!!
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