Leading up to the presidential election of 2020 we began to hear quite a lot about “Patriotism”, but we did not hear much about the definition of that word. Patriotism is one of those words that seems so self-evident, that it almost seems unnecessary to wonder about the definition, but perhaps we should do so now, as we are again headed into another of the ‘most important elections’ in American history.
The simple definition of patriotism is the love for, and passionate devotion to one’s own country. Most of us knew that already, but have we considered that in the early 1930’s, when Adolf Hitler was scheming his way into the dictatorship of Germany, most of the German citizens of that time were considered “patriotic” in their support of him? I’m not sure if Hitler produced the Germany of the 1940’s or if Germany produced Hitler, but they were certainly in bed together leading into World War II. The result was that millions of men and women all over the world prematurely died due to that version of patriotism. My point is this: Patriotism without God is pointless and always dangerous.
The newly categorized “domestic terrorists” in America are for the most part, patriots. They want the evil cabal that has hitherto covertly run our lives for many decades, to be deposed and replaced with patriotic men and women who will adhere to the overarching principle of putting America first. That sounds good, and I whole heartedly support that general goal, but then I think that leading up to 1939, Hitler looked as if he was putting Germany first, and that appealed to the masses because they felt very passionately that they had been put last at the conclusion of World War I. The German people weren’t evil, and I believe they reacted exactly as Americans would have reacted had we been subjected to national and financial slavery just as they had. My point again: Patriotism without God is pointless and always dangerous.
I believe as I write this, that American patriots are in a horrific political struggle to gain a window of time, in which to reclaim and restore our once great country. However, even if we succeed in winning the struggle, that window may or may not be open very long. History is like that, and always has been. Individually and corporately, America is temporary because the world as we know it is temporary. We live, and we die, and so do countries, but do we want to live in the freedom God provides while we live, or do we want to punch open the window of our ‘greatness’ on our own terms, only to have it close to a greater darkness? No truly virtuous struggle can exist for long, or produce lasting results, without God being preeminent.
Most of my thinking and meditating lately has come down to one word…choice. I know that many millions of American citizens will never even look up from their televised, fictional world view, perhaps especially in these difficult times. They will be like cattle waiting cluelessly to be made into steaks, for that’s who they are, but the ones who take hold of the God Who inspired the American Constitution, and pray fervently to be heard by Him, they are the ones who will carry that distinction into eternity.
The American patriots who are partnering with God now, and basing their ‘patriotism’ on His headship, are the only ones who stand a chance of opening the window of American greatness for the length of time God has predestined for this country.
We have a job to do, but it will be done by people who kneel before God, the only One Who knows they are there, and they will vote in accordance with the will of God.
Only they are our true patriots.
John Miltenberger
Photo: Flickr
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