Freedom has become a hallmark aspiration of this nation since its founding.  It’s also been a principle of the Christian faith since its inception.  The opening words of the fifth chapter of Galatians state, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”  (Galatians 5:1).  And so, our freedom — that which we experience in Jesus Christ — is not a freedom to be taken lightly.  It’s a freedom that gives its every priority and consideration to what it means to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God over and above what it means to be a citizen of this earth.  Freedom as it has been practiced in this land has frequently been reserved for the privileged few.  It’s frequently been used as a tool of the rich and powerful to avoid justice as is seen in the recent case with the Jeffrey Epstein files and its survivors.  It has been viewed among those who choose to be used as a license to avoid being held accountable, even after a jury has found someone guilty.  We can’t help but to believe that the retrial of Alex Murdaugh has much to do with the power his family wielded in South Carolina.  And so, freedom for the privileged has meant that they get to do what they want, when they want, with whomever they want, without any accountability.

        For those of us who are Christians and patriots of our God, freedom has a much different context.  We are not under the law if we are led by the Spirit because the Spirit leads us into righteous behavior based on the foundation of Christ’s love.  We are free to love unconditionally — not holding our trespasses against each other but through forgiveness and understanding, offering each other the grace of Jesus Christ.  It’s the freedom to honor and respect one another with integrity in a way that honors the laws of the land in which we live as well as the land in which our citizenship if truly located — the Kingdom of God.  It’s a freedom that carries with it the salvation of Jesus Christ and the mercy and grace of God which sets all believers free.

• How has your experience of freedom in Christ changed your life?
• How might you advise others of the advantages that freedom in Christ gives you that strengthens your patriotism to the Kingdom of God?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Merciful God, hold me in the freedom I experience as a child of God and a citizen and patriot of Your Kingdom. Help me to understand my freedom as an opportunity to love others as You loved me.

         I imagine people would get a strange look on their faces if they asked you your nation of origin and you said, “Oh, I’m not from here.”  And to be honest, it’s a difficult reality to accept when for as many years as we’ve been on this earth, we consider ourselves citizens of this country.  In this day and age, who is and who isn’t a citizen is up for debate.  The SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) has just this past week made a legal decision on the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and the issue of birthright citizenship allowing millions of people to declare the United States of America as the place where their citizenship is held. Many Americans have had to reconsider what patriotism means in a land where their citizenship was being questioned.

         But have you ever stopped to consider if that is a question that might be asked about a person’s ability to live within the kingdom of God?  Or does our citizenship in God’s Kingdom depend on relationship?  Central to our identity is our relationship to Christ.  Scripture reminds us, “12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13).  In the case of Christian patriotism, because of our new birth in Christ Jesus, we have a particular and specific birthright citizenship.  It’s not one of human designation, but one of Spiritual designation and destination.  To that end our patriotism of faith is largely determined by the home to which we belong.  And yes, we live on earth in human form, but we are spiritual and God’s kingdom is our place of citizenship.  “26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ff.”  We are therefore citizens of God’s Kingdom.  And it is to God and God’s Kingdom through Christ that our patriotic fervor is due.

• What does it mean for you to hold your citizenship in the Kingdom of God over and above your citizenship to this land called the USA?
• How does accepting that reality change your view of what it means to be patriotic as a Christian?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious God, lead me and guide me to be faithful to my citizenship in Your Kingdom. Empower me to learn and practice what patriotism to Your Kingdom is really about.

         The entire issue of patriotism rises to a peak level during this time of year in our country.  That’s especially true this year since the nation we call home is celebrating 250 years of existence.  And those who consider themselves patriots will engage in all of the ceremonial rites and rituals associated with July 4 well into the rest of the year.  And no doubt, there will be many Americans who consider themselves Christians and many patriots who consider themselves American who will have celebrated this anniversary.  But the glaring truth will go mostly unnoticed.  Not every Christian is a patriot to the United States of America and not every American is a patriot to the place they call their home.  This is especially true for Christians — who like Peter — acknowledge that their primary place of birth is not the United States.  Rather, they consider they have been born anew into the Kingdom of God, and that while they are on this earth, they experience a dual citizenship.  However, they willingly acknowledge that their pledge of allegiance is to maintain their loyalty, faithfulness, and commitment to keep the laws of God’s Kingdom over and above the laws of the United States.

         There are other Christians who pledge no such allegiance to the Kingdom of God, but have given their allegiance to what has been called “Christian Nationalism” — an apostasy of the Christian faith that aligns itself not with the Kingdom of God, but with the human law of exclusion, racism, sexism, and patriotism to their idea of God’s kingdom over and above God’s idea of God’s kingdom.

         The art of Christian patriotism is defined by God’s intention to include people of every nation, language, tribe, and race, rather than holding one race or nation above all others as supreme as Christian Nationalism attempts to do.  And they (Christian Nationalists) — in Satanic like fashion — attempt to transform the word of God to justify their actions of evil rather than using the word of God to become transformed persons, born anew into the Kingdom of God and His Christ.  The art of Christian patriotism is defined by following Christ’s command to “love one another”, and not just those who make up only one specific racial, ethnic, or culturally segregated group.  It’s why Peter admonishes those newly formed Christians not to use their freedom in Christ as an opportunity to hide the evil we say we despise.  Christian patriotism openly practices the laws of love expressing our patriotism to the Kingdom of God above all others.

• What does living as a patriot to the Kingdom of God mean to you?
• How do you go about the business daily of showing your patriotism to God and his Kingdom?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Loving Christ, allow your Spirit to work within me as an expression of my patriotism to You and Your Kingdom that others may experience true Christian patriotism through love and give honor, praise, and glory to God.