Nationalism - Marginalizing God's Word

*NATIONALISM*

MARGINALIZING GOD”S WORD

The concept of nationalism and patriotism create all sorts of ways in which God’s Word is marginalized. And although I am going to list some ways, these are basically ways that are Biblically wrong but do not fully address how these ways are barriers to believers to do what is Biblically right. Perhaps I will address those in a later post.

But there are many, many ways in which nationalism and patriotism directly marginalize the principles and teachings of God’s Word. In effect, it places allegiance to an earthly country higher than allegiance to Christ. Here are but a few, but contained in each of these are many separate tributaries that lead directly to the idol of national allegiance.

* It stems from a desire for monetary prosperity.

Matt.6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

* It encourages violence as a way of protecting a certain level of this earthly life.

Matt.5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

* It creates an unbiblical connection with unbelievers.

II Cor.6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

* It encourages complaining about our circumstances.

Phil.2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

* It suggests that the gospel is not the exclusive vehicle for cultural change.

Matt.23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

* It leads to many levels of discontent.

I Tim.6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

* It places sinners in different man made classifications.

Rom.23:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

* It openly and subtly suggests that American lives are worth more than others.

* It makes us demand certain things for ourselves.

* It elevates earthly freedom on a similar level as spiritual freedom.

* It creates an unbiblical sense of pride.

Rom.12:3 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

* It endorses a governmental system which places Jesus with other gods.

Jn.14: 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

* It makes a desire for more money a central concern.

I Tim.6: 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

* It openly suggests that America’s wars are God’s wars.

* It allows men and women to inflate their resumes and attack the resumes of their opponents.

Pr.27: 2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

* It causes believers to support carnal and sometimes wicked men and women.

I Tim.6: 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

* It endorses the great lie about the founding fathers.

* It is a clandestine form of humanism.

* It makes people like Muslims or Iranians enemies and not lost sinners.

* It plays favorites based upon moral perspectives or national citizenship.

* It treats illegal immigrants as illegal immigrants.

Ti.3: 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

* It build monuments to the glory of men.

* It spends obscene amounts of money to gain political power.

I have purposely left a space below some of my statements. Can you fill in the blanks?