Patriotism and Idolatry

Patriotism is idolatry. Here are Christ's words concerning patriotism and pledging allegiance to the flag and any and all such idols. If we really mean what we say when we pledge allegiance, we of necessity place an idol between us and our God to who we truly owe our allegiance:

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

There is simply no way to obey Christ's command to love your enemy and at the same time blow the man away. You cannot say you love Christ and His word while you utterly despise His words to Peter:

Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Matthew 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Orthodox Christianity despises these words of our Lord. I just this week heard a nationally known minister state that the Christian has "dual citizenship." As always, the scripture used to justify this double talk is Romans thirteen.

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

These first two verses are emphasized to the exclusion of their stated purpose:

Romans 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

But even when verses 6 and 7 are read, they are read as if the main point of all scripture is "be subject unto the higher [earthly] power."

The word 'earthly,' of course, is not to be found in this admonition. And of course Peter made it clear that whenever there is a conflict between the earthly powers and the word of God that "we ought to obey God rather than men."

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

I would strongly advise you to prepare yourself for rejection if you insist on being faithful to theses words of scripture.

John 15:18 If the [church] world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

When Christ speaks of 'the world,' He is speaking of 'the world [of the] synagogues and the temple.'

John 18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

John 18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

John 18:21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.

John 18:22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

Remember, If they have persecuted me [Christ], they will also persecute you;

Do you think you are up to this 'baptism?'

Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

Matthew 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

Matthew 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

This is all written for our admonition.