Perspective

By L. Jim Tuck

March 7, 2024

True Patriots

   In nations around the world many are crying out because they see the erosion of what has been considered sacred freedoms. In western countries where freedom of speech was written in constitutions long ago is now coming into question. The loss of human rights, and even life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness may not be far behind. In the past, patriotic men and women made great sacrifices to secure freedoms, and some gave their lives for the basic freedoms we enjoy in the free world. What bearing does this have on modern-day Christians? Should we be patriotic? Although we are not of this world, it is certainly not wrong for God’s people to love their own country. However, we must remember Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). We are citizens of heaven, and our loyalty to God should be far above that of our own country. Are we true patriots of the kingdom of God?

Perspective

   President Abraham Lincoln concluded his 1862 Annual Message to Congress by reflecting on the importance of adopting a plan of emancipation to do away with slavery. He said, “We — even we here — hold the power, and bear the responsibility. In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free — honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth.”

   A democratic decline has been taking place globally, and an increasing number of people are living in closed autocracies. In the last 35 years the world has been in an anti-democratic trend. “The level of democracy enjoyed by the average world citizen in 2022 is back to 1986 levels. This means that 72 percent of the world's population, 5.7 billion people, live under authoritarian rule,” according to Staffan I. Lindberg, Director of the VDem Institute.

Authoritarian Governments Are on the Rise

   It is startling that an authoritarian approach to government gained quick acceptance by over half of the American people during the Covid-19 pandemic in the name of public health. It seemed the revoking of previous freedoms of choice, no matter how senseless, was acceptable to the majority of Americans as well as most citizens of the other English-speaking countries. The government even regulated whether churches could operate, and most people willingly complied. This makes one wonder how easy it would be for formerly democratic nations to be fooled under the guise of their protection to accept an authoritarian government where their freedoms were taken away.

   At its inception in 1776 America began to be a great beacon of liberty to the world. America was the country to which France gave the famous Statue of Liberty. On September 17, 1787, as delegates left the Constitutional Convention in Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin was asked what kind of government do we have? “A Republic,” he replied, “if you can keep it.”

   In a time of crisis everything can change rapidly. We can each ask ourselves, “How loyal would I remain to God and His church—would I be a patriot?” “Would I place the governments of men and obey them above my heavenly citizenship?”

   The Bible instructs us to comply with government as long as it does not conflict with what God instructs us to do. Romans 13:1-2 instruct us to submit in regard to laws, pay taxes that are due, submit to customs. And Paul states, “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” (Romans 13:7) Of course, since our citizenship is in heaven—we honor God first.

   However, persecutions are coming, and it will likely come about in the guise of a crisis from the leaders of government. It will put pressure on people to place human governments above God’s rule. Jesus was delivered to be crucified by the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Jews, and He was executed by the Roman authorities. He warned His disciples in Matthew 24:9, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.”

   Martyrdoms of the past took place under the aegis of government sanctions. People were rounded up and thrown in prison. During the Imperial Inquisition, the Roman Empire prosecuted many who were accused by the Catholic Church of heresy. It has been estimated by reputed historians of the Catholic Inquisition that 50 million people were slaughtered for the crime of "heresy" by Roman persecutors between A.D. 606 and the middle of 19th century. The Catholic Church unsurprisingly downplays this figure to the thousands. Catholic historian Vergerius openly admits that during the Pontificate of Pope Paul IV (1555-1559) "the Inquisition alone, by tortures, starvation, or the fire, murdered more than 150,000 Protestants." These are only small samples of the brutality which was poured out upon "dissident" Christians by the Roman Catholic Church during the Inquisition.

   Clark’s Martyrology counts the number of Waldensian martyrs during the first half of the 13th century in France alone at two million. Included in that number, no doubt, were those of the true church of God. Through it all they remained loyal to God.

True Patriots of the Kingdom

Hebrew 11 gives a list of the dedicated matriarchs and patriarchs, many of which gave their lives as true patriots of the kingdom. It says in Hebrews 11:13-16, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

   The Apostle Paul wrote further: “Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” (Hebrews 11:36-40)

   They proved to be loyal ambassadors of a kingdom not of this world; they envisioned it afar off. These were true patriots of the kingdom they sought. It is what we seek each day as we prove our loyalty and obedience to God and Jesus Christ. True patriots of that coming kingdom are willing to endure being hated, scoffed at, harassed, or even put to death by the magistrates of this world. We may have opportunity to prove our loyalty to God sooner than we might think! I pray all of us have our eyes so firmly riveted on the goal of the kingdom we can persevere through whatever hardships come our way.

This is my Perspective for this week. Have a great Sabbath and nice weekend!