TRUE  STATE  OF  THE  UNION

How blessed we are to be citizens of the United States of America! Thank you Lord! We are justified in holding our heads high with a degree of national pride tempered with humble realization that but by the grace of God, we could be part of the poor in our own land or among those that are fighting for survival in some third world country or fighting for our lives and livelihood in the some Middle East or Central European country. But we are here! But we are blessed! But we are His! All glory to His Holy Name!

I believe in patriotism. I love my country. I choke up when I watch documentaries about the mighty exploits inscribed in the history of this unique land. I stand up in my home when the National Anthem is played or sung before sporting events. I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy. I pray for my country and her leaders. God bless America! I particularly like July 4th as a celebration, because as Christians we can justly join with all other patriots in a non-religious fellowship, looking back on our glorious history, and hopefully looking ahead to improve the future by a returning to those standards and actions that made us great, even the trust in God and concern for one another. May it be so Holy Father! ... but ...

You anticipated that there must be a "BUT" ... didn't you? There is.  It is this;   “But”  I take exception  to an unhealthy reverence for, an unwarranted dependence upon, an unthinking obedience to and a too fanatical nationalism about America or any other nation for that matter. Thus it falls to my lot to offer a balance between National Patriotism and Spiritual Patriotism. I use the word balance loosely, realizing that the fulcrum must be moved infinitely to the right to produce any realistic kind of scale since every earthly benefit or lack thereof fades to insignificance beside our place in the Kingdom of God. And this is the very thought that I want to impart to you, namely that "Our conversation is in Heaven". ( Phil. 3:20)

No doubt you are aware that the King James word "conversation" is an archaic form, and no longer conveys to the modem reader the intent of the Apostle Paul when he, through the Holy Spirit penned the Greek word POLITEUMA Strong's # 4175 ). You can readily see the word "politics" in the Greek original and most modem translations have "Citizenship" in this verse instead of  “conversation”. (The Living Bible has "homeland"). So our "citizenship" or "homeland" is in heaven if so be that we are born again into His Kingdom.

And this was not a new thought given to Paul alone, as you can verify by reading about Abraham's attitude in Hebrews 11, along with the other 'faithful' folks listed in that great chapter. At the end of verse 13 we are told that they all .."confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Verse 14 further explains their message to the world around them, when "they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country." (The word translated country is PATRIS = Strong # 3968, and is the same root as the English word "Patriot". They were all looking for a 'Fatherland'. Now if they were concerned about a dwelling upon earth, they could easily have returned to their home. (v. 15) But they had their eye on another home, another Kingdom, another Ruler. They considered heaven their "home town". This may seem trite to many today who would fear becoming "so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good."  But as the pendulum swings towards an earthly and carnal direction, I do not think that to be too heavenly minded is the extreme we need worry about. We need rather to "Turn our eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His Glory and Grace."

Back to the balance with which a Christian must live. Peter and Paul, among others that follow the Lord's own teaching in the Gospels, clearly show us that we aught so to live among men that we are above reproach. But the Lord is also dramatic and clear when he clarifies any doubt about which sphere deserves our heart felt attention. Pilate in John 18:35 points out to Jesus that the Chief Priests and the people of His own nation are the ones accusing Him, and Pilate would like to know what the Lord could have done to earn their hate. Jesus answers with the "Declaration of Independence" (from this world), that should characterize every believer. "My kingdom is not of this world" (World = KOSMOS, Strong #2889, which word contrasts the physical world of sight over against the spiritual world of eternity. See Technical Note below) If My kingdom where of this world, then everything would be quite different My disciples would fight, I would not be taken, you would be in deep trouble, etc. etc.. But, my kingdom is not from here (and you are still in trouble Pilate!). To understand the significance of these words we rely upon illustrations, which as someone once said 'always limp', that is they are not adequate to truly carry the point. Still, imagine yourself visiting some foreign country, perhaps as a dignitary representing the U.S. While you are there you would want your conduct to be considered 'above reproach' as you complied with all the laws of that land, honored all the customs that did not conflict with your conscience, and tried to portray .a view of your fatherland that would make the Natives of the host country you are visiting have an irresistible desire to go home with you someday.

But you would always act like an American  first (in the finest sense of the word ). You would always defend your fatherland against any attack from the host country, both verbal and literal. And, should the conflict between your homeland and the host country become belligerent, you would immediately go on the offensive, even to the point of severing relationships and actively combating the forces which would now be classed as your 'enemies'. Situations of this kind are abundant in America’s history, especially with the German government under Hitler and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. One day the people in the host country are friendly foreigners, the next day they are the enemy of your  people. Just so, we are truly "ambassadors for Christ" in this world.

To some of you, this sounds somewhat less than patriotic. Some have been visiting the foreign land so long and become so involved that they feel more at home there than in their own fatherland. Because America has been so blessed with a Christian heritage some think that "America” and "Christian" mean  the same thing. This is understandable but wrong.

The only national people God has ever had are the Children of Israel. Today He is building a people upon the Rock Christ Jesus from every kindred, tongue, and nation. These compatriots are in the world (foreign country), but not of the world. They are performing their representative duties until the time when their own Sovereign Lord comes to take them forever to the Eternal City whose Maker and Builder is God.

Let us celebrate the birthday of this great land with other citizens who love and honor it. Let us lead the way in calling down the blessings of God upon her and working diligently to make her a mirror image of our own glorious Fatherland above. But let us always strive to make converts to our King, transferring these precious souls from the kingdom of Adam upon earth to the Kingdom of His dear Son. Remember also, our cry is not "Long live the king!", but "Our King is the Ever Living One."

Invite me to your party.
Hayden Kent

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Phil 4:20  But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.  NIV

John 18:35-36  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.