This week will be filled with a great deal of patriotic fervor as the nation celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 on July 4th. The parades, speeches, and fireworks are all intended to create pride in America and loyalty to the nation. On July 4th many a heart will swell with emotion when the national anthem is played. But on other days it seems that Americans swing widely between the poles of proclaiming that this is the greatest nation on earth and despairing of the actions of the government when gridlock grips the capitol or revelations of massive intelligence gathering hit the news.
Scripture teaches that the nation is to be respected but not worshipped because the nation is part of God’s rule over the earth but not part of God’s plan of salvation. Salvation is the gift of God through Jesus Christ for all who would believe in him without any respect to nationality, race, or ethnicity. There are two key passages in scripture that speak to the Christian’s relationship to any nation from America to Zimbabwe.
In Romans 13:1 it says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Even though Declaration of Independence says “governments are instituted by men and derive their just powers from the consent of the governed,” and the introduction to the constitution of the United States clearly states the “we the people….do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America” it is through the will of “we the people” that God accomplishes his will to establish order and safety in the land. And it is for this reason that Romans 13:7 goes on to say “Pay all of them their due, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due” even if those in office are members of the other political party, be they Democrats in Minnesota or Republicans in North Dakota.
And in 1st Timothy 2:1 it says, “First of all, then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” This is a clear call to pray for those who hold office in the land and whose decisions will have a powerful effect on our lives. Pray for President Obama, Governor Dayton, the members of the U.S. congress and the state legislature. Pray for the Supreme Court and all the courts in the land right down to traffic court. Pray that they will be wise in their decision making, fair in their administration of the laws, and compassionate in their dealings with ordinary citizens.
This month the Canadians will gather around the Maple Leaf flag on the 1st, the French will have “La Fête Nationale” on the 14th, and we will fire off fireworks on the 4th of July. Every nation has its day and its place in the sun. Let us celebrate our national holiday with pride and prayer, and with the sure knowledge that our God is Lord of all. Back in 1934 Lloyd Stone wrote a hymn to be sung to the “Finlandia” tune that still rings true today.
This is my song, O God of all the nations,
a song of peace for lands afar and mine;
this is my home, the country where my heart is;
here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine:
but other hearts in other lands are beating
with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.
My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;
but other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
and skies are everywhere as blue as mine:
O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,
a song of peace for their land and for mine.
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