The Idol of Patriotism
Old Glory 4 by Karen Werner We are on the precipice of our nation's 250th birthday. Arguably more so than any previous Fourth of July in recent history, patriotism is practically humid in the air. Red, white, and blue deck the halls. The flag waves proudly. At least in the South, I imagine that beer and fireworks sales have skyrocketed. Hot dogs and charcoal are being prepped, and maybe a brisket if we're lucky. The point is, celebration is here and ready. For the Christian, however, it is important to be mindful. There is, at some point, a line in the sand: a point at which patriotism becomes idolatry, and our country our idol. The question, for the Christian in particular, is where that line dwells. There is a common argument to be made that celebrating the United States is, in fact, celebrating Christianity, or even a "Christian" thing to do, because the United States is, or was, a Christian nation. It is important to define and verify this claim. I can think of t...
