Politics and the Pulpit

[CGMedley]

How much patriotism should be displayed in church services. James Coffin offers his comments in this week’s Adventist Review. http://www.adventistreview.org/2005-1521/news.html#2

[Dr. Shane]

I am going to address this without expressing my political opinion. I think one can be patiotic without being political. The Bible commands us to be submissive to the civil authorities unless to do so would violate the law of God.

In a way, our government is like our parents. The government makes rules for us - like parents do. The government tells us where we can go (issues passports) and who can come and visit us (issues visas). So the command to be submissive to our government is simular to the command to obey our parents.

However there is a line that can be crossed where a sermon can go from being patriotic to being political. The IRS allows churches to be political and not lose their tax-exempt status as long as the church does not support a specific political party or canidate. A church can support an issue (i.e. educational vouchers). The Adventist church is outspoken on the issue of religious liberty.

[LynnDel]

I have a good friend from another country, an Adventist, who believes that patriotism is essentially anti-Christian. To her patriotism is a bad word and is the root of many evils. I've tried to explain to her what I see as Christian American patriotism in which many of us view our history as similar to that of the children of Israel escaping Egypt and America as something like the Promised Land. Our fathers and forefathers left religious persecution in many countries to find freedom here, a land we believe God opened for us. How can we help but feel thankful to God? How can we help but view our country with gratefulness and pride*?

My friend listens, but I think she still doesn't agree.

LD

*even with all its failings

[Dr. Shane]

There is a difference between "nationalism" and "patriotism". Nationalism is when someone believes their nation is better than other nations. Patriotism is simply love of country. Some people get the two mixed up.