Our culture is quick to slap labels on people. One of the most recent is “Christian Nationalist.” It is used by some as an insult, but as I look at the definition of each word I’m proud to say, “I guess that’s me!” I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and I am a patriotic American. So slap a label on me if you must. I’ll wear it proudly as I praise God for preserving our country against enemies domestic and foreign and celebrate Independence Day on July 4th!
Most of us can remember beginning each school day standing by our desks with our hands over our hearts and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. We stood a bit taller the first day of school in our plaid dresses and stiff jeans as we recited those well-revered words.
Patriots among us still watch for opportunities to stand and say the pledge, even as we sadly see those opportunities dwindle. First there was an effort to remove the words “under God” from the pledge, then fewer and fewer schools kept the reciting of the pledge as a part of each school day. Yet those words forever in our hearts still sound out every U.S. citizen’s allegiance to his or her country.
It’s said if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. What we need to remember, however, even in our later years, is that it makes a big difference for what we choose to stand. We need to choose our loyalties carefully, and then put our hearts and souls into defending those choices till the end of our days.
Our allegiance to our Lord God can co-exist quite convivially with our allegiance to our country. But we must never forget which allegiance is greater—which allegiance carries with it an eternal citizenship and the guarantee that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6). That’s our loyalty and allegiance to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Yes, it’s important for us to pledge allegiance to our country, and never take her freedoms and benefits for granted. But even more important is our allegiance to the God under whom our country was created. As a common slogan says, we “stand for the flag and kneel for the cross.” Our true allegiance, our undying loyalty once we are believers in Him and His Son Jesus Christ, must be always and only to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. To Him we pledge our allegiance. After all, our true citizenship is in heaven.
It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.
–George Washington
As many of you read in April, I have not been able to write very much recently due to the loss of our 9-month-old great-granddaughter from complications of the flu in February. But when I heard the writing prompt for a writer’s workshop sponsored by Academy Christian Church, my imagination soared. I thought it might just be the opportunity I needed to get the creative juices flowing again. I was right.
Other writers imagined what happened the day after to the man possessed by demons that Jesus transferred to the pigs (Mark 5:1-20), to the Centurion whose servant was healed from a distance (Matthew 8:5-13), or to Lazarus, who was raised from the dead (John 11:1-44). The writer speculating about Lazarus wondered, assuming he had been in the presence of God, if Lazarus was really that happy about being brought back to live on the earth again? Of course, his sisters Mary and Martha were thrilled and grateful that he was back, but was he? We can only imagine.
No wonder so many people love to attend Easter sunrise services. A sunrise represents hope, and so it is the perfect representation of the hope we find in the message of Easter.
As enjoyable as the holiday season may be, we can all feel the need for physical renewal once it’s over. The “new year, new you” mantra strikes a chord with many of us.
As we looked up at the massive scaffolding surrounding the majestic cathedral we shared our tour guide’s view that Macron’s deadline would probably not be met. Naysayers were many, yet thousands of diligent artists, artisans and craftsmen began the pains-taking work of cleaning and repairing stained glass windows, recreating stone and wooden carvings from photos, restoring centuries old paintings and murals, and resurrecting the damaged organ—the largest in France. The billion-dollar project was funded in part by donations from all around the world—with 57 million coming from the United States.
After a year when so many lost their homes through war or natural disaster, I was especially grateful to decorate the place we’ve called home for almost 10 years and to share it with friends and family. This is where we live and this is home.
Once a week I gather around a table in an assisted living facility nearby with a group of seasoned saints to go over a lesson from The Hope of Glory. This is just the most recent of several groups I’ve been privileged to meet with over the years, but I’ve gotten to know and cherish these ladies in a special way.
