Proud to Be an American

In Acts 17, as Paul talked with a rather distinguished group, He outlined the plan of God and even discussed how, even though we are one race from one blood, God established nations and boundaries. We can read these words:
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

So, you could make the contention that our nation was established according to God's plan. And, I would submit that He has, for almost 250 years, been working in the life of our country. That doesn't mean that we have been totally obedient; no group of people is.  And, I believe that He is none too pleased with what He sees transpiring. But, God doesn't give up on us - He will use earthly nations for eternal purposes, and He desires to see people come into His Kingdom through a relationship with Christ.

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The Bible tells us that the nation established in righteousness will be exalted; so we should make it our aim to represent values that are rooted in the Word of God. Proverbs 14 states:
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

This is a very special day, because it gives us the opportunity to honor those who have bravely served on behalf of our country and to reflect on the principles for which they gave their lives.  Our country is certainly worth fighting for, and we remember those who have served with honor and a sense of sacrifice, on behalf of a cause greater than themselves.

On this Veteran's Day, I want to call your attention to a poll that was released recently by the Public Religion Research Institute and reported on at the ChristianHeadlines.com website, which stated: "The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) poll of 2,508 Americans, released Monday, found that 75 percent of White evangelicals, 67 percent of Black Protestants and 55 percent of 'other Christians' believe “God has granted America a special role in human history..." 

44 percent of all Americans agree with that statement, but that's a decline of 20 points from 2013.  Not surprisingly, PRRI, which I believe to be an agenda-driven polling company it is given to denigrating some elements of the Church, said, "Significantly fewer Americans today believe that God has granted America a special role in human history..."   The PRRI summary breaks the numbers down by various religious groups, but I do not see the total percentage of Christians that embrace that train of thought. Nevertheless, I think you can sense that there is a significant percentage, perhaps even a majority, of Christians who believe, as I do, that God has a special purpose for our nation.

74% of all Americans agreed with these words: “America has always been a force for good in the world,” and "88 percent of White evangelicals, 69 percent of Black Protestants and 71 percent of 'other Christians' agree with the statement."

And, as Christian Headlines reports, "Nearly six in 10 Americans (58 percent) say there has never been a time when they were not proud to be an American..."

So, as we remember our veterans today, we can think about their willingness to surrender themselves on behalf of a great country.  A country that was founded on principles consistent with the Scriptures.  A country that has been dedicated to the worth of the individual and the cause of freedom, as we can see in our founding documents.  But, a country made up of flawed people who have pursued greater ideals. 

I do believe the United States has been, and continues to be a force for good.  And, that motivation for many is informed by the call of God.  Our commitment to religious freedom around the world is unmatched, and we should continue to call out those nations that do not respect that basic human right.  And, we can also pursue freedom at home and, while making sure we are living out our faith, be devoted to contributing to an atmosphere in which others can live out their faith.  We will not always believe the same, mind you, but everyone has been given the choice - by their Creator, on whether or not to pursue a faith perspective.  They should also be afforded the opportunity to live it out in the public square.  And, Christians have the responsibility, and ideally the right, to proclaim the truth of the Lord.