NationStates Jolt Archive

I really don't support any nation, nor do I show allegiance to any nation. From a Christian perspective, is that ok? Or should I support my nation?

I always have felt that we as Christians, should only support the Kingdom of God, not any man made kingdom on earth. Boundaries and governments are only temporary fixtures, but God is eternal, so why should I pay homage to something corrupt, vile, and temporary?

been talking to the JW's recently?

been talking to the JW's recently?

No? WHy do I sound like one?


Dangit :(

No. Why should anyone?

i don't see how any nation can have anything to do with your faith. apart from israel perhaps. unless you're a mormon i suppose.

Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and all that.

It's a legitimate question whether anyone should show allegiance to a nation. (And before anyone jumps on me - it's still a legitimate question even if the answer is "yes".) :p

When you hear a song like "God Bless America" I think what is really meant is "God HAS blessed America". While I think the religious should put God before patriotism I'm sure many Christians mix the two.

I always have felt that we as Christians, should only support the Kingdom of God, not any man made kingdom on earth. Boundaries and governments are only temporary fixtures, but God is eternal, so why should I pay homage to something corrupt, vile, and temporary?

Yeah, why do that, when you can pay homage to the imaginary?

No? WHy do I sound like one?


Dangit :(

It was asked because Jehovahs Witnesses tend to err on the side of being non-patriotic, and avoid conscription and any military service.

When you hear a song like "God Bless America" I think what is really meant is "God HAS blessed America". While I think the religious should put God before patriotism I'm sure many Christians mix the two.

There was a bizarre bumper sticker I saw on a few cars in the days following 9/11. It said "AMERICA BLESS GOD". Huh? I don't think God particularly needs America's blessing. I really have no idea what this statement was supposed to mean. :confused:

It's ok to have a loyalty to a nation. A Christian is certainly to obey the civil laws of a nation. But, I don't believe that there is any support for a "Christian Nation", ie. a nation that is to worship God as a nation or support God through law.

The exception would be Israel, if modern Israel is the legitimate inheritor of the promises of the OT. No other nation such as the US or UK has those promises or support. Certainly, the first Christians weren't European, democratic, republican, or concerned in any way with government.

Jesus gives his greatest criticism to those religious leaders that have enough political connections to hold an instant trial at night and get the government to carry out their wishes. Sort of like today's "religious" right. They were more concerned with power in this world rather than position in the next.

I really don't support any nation, nor do I show allegiance to any nation. From a Christian perspective, is that ok? Or should I support my nation?

I always have felt that we as Christians, should only support the Kingdom of God, not any man made kingdom on earth. Boundaries and governments are only temporary fixtures, but God is eternal, so why should I pay homage to something corrupt, vile, and temporary?

Who build your roads? you made your currency? who protects you? your nation. without governments and states we would bne in the dark ages. i think states keep the world ogerther and offer protection and securty to thier citizens. you don't have to die a horrible death so the flag doesn't touch the ground but i think you sould be thankful and pledge your allgenace to your country. I am assuming you mean state and not nation. nation is culture while state is poltical. I think you can be a good christian and support your nation at the same time.

I imagine most people of faith would have allegiance to their God over any sort of nation. I don't think its a bad thing.

There was a bizarre bumper sticker I saw on a few cars in the days following 9/11. It said "AMERICA BLESS GOD". Huh? I don't think God particularly needs America's blessing. I really have no idea what this statement was supposed to mean. :confused:

My guess is it was a statement of opposition to our so-called trend of slowly taking God out of all facets of our life, government, schools, courts etc., etc. The owner of that bumper sticker probably wants God to be a factor in America again.

No. Why should anyone?

I support this view.

I support this view.

i think if all the things that you have beacuse of the government were taken away you might change your oppion.

Forallsomeyourreasonbasepeoplearelikebelongtotovoteus"Pancake" on every poll.

:p

Anyway, every country is merely a piece of land with a currency and a vile, corrupt leadership. Why pledge allegiance to any country?

Then again, as an atheist I certainly don't want to pay homage to so imaginay sky-man anyway...

I really don't support any nation, nor do I show allegiance to any nation. From a Christian perspective, is that ok? Or should I support my nation?

I always have felt that we as Christians, should only support the Kingdom of God, not any man made kingdom on earth. Boundaries and governments are only temporary fixtures, but God is eternal, so why should I pay homage to something corrupt, vile, and temporary?

That's what the Jehovah's Witnesses believe. They respect the laws of human nations unless they conflict with what they perceive as God's laws, but they give allegiance to none, which is why they don't vote or serve in the armed forces.

America is God's favorite country, so its only ok to be patriotic and christian if your american.

America is God's favorite country, so its only ok to be patriotic and christian if your american.

what happened to the holy land? are we just giong to let the jews have it? :p

I have allegiance to the World over the US.

America is God's favorite country, so its only ok to be patriotic and christian if your american.

I hope your joking, but somehow I think you're being serious.

America is God's favorite country, so its only ok to be patriotic and christian if your american.

OT God or NT God?
OT God's favorite country would probably be Saudi Arabia, just because its barbaric in his name, and he likes that.
NT God is too hard. The "Love thy neighbor" stuff would get Scandanavia, the "Worship me" would get the US, the "love thine enemy" stuff would get absolutly noone. It's a tossup.
Incidentally, you'll notice that the US only got the worst third of NT God.

Don't any of you listen to George? God has spoken to our president. Tell me thats not favoratism.

Well you americans can have god, we don't want him anyway, from what I've heard the guy is a bit of a reactionary bigot.

Supporting a nation has nothing to do with religion. You're SUPPORTING the nation, not worshipping it. You support someone when they need your help, don't you? You're not worshipping them. Only supporting.

You don't blindly follow a nation though either, as that should probably be considered a sin :D

It's really not about the nation, but about the laws and regulations. Support what laws you believe in. Oppose those that you don't. In the end you'll have voiced what you really feel.

Example: I love freedom of speech, and I love freedom of choice [yay for America and God for those 2]

However, I whole-heartedly disagree with:
The President
The War
The military strategy
Our course IN the war
The reasoning for going to war
Republican slander, and Democratic snobbery
The NRA (They're crazy)
Modern Religion
The school system


So.. I support the things I believe in, and I oppose the things I don't. Fuck what my country stands for. It's about what I stand for. I stand for integrity, freedom, and equality.

Yeah, why do that, when you can pay homage to the imaginary?

Now now.
I'm an athiest, but I support Christian views.
Some believe in God.
Some don't.

Won't you feel like an ass when you die and it turns out there IS a God?
Believe what you believe, but don't insult other people for believing differently.

The "Love thy neighbor" stuff

Is from the Old Testament originally, not the New.

No. Why should anyone? I support this view.
Motion carried!

The answer is given by the Man himself, as a previous poster (who appears to have been ignored) pointed out.

Render unto Caeser what is Caeser's, render unto God what is God's

Now, I am not a Christian, so this is merely an interesting discussion for me. Nothing at stake. Though I do consider myself a patriot, also.

Seems pretty clear to me that while one doesn't necessarily have to be all gung-ho about one's nation/government whatever, you're not supposed to use Christianity as a way of getting out of the duties of citizenship. All that stuff.

Now now.
I'm an athiest, but I support Christian views.
Some believe in God.
Some don't.

Won't you feel like an ass when you die and it turns out there IS a God?
Believe what you believe, but don't insult other people for believing differently.

Here here, live and let live. When it comes to personal beliefs, methinks everyone should just let everyone else be.

It should be God first, then nation second. If the latter gets in the way of the former, then stick with God.

From a purely bible-toting Christian standpoint:

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority institued among men; whether to the Emperor, as supreme, or to the governors, sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you might silence the ignorant talk of foolish men."
1 Peter 2:13

Having said that, the rules of God are higher than the laws of man.

From a purely bible-toting Christian standpoint:

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority institued among men; whether to the Emperor, as supreme, or to the governors, sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you might silence the ignorant talk of foolish men."
1 Peter 2:13

Having said that, the rules of God are higher than the laws of man.

The "every authority instituted among men" confuses me. Does this mean that even an authority that is morally reprehensible in the eyes of your faith should still be obeyed?

No. But then, nobody should.

I really don't support any nation, nor do I show allegiance to any nation. From a Christian perspective, is that ok? Or should I support my nation?

I always have felt that we as Christians, should only support the Kingdom of God, not any man made kingdom on earth. Boundaries and governments are only temporary fixtures, but God is eternal, so why should I pay homage to something corrupt, vile, and temporary?

Jesus said "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and render unto God that which is God's." I would suggest that the meaning of this is that you have obligations to the state as a citizen and obligations to your religion as a member. Only you (not some preacher or politician) can decide just exactly where these obligation lie.

Jesus said "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and render unto God that which is God's." I would suggest that the meaning of this is that you have obligations to the state as a citizen and obligations to your religion as a member. Only you (not some preacher or politician) can decide just exactly where these obligation lie.

George Bush speaks to God.
Or no wait.. EVERYONE speaks to God...

George Bush says God speaks to HIM..........
So obviously whatever Bush says is right, because he has God on his side.

Or he might be suffering from pre-senile dementia.

If (IF:p ) I remember Aquinas's essay on natural law correctly, the human law is to be obeyed where it does not conflict with divine law.. in other words, follow your government's commands unless they require you to violate the tenets of your religion. Deceptively simple perhaps. :)

Or maybe he's a burning Bush.

:D I wish.
Hey I've got an idea....
Got a molotiv cocktail or a flamethrower?

George Bush has actually said in an interview when asked about all his detractors:
You get used to them after a while and it gets easier to ignore them.

George Bush speaks to God.
Or no wait.. EVERYONE speaks to God...

George Bush says God speaks to HIM..........
So obviously whatever Bush says is right, because he has God on his side.

Or he might be suffering from pre-senile dementia.

Or maybe he's a burning Bush.

I'm an athiest, but I support Christian views.

1. It's spelt "atheist". Or did you mean to claim you were most "athi"?
2. I am an atheist, and I support no religious views. I mock them freely, because they deserve mockery because they are so nonsensical and loony. What you do, I couldn't give a fuck about. Pardon my French. :)

Won't you feel like an ass when you die and it turns out there IS a God?

I won't, because I'll be dead and non-existent, just like any deity anyone's ever imagined to comfort themselves because they can't face their own insignificance and weaknesses.

Believe what you believe, but don't insult other people for believing differently.

And you keep your nose where it belongs and dispense this puerile "advice" to someone who gives a hoot. See my first paragraph for information as to how little I do.

No. Why should anyone?

QFT

Yeah, they should.

Otherwise, they are alone.

Religion is not the big player anymore. Religion has almost no power anymore. Thank god. Religion should be wiped out of the world anyway, too much of a problem.

Unfortunaly the ignorant need it.

I really don't support any nation, nor do I show allegiance to any nation. From a Christian perspective, is that ok? Or should I support my nation?

I always have felt that we as Christians, should only support the Kingdom of God, not any man made kingdom on earth. Boundaries and governments are only temporary fixtures, but God is eternal, so why should I pay homage to something corrupt, vile, and temporary?
Whether you're Christian or not, one assumes you shouldn't be expected to support your country if you think it's vile and corrupt...

Unless you live in a christian theocracy it's up to you whether to put your religion before your contry, or vice versa.