Should Christians Be Patriotic?

As we look toward July 4th here in the U.S., I know some Christians struggle to process how exactly they should feel about such patriotic holidays. And frankly, other Christians could do with a bit more struggling. I wanted to offer five brief thoughts from Scripture that, together, form the fabric of how I think about patriotism and Christian faithfulness, especially on holidays like the 4th.

1. Our Citizenship Is In Heaven

The most important thing Scripture says about any national identity is that it is relativized by God’s kingdom. We are citizens of heaven, migrants and exiles on earth, in this world but of the world to come (Philippians 3:20, 1 Peter 2:11, Hebrews 11:13-16, John 17:14-19). As such, our devotion and loyalty to any earthly power should come with a huge asterisk. Our first allegiance is not to our country. It isn’t even a tie or a close second. Jesus and His priorities should define us, regardless of when and where we live on earth. If our hope is in political leaders, our trust in American prosperity, or our identity based on our earthly citizenship, we need to repent.

2. We Should Be People Of Gratitude

The heart of appropriate patriotism is therefore not about allegiance (which is Christ’s) but about thankfulness. In any nation, there are marks of God’s abundant and undeserved generosity. That is certainly true of the United States, regardless of the issues that also exist. We should be grateful for freedom, for prosperity, and for the accomplishments and good things the U.S. has done. We should also be grateful for the good work of people in the past who have built the country we inhabit. Indeed, we should feel a special love and affection for it, as it is something God has given. Despising His good gifts is just as wrong as idolizing them.

3. We Should Appropriately Honor Our Leaders

Alongside gratitude, Scripture also sees appropriate honor as something we owe to those who lead us nationally (1 Peter 2:17, Romans 13:7). Crucially, it isn’t because they are necessarily honorable (the emperor wasn’t), and it doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge their failures. But they are nonetheless placed in authority over us and should be shown respect for their position and the work they do on our behalf. Any sense of showing honor for honor’s sake is lost across the political spectrum in our moment. But this is a chance for us to be countercultural, to speak well even of those we might not like.

4. We Should Never Conceal Sin

That said, Scripture has no use for hiding faults and whitewashing tombs. The U.S. has done many good things and also many terrible things. Not everyone in our country is equally overwhelmed with gratitude for our heritage, with good reason. Christians shouldn’t hide from that reality. To refuse to acknowledge the evils of our country, past and present, is to confuse the fallen kingdom of this world it with the perfect kingdom of heaven. And again, this honesty should be shown regardless of political allegiances. We should call a spade a spade whether it’s in our hand or our opponent’s.

5. We Should Enjoy Creation’s Goodness

All of that being said, especially on national holidays, I also think there is a danger of overcomplicating things. Our feelings about earthly powers should always involve ambiguity. However, I also know that brats and watermelon, children’s delight and laughter, and fireworks bursting across the sky are unambiguously good and beautiful graces. We should give some thought to how we celebrate, but it’s also healthy to set those deeper questions aside and say, “Regardless of all of that—these things are good.”

So give yourself in hope and trust to your heavenly home, repent of worldly idolatries, but enjoy this earthly dwelling as well. And maybe have another slice of apple pie.