“They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree. There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger, for they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”” II Kings 17:10-12 NKJV
As a Chrisitian we live in the tension that we are in this world but not of this world. Paul tells us in Philippians that our citizenship is in heaven. Also, James tells us that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4). Finally, Jesus told us we could not serve two masters for we would hate one and love the other.
The MAGA sect puts a lot of emphasis on the greatness of America. Many people see America (USA) as the greatest nation. When people speak against America or complain of its past sins. there are those that are offended by those words and actions. We especially see this in protests of wars or other events were the flag is burned or people refuse to stand for the flag. These individuals are deemed unAmerican. America has become an idol for so many including some in the church.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of the nation you live or are from. What is dangerous is when we make the nation an idol. We idolize the symbols, its leaders and other materials that represent the nation. This is evident with the MAGA movement. There are more prominent displays of either the flag or images of leaders and things sacred to the MAGA movement. Anything that is against the movement is offensive and deemed unpatriotic. Anyone that speaks out against the actions of America are also deemed unpatriotic.
The United States of America is not perfect and often fails to live up to its own pledges and declarations. We are not a country that is equal for all. This nation has its roots in violence, witchcraft and the killing of innocent people including babies. There are injustices and wickedness all around. However, many want to believe in this ideal image of America that fits their ideal and not God’s requirements of nations. The Bible is clear how we are to treat others and how a nation is to operate in justice and righteousness. We have ignored God’s instructions and believed a lie that this nation has been great and only ceased to be great when certain people feel threatened in losing their power.
America can be great, but as Christians our focus is to promote the will of God and not the will of the people. James is correct that if we become friends with the world we create enmity with God. People of the world including Americans seek the pleasures of the flesh. That is why capitalism is seen as good and socialism is evil. Many think it is far better for a nation to allow its people to pursue their own happiness and pleasures than allow anyone to waste the nation’s resources on people not submitted to this nation. Even people full of national pride will feel enmity with those that do not put the nation first.
It is this foundation that idolatry is able to flourish. We love our statutes of leaders, displays on high places showing the pride of our nations, we chant slogans and names of people that symbolize this nation’s greatness. We forget that America is only is able to stand as long as God allows. Throughout human history we have seen nations rise and fall. What makes America different?
If we are truly a nation under God then our values, ideals, systems and society should reflect God and not the world. So many of us are caught up in the worldliness of this nation that we have shown contempt for the things of God. It is easy to blame our political opponents for the dwindling of national pride and worldwide influence. However, in the Bible, God clearly states that Righteousness exalts a nation. Since this is the case, who wins the presidency does not matter because God is looking for His people to walk in righteousness.
If we truly want to see America to be great and the nation God intends this nation to be then we must obey and follow God. We are supposed to be salt and light to a lost and dying nation. How can we dare look upon the citizens of this nation that are perishing in their sins and not testify about Jesus? When did we begin to think a political movement or some charismatic leader was going to save this nation? The only one who can save is Jesus Christ.
It is a shame that with our obsession with America’s pride that we have substituted images of Christ with that of man. We have prophesied about people saving this nation instead of speaking of true prophesy which is the testimony of Jesus Christ. We have put more value and awe in our nation’s history instead of the Grand Story of Jesus Christ.
If we really believe that the Kingdom of God has come then we must also believe that this nation and all the other nations belong to Jesus. It is His agenda we are to promote. We are the ambassadors of Jesus Christ. We have to learn to live in a nation that is not our home because our citizenship is in heaven. Our allegiance is to our Lord and there will be times this allegiance will cause enmity with this nation.
Reflections 