Daily writing prompt

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year?

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History shows that the concept of “God and Country” often leads to “might makes right” and produces many cruel and tragic events. Faith and politics don’t have a great track record of producing peace and love and the other fruit of the Holy Spirit.

The Assyrians invaded Israel — the 10 northern tribes of the children of Abraham. (2 Kings 17) They hauled them off and scattered them across their empire where they were inbred with other people groups and were lost as a distinct ethnicity. They are known as the 10 lost tribes of Isreal.

Later the nation of Judah was invaded by Babylon and taken into captivity for 70 years, however, they mostly stayed separate from other people groups and kept their identity as children of Abraham. After 70 years many of them returned to Jerusalem and reestablished the nation of Judea which was eventually conquered by Rome. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the Roman province of Judea. (Micah 5:2) Through Jesus, those who have faith are now considered to be the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7)

Is the phrase “God and Country” accurate? Does God still have special countries? God tried working with a country once. He did miracles among them. He gave them His laws. He revealed Himself to them in many supernatural ways. God called His chosen country Israel to follow and obey Him. But instead of doing what God required they mainly followed human leaders and each individual did whatever they personally desired. They eventually split into two different countries — Israel and Judah.

Even when it spit in two, God didn’t want to give up on the one nation He had called to be His own. He sent many prophets to them to call them back to Himself. He gave them many opportunities to follow and obey Him. Still, they mostly ignored Him and did whatever they wanted, including many evil things.

So, God looked beyond human nations with their physical borders. He decided to establish His own kingdom as one to rule and govern people from within themselves — the kingdom of God. (Romans 14:17) In order to build His invisible interior (Luke 17:20-21) kingdom, God needed human beings who would allow themselves to be set free from their bondage to the forces and presence of evil. (John 8:32)

To do that, God the Word (John 1:1) took on human flesh (John 1:14) and became a human being. As many as received Him to them He gave the power to become sons of God (John 1:12) and to become the building blocks — the “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5) — in His kingdom’s inner government of God.

The invisible kingdom of God is made up of people from all nations, (Matthew 28:19) tribes, peoples, and languages (Revelation 7:9) who are directly led from deep inside by God the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:14) Life’s most important question is are you a citizen of the invisible interior kingdom of God? (Colossians 1:13)

So, what about other nations — all of the visible nations that have mere human leaders? God has given them authority to keep peace and order (Romans 13:1-2) so that His invisible kingdom can be proclaimed, spread, and demonstrated through the radically transformed thoughts, words, and behaviors of the people who have become children of God.

And what about Israel? God still loves Israel. Jesus sent (and continues to send) His disciples to go and make more disciples for the kingdom of God out of (from) all nations. (Matthew 28:20) The phrase “all nations” includes Israel.

I grew up hearing about “God and Country.” It was a Boy Scout medal. I earned every major rank, medal, and badge in the Boy Scouts except for “God and Country.” Why?

Even as a young boy and then as a teenager, the phrase “God and Country” never sounded right to me. I wasn’t a Christian then, but I did believe in some sort of Creator. It always sounded crazy to try to put a temporary human country on the same level as the eternal Almighty God. I just couldn’t do it, so I refused to earn the “God and Country” metal.

Another thing that has always bothered me is to see a nation’s flag being flown in (or on) a church building. If a church wants to fly a flag, I believe that it should be a flag that represents only Christ and His kingdom, not any other nation. A Christian’s citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20) Jesus should have our total allegiance!