Patriot

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE

What is a patriot? 
What is the difference between patriotism and partisanship? 
How do you act as a patriot without compromising your heavenly citizenship?

Patriot

Some years back, I had the honor and privilege of taking an oath to become a citizen of the United States of America. This meant forsaking the country of my birth, where I grew up until the age of 10, where my ancestors served as kings, where my mother served in high political office and was a prominent businesswoman, and where I have over one thousand family members. It was the hardest decision of my life, to the extent that I spent years contemplating the resultant outcomes before finally deciding to do it.  

What led to my final decision was that although I was born in Cameroon, I had become more American than Cameroonian. In addition, my wife and children are American citizens, and living in America has provided me with many opportunities. I also realized that becoming an American citizen would facilitate God’s purpose for my life. I had the privilege of casting my vote in a presidential election.  I am proud to be an American!

Despite its challenges, America has a rich history of freedom, heroism, industry, opportunity, and caring for humanity. Only in America can a young 11-year-old boy arrive from Africa without even knowing a word of English, and eventually become the leader of an international organization while serving as a trainer and coach to some of the brightest and most promising entrepreneurs. Only in America can you leave so much behind – in exchange for so much more.  America remains one of the greatest nations on earth.  

Unfortunately, this great nation is currently at great risk – not due to terrorism or an economic crisis – but due to political partisanship. 

Political partisanship is an inclination to favor one group, view, or opinion over alternatives.   

Political partisanship is not just dividing the nation, but it is dividing the body of Christ along political lines. Partisanship is robbing us of the unity that we should experience as Christians.  It is dimming our light and therefore hindering our ability to be effective witnesses.

Although partisanship is sometimes disguised as patriotism, it is not patriotic. One can be a patriot and a Christian, but it is difficult for one to be partisan and remain a faithful Christian. This is because partisanship blinds us of truth and causes us to impute motives to others, whereas patriotism focuses on truth and gives others the benefit of the doubt. We need more patriots in our nation today.

A patriot is someone who loves his or her country and is prepared to defend it against all enemies or detractors. When required, the interests of the country are placed before self-interest, even to the point of laying down his or her life for the nation. A patriot recognizes that though we may have different views and ideas on how to do something, we all ultimately have the same goal. There should be no greater patriot in a nation than the Christian.

The Apostle Paul showed us how to be an ambassador for Christ while being a patriot and a statesman for his country. He honored the accomplishments of Israel and the values that had shaped that great nation while challenging them to turn toward Christ. While acknowledging their zeal for God, He prayed for them that they would be saved and know the person of Jesus Christ.

Paul showed high regard and respect for the ruling authorities of his time, and he pursued every opportunity to respectfully challenge them based on the standards of Christ. He risked his gains as an Israelite for the sake of his relationship with Christ. 

How do you operate in your country as a Christian patriot?

1. Recognize that wherever God has placed you, you are an ambassador of Christ and therefore are held to a higher level of accountability in terms of your character and integrity than those who are not His followers.
   
2. Recognize your role to be salt and light within the government and the society through your Christlike example.
   
3. Your allegiance is always towards heaven and never towards earth
   
4. The best way to model Christ is to combine the Great Commandment with the Great Commission.
   
5. Use every opportunity to demonstrate Christlikeness through your service.
   
6. Respect and honor the authorities, regardless of who is in power.
   
7. Pray for the nation and its leaders continuously

One of my favorite passages is Philippians 3:4-11, where the apostle Paul recounts his rich personal heritage, and how he was willing to count it all as loss for the sake of a richer heritage with Christ.

When our desire for Christ is stronger than our desire to fulfill our own natural agenda, we will be able to move from being partisans to becoming Christian patriots.

My prayer for you today is that you will evaluate your current mindset and action and acknowledge where you have operated more as a partisan than a Christian patriot, and then seek God for the grace and wisdom to become more of a patriot and statesman.