In a few days we will be celebrating the 68 Anniversary of our country’s Independence from British rule. One of the feelings that are evoked at a time like this is Patriotism. I remember reading about a patriot in America, Nathan Hale who wrote after the American war of Independence, "I only regret I have but one life to lose for my country” 

What is it to be patriotic for a Christian? Evangelist Billy Sunday said, "Christianity and Patriotism are synonymous terms, and hell and traitors are synonymous." Therefore, it is not just a civic duty to love and support India; it is also a Christian duty. Paul's teaching on the Christian's relationship to civil government is found in Romans 13. "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities," Paul writes, "for there is no authority except that which God has established" (v. 1). Any rebellion or dissent against the government is "rebelling against what God has instituted" (v. 2). The relationship between rulers and citizens seems clear in Romans. The ruler is "God's servant for your good" (v. 4). Thus, to be unpatriotic is to oppose God. 

It is also appropriate—and Christian—to want the best for your country, to want to see it prosper. When the prophet Jeremiah was writing, the Israelites had been forcibly removed from Jerusalem and taken as hostages to Babylon by enemy soldiers. Nevertheless, God encouraged the people to make themselves at home. "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters …. Increase in number there; do not decrease" (Jer. 29:5-6). Not only should they improve themselves, but they should also "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jer. 29:7). In other words, it is the duty of the people of God to seek stability, peace, and prosperity wherever they go. This includes supporting the nation in which we live.

All of this, though, is balanced by the awareness that we are aliens and strangers in this land (James 1:1; 1 Pet. 2:11). We are commanded to honor and support our civil rulers, and we are called to seek the prosperity of the city, state, and nation in which we dwell. But we must always remember that "our citizenship is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20). Sometimes this will result in conflict with the governing authorities. Many first-century Roman civic festivals and celebrations were dedicated to Roman deities. Some even worshiped the emperor as a god. But Christians refused to venerate the emperor as divine. The first Christians refused to participate in these celebrations.

Polycarp, a disciple of John, is the best-known martyr of 2nd century AD. Because he was an elderly and saintly man, the soldiers who arrested him wanted to give him a way out of his death penalty. So they told him all he had to do to escape death was declare, "Caesar is lord." But Polycarp refused: "Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" In other words, Polycarp knew that the New Testament commands that we submit to rulers, whether or not they protect our right to worship as we choose.

But we must be Christian in our engagement with and conversation about our leaders. We need not agree with them. But it is clearly unchristian to slander them, even if we do so—perhaps especially if we do so—in the name of patriotism. We must honor them in our language, and we must commit to pray for them (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We pray for wisdom, insight, and courage as they guide the nation "for our good." And we pray that India, under their leadership, will prosper, "because if it prospers, you too will prosper.

"Will you commit today to be a Christian patriot? Ask yourself what is one thing you could do to see the prosperity and well being of your nation. Turn all your complaints about your country to praying for them.

Let us recollect the famous words of J.F. Kennedy,  "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."