May the mumbling commence!
How do you and I respond to the pressures of nationalism? For example, how do you and I respond when the “Star Spangled Banner” is performed? Or how do you and I respond when it is time to “Pledge Allegiance to the Flag?” How far do we go to honor our country? And when does honoring our country get in the way of truly worshiping God? When was the last time you and I stood for the reading of the Word of God in worship?
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love my country of birth as much as the next person, but my true allegiance is to another realm – the kingdom of God. For this reason, I question exactly how I should respond to those seemingly harmless customs of remembrance for our country in connection to the United States flag. For this same reason, I could not fathom giving my life over to the armed forces. I am already a private in another army – the army of God, whose weapons are of the Holy Spirit and the Word not M-16’s and atomic bombs.
It is good to question allegiance to our earthly nation. There may come a time when our nation will ask us to do things contrary to the call of the Lord Jesus. We may find ourselves in the situation like Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael (more commonly known, for some reason, by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego). Read about their response to the call to worship the golden statue from Daniel 3:16-18 –
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael were willing to face their death in the blazing furnace – whether or not the Lord would save them from the flames. They knew that God was able to save from any disaster, but their faithfulness did not depend upon their deliverance.
I read these words and blanch. I find it incredibly difficult not to stand during the “Star Spangled Banner” and the “Pledge of Allegiance” because I would stick out like a sore thumb. What will other people think of me? It is easier to blend in if I stand – even if I don’t put my hand over my heart and look at the flag, which I do not.
Jesus does not ask us to be chameleons and blend in! I need to stand for my Lord Jesus even when it will bring me ridicule. Can I stand for my Lord like Jeremiah did? Read from Jeremiah Chapter 20:
Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him."
But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. O Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.
Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.
Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, "A child is born to you – a son!" May that man be like the towns the Lord overthrew without pity. May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle cry at noon. For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever. Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame? (Verses 8-18)
Jeremiah could not keep silent – even when he was ridiculed by all those around him and when he feared for his life. He knew that he could look to God for protection, and Jeremiah sang praises to Him. But Jeremiah also bemoaned his birth into the troublesome time. He found it hard to endure the shame.
Give us endurance to do your will, O God.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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