Loving our nation?

I was reading tonight and just noticed something in the story of the Centurion who was asking Jesus for a healing for his friend.

When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. Luke 7.

The centurion loved his nation. What does it mean to love your nation? Our country is not at peace with itself. How do we love our nation? My real citizenship is in heaven but is there something else?

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Replies (3)

    • Hi Tommy, good to hear from you. Let's remember that the powers that be are ultimately from God and as much as possible deserve our respect. Also note that it is God who raises up one leader and brings another one down. So says the book of Daniel. In Acts we read that God has appointed the bounds of habitation for each people throughout the earth.

      Every age brings a few ambitious and greedy individuals who want to take over. But socialism, despotism, or communism usually do not last very long. To me the ancient Tower of Babel represents a one-world government. It also failed because The Almighty was displeased.

      Me, I love America and pray that we would find grace in the eyes of the Almighty. And be a blessing to many others, too. I fly the flag everyday and hen I see it flapping, I am reminded of my Dad who fought in the bloody Battle of the Bulge. So that Europeans could have things like freedom of speech and fair elections, too.

      I must add that I do not hold the view of "my country - right or wrong." We must collectively and continually try to be better and to do better.

      • D

        Tommy, I do appreciate your concerns. When I read the story I see that some of the elders of the Jews wanted Jesus to heal the Centurion's servant because he was kind to them.  He loved the nation by building them a synagogue for their worship.

        If God so loved the world, and we are called to love our enemies, certainly we can love the nation of our residence in the sense that it is composed of people we live among. That does not mean we agree with them or condone their behavior.
        We are exhorted to pray for our leaders and those who have authority over us by a Paul who was unjustly imprisoned and later executed. God help us to do that in sincerity because it is your desire for all to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved.

        • Thank you to those who replied. I still am thinking that I am missing something. I was raised in the baptist church and we were not particularly encouraged to get involved with "this world". 

          I am questioning my views hopefully in light of the Bible.

          A few friends have encouraged my son to run for a local office. I am wondering how to advise him as a christian.

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