Audio Messages:
Pastor Wade Burleson
God and Country
Let's Be Careful Which Comes First
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and
were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and
pilgrims on the earth.
"For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
"And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have
had opportunity to have returned.
"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:13-16 (KJV)
GodAndCountry.mp3 (11.7
MB)
It is a tremendous blessing to live in these United States of America. Daniel Webster said in
an 1850 speech, "I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American!"
Patriotism is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "love for or devotion to one's country."
There's no greater patriot than I. America the Beautiful is not just a song, it's an axiom.
There are, however, two things that we must remember as Christians living in America:
- We have a higher allegiance to God than to our country.
This is one of the reasons our children given the pledge to the Christian flag at Emmanuel
Christian School. We are teaching them to honor the Savior and His Kingdom --
to which we belong.
- We ought to have greater kinship with fellow Christians than fellow
Americans.
The kingdom of Christ transcends any kingdom of this world, and those who belong to the King
of Kings are truly our brothers. We must be careful that we don't confuse Christianity with
Southern culture or American patriotism. They are not the same. You can be an American
patriot and not be a Christian, or you can be a Christian and not an American patiot. You can also
be, like me, both a patriot and a Christian.
- We are pilgrims in this country simply passing through to another.
"They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). The Greek
philosopher Anaxagoras, the first true theist among the Greeks (though called an atheist for
refusing to worship the stars), was once asked, "Hast thou no regard for thy country?" He said, "I
have, and that the greatest," pointing to heaven.
- When we understand where our ultimate allegiance lies, we'll live
differently.
"If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have returned' (v.14 NIV).
When you see the country to which you truly belong you'll be like Moses in Hebrews 11.
- You will have proper priorities.
"He chose to be mistreated than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time" (11:26).
- You will have confidence and courage.
"He forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king" (Hebrews 11:27).
- You will forsake lesser pleasures for the greatest of all pleasures.
"He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ of greater value than the treasures of Egypt" (11:26).
To know Christ and be identified with Him is the greatest treasure.
- Our allegiance to a 'better' country will ultimately make America better.
"They desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one" (Hebrews 11:16). These men and women
of faith suffered a great deal for the cause of truth, but the writer of Hebrews says this of their
character, "Of whom the world was not worthy" (v.38). When Hitler came to power he invited
Baptists from around the world to Germany. "Surely a leader who does not smoke or drink,
who wants women to be modest, and who is against pornography cannot be all bad?" or so
the Baptist reasoning went. We should never forget that the mark of true Christianity is love for
fellow man.
My Country! When right keep it right; when wrong, set it right! Carl Schurz.
GodAndCountry.mp3
Questions? Comments?
Pastor Wade
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