A piece of fabric that we call a flag or a song composed of certain words being called an anthem does not define what they really are. The fabric of material and a song is both a reflection of where we came from and where we are today. I know of no country which can claim perfection in all its dealings with its citizens or other nations. There must be an appreciation of where we came from, mistakes and victories, coupled with a desire to rise higher than our mistakes and honor those who have brought us our victories. One ball player, refusing to stand last weekend complained about our vice President leaving the stadium in protest. I believe he was one whose poor salary and oppression was somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 million a year. A moment of silence for his suffering.
Where does this leave us as Christians. First we are living for Jesus by obeying the laws of the land we live in (Rom. 13:1-5). To our best efforts we strive to live at peace with all men. I would not destroy a man’s place of business or destroy public property because I follow Christ, I wish to live within the bounds of law. Why can I not do a 100 miles an hour on the streets of our land? Because I follow the Lord and His will is for me to be obedient to the laws in the land which I live. The grand exception is if the laws of the land force me to choose between the land and God, we must then choose God (Acts 5:29).
Jeremiah writes to say, seek the peace of the city where I have driven you (Jer. 29:7). In other words you are to pray for Babylon. Am I not to pray for this land in which I live? At no time would God’s people in Babylonian captivity have been bound to worship the idols or conduct of the Babylonians (Daniel, chapters 1 and 3). We are to pray for kings and all that are in authority that we may live quiet and peaceable lives (I Tim. 2:1,2). At no time should we be silent when others would disturb our peace. We have the ballot box and writing materials to speak out.