Christian Patriotism vs. Nationalism

(Click here for Spanish Translation) I try to read history through the eyes of God, and try to cultivate a sensitive ear to the Lord. When I do, He often causes me to reflect upon how “the other side” might interpret the same document or event. Seeing and listening through the eyes and ears of “the other” has made me much more sensitive to a multi-cultural perspective.

I am sure that few Anglo Americans, particularly Texans, realize that when their Hispanic neighbors hear the cry “Remember the Alamo,” many feel a pang of  rejection, a sense of being unwanted and unwelcome by our Anglo neighbors.  That war cry echoes two others used in wars that pitted Anglos against Hispanics: “Remember the Armada” and “Remember the Maine.”  It awakens memories of  rejection, an experience that most Hispanic immigrants have experienced in America at some point or another.  For historical as well as experiential reasons, when many Hispanics hear “Remember the Alamo” their spirit is troubled and their hearts are hurt.  

I am well aware, on the other hand, for many Texans, the cry “Remember the Alamo” expresses their love for the principles of liberty for which the heroes of Texas’ independence laid their lives.  To them the phrase stirs patriotic pride and their own commitment to defend, with their lives if necessary, the liberty their forefathers purchased.  They proudly teach it to their children, and are proud to be heirs of such a tradition.

What should we do in the face of such differing perspectives? I believe that as Christians we should refrain from using words that we know are offensive to other people. As ambassadors of reconciliation we are called to love our enemies; therefore should never incite to hatred against those we disagree with, or we dislike.  Biblical Christians do not fight against “infidels,” “mongrels” or Muslims. 

Patriotism is a virtue when it is a godly form way of loving country, but we must watch out for a “carnal” strand of patriotism which is arrogant, prepotent, ignoble and offensive to God.  It pretends to uphold high and noble principles, but in reality it  flatters the flesh while frequently grieving the Spirit. The Christian’s love for our country is an extension of Christ’s great commandment, to love your neighbor “as yourselves,” in other words, with the same love with which we love ourselves. Such love “does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking" (1 Cor 13:4,5).     

Christian patriotism should be distinguished from nationalism, the conviction that “we” are better than “them”, expressed in slogans like “My country right or wrong”.  We should use our national symbols properly, never in a way that divides or offends our neighbors.  For instance, when Hispanics protesting abuses against immigrants use their country of origin’s flag to rally their compatriots, they unwisely divide themselves from the very people whose understanding they seek to educate, and provoke to ire the patriotism of their American hosts.  

True patriotism, the kind required to build a nation “under God,” requires sacrifices, not only on the battlefield.  Sometimes we have to sacrifice our preferences voluntarily, for the sake of another for the common good.  And as Christians we always will be required to sacrifice also our prejudices, biases and fears, for the sake of Christ. In my view insisting on things like flying the Confederate Flag, using war cries like “Remember the Alamo”, or waving one’s foreign flag during a confrontation, is indulging on tradition, at the expense of love.  It comes at a very high price: it divides and weakens our nation and robs us of God’s blessing.     

We want to rebuild our nation upon Christian principles, but Christ’s principles always come at a price, they are built upon the ruins of the flesh, not upon fleshly foundations.  Therefore I believe that none of us should hold on to the traditions of our people in ways that we know that are offensive to others.  True unity will require that each forsake that which divides, and choose unity with the other in obedience to God.  Only then may we build together “a nation under God.”

I invite you to share your comments at blog@joselgonzalez.com and to read more of my articles on our Hispanic culture at www.semilla.org. We’ll talk more next week…

The End