Can one be a true Christian and a Patriot?

[towski]

Stephen Kobasa has been a Catholic schoolteacher for 25 years. For the last six years, he has taught English at Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport, CT. He no longer teaches there. Here’s why. Kobasa does not believe there should be an American flag in his classroom.

“Everything in the Gospel rejects what flags stand for: boundaries, hatreds, creation of enemies,” Kobasa says. “For a Catholic Christian school that holds up the crucifix as a symbol of God’s love, the flag can only be a contradiction. The Church can only function with its prophetic voice by standing outside the state....My teaching can never take its legitimacy from any symbol except the Cross of Christ. To elevate any national emblem to that level would be for me to ignore the fundamental call of Jesus to compassion without boundaries.”

http://progressive.org/mag_mc101705

I was reading this article and thought it raised an interesting debate. Can one truly be Christian and Patriotic? Is there a conflict between the two.

(Note for the uber patriots: I'd like to note the gentleman quoted in the article above is talking of Flags in general, not the unsoilable, unassailable American Flag in particular)

So where do one's loyalties lie? If your nation undertakes things that you consider unchristian, are you willing to take a stand against your nation? We seem to have come to this belief, as a nation, that we are the representative nation of Christianity. Doesn't Christianity, in it's very nature, eschew national loyalties for Christian brotherhood and love?

Talk amongst yourselves...

[Churlant]

The better question is whether one may be a Catholic and still remain a Christian... considering the amount of idolatry inherent to Catholicism. ;)

-JC

...by the way, the answer to the thread is: Depends on your definition of "true Christian". :D

[towski]

The better question is whether one may be a Catholic and still remain a Christian... considering the amount of idolatry inherent to Catholicism. ;)

-JC

...by the way, the answer to the thread is: Depends on your definition of "true Christian". :D


Shhhh. You'll ruin it. ;)

[Churlant]

har har :p

The nature of absolute love for one's country and absolute love for one's God is contradictory.

-JC

[Strel]

There was only one true Christian. Allegedly.

[Soren]

So where do one's loyalties lie? If your nation undertakes things that you consider unchristian, are you willing to take a stand against your nation? We seem to have come to this belief, as a nation, that we are the representative nation of Christianity. Doesn't Christianity, in it's very nature, eschew national loyalties for Christian brotherhood and love?I see no problem with patriotism just so long as it is kept in proper perspective. A Christian should love God and his or her fellow men (and women). This means of course that there is a Christian duty to oppose wars one's nation enters into which seem unjust and which seem destined to bring needless suffering on others, whether they be countrymen or Christians or neither. Just so long as a love of one's country is not placed above these two important commandments I see no problem with it. As a Christian I have no problem with "The Pledge of Allegiance", though in truth I consider it a matter of little importance to the practice of faith or patriotism.

[Churlant]

There was only one true Christian. Allegedly.

That's right, and his initials are JC... :D :cool:

-JC

[sub_zer0]

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Ch. 7:14

If it is coupled with that, than yes.

[Dangerrmouse]

Well that's a foxy parable/riddle, you lost me on that last post.

[sub_zer0]

Well that's a foxy parable/riddle, you lost me on that last post.

who me?

[Dangerrmouse]

If what is coupled with what, yes?

[sub_zer0]

If what is coupled with what, yes?

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Ch. 7:14

If patriotism is coupled with that...

[Sgt Schultz]

Doesn't Christianity, in it's very nature, eschew national loyalties for Christian brotherhood and love?

Talk amongst yourselves...

Look at the followers of Islam. If you ask them "who are you" they will answer "Muslim" before their nationality. I haven't seen that happen with any Christians I know.

[sub_zer0]

Look at the followers of Islam. If you ask them "who are you" they will answer "Muslim" before their nationality. I haven't seen that happen with any Christians I know.

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

I haven't seen that happen with any Christians I know...

[Sgt Schultz]

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

I haven't seen that happen with any Christians I know...

You missed the point I was trying to make, entirely.

[sub_zer0]

And I think you have missed mine.

[NiteGuy]

You missed the point I was trying to make, entirely.

What else is new? ;)

He always has some twist in interpretation, to keep from answering the tough questions directly.

However, to answer your question, no, I'm not sure you can. Which is why I think the only "true" Christians we have in this country are the Menonites and the Quakers.

God above all else. Live a simple, and moral life. Keep out of the corrupting influences of the day, like international politics, and wars. Don't try to force your beliefs on anyone else, and don't make yourself or your religion a martyr to any cause.

Sometimes I think they are the only one's in this country who really get it.

[Scaryclouds]

If by true patriot you mean always thinking your country is right(basically a nationalists) then no. Actually unless your country either does no wrong or corrects the wrongs they commit I don't believe one can be both. However one can be a true christian and a patriot that is they see the wrong their government commits but they push for change.

[eugene40]

That's right, and his initials are JC... :D :cool:

-JC


You know Jose Calabra too? small world.

[Dangerrmouse]

Everybody knows Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio's pal.

[sub_zer0]

J.esus C.hrist

[towski]

J.esus C.hrist

I thought God invented the sense of humour, as well, no? I think that makes it ok to have one....

[Dangerrmouse]

There's a theory that He has a really warped SOH or he wouldn't have created us with flaws, then expected us to thank him for saving us from them.

[Aly Liz]

http://progressive.org/mag_mc101705

I was reading this article and thought it raised an interesting debate. Can one truly be Christian and Patriotic? Is there a conflict between the two.

(Note for the uber patriots: I'd like to note the gentleman quoted in the article above is talking of Flags in general, not the unsoilable, unassailable American Flag in particular)

So where do one's loyalties lie? If your nation undertakes things that you consider unchristian, are you willing to take a stand against your nation? We seem to have come to this belief, as a nation, that we are the representative nation of Christianity. Doesn't Christianity, in it's very nature, eschew national loyalties for Christian brotherhood and love?

Talk amongst yourselves...

The bible aslo states that Christians should be respectful and abide by the governments laws. If saying the pledge was a law then not following it makes him...... an oxymoron

[Dangerrmouse]

Maybe this JC guy has got something after all!

http://www.jcsgirls.com/