abstract: We must cease worshiping the gods of politics and power. The true patriot worships God and stands for righteousness.

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by Steve Wilkins

Editor's Note: This article is the text of an address delivered by Rev. Wilkins at the National Reform Association conference in Lynchburg, Virginia on October 9, 1999.

We live in very strange times. Only in this culture can you be called a racist for advocating the position that no one receive preferential treatment on the basis of race. Where else could you be accused of a lack of compassion for maintaining that government ought to allow its citizens to keep more of their hard earned cash? We live in a day when people see no contradiction in a man saying that he is pro-choice and yet approving of the government mandated, coerced abortion policies of China. Today, you can be praised for your support of academic freedom while you oppose the teaching of a distinctively Christian view of origins.

It is clear that terms do not mean what they used to mean. One is reminded of that great philosopher, historian, sociologist, and cultural critic, Humpty Dumpty, who once said to Alice, "When I use the word, it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less." In our sad and dark day, we have been overrun by pompous Humpty Dumptys who sincerely believe that not only words but truth itself is whatever they say it is. So it is for the idea of "patriotism."

If you were to look up the word "government" in a copy of Webster's 1828 dictionary, you would find an interesting thing. The first definition offered is that which refers to the self-government of man: "Men are apt to neglect the government of their temper and passions." Mr. Webster then speaks of the exercise of authority of the parent or householder. And along with these he mentions the use of the term to refer to the "system of polity in a state." This use to be the common understanding of the word "government" in this country.

Every school child was trained in the nature of government, that there are many types of government and not just one. There is self-government, family government, church government, and civil government. The state is merely one type of government among many.

All of these areas have been established by God and are under His sovereign rule. Thus, every area of life was to be governed by His Word. The Bible was the basic textbook on civics, as it was for every other subject. It laid out the authority and the responsibilities of each area of government. Each had specific responsibilities and limitations, none was sovereign over the others, all were to be subject to God.

Now this is no longer taught and has not been for some time. Things have changed. In Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (1970) there is only one definition of "government." The word is defined exclusively in terms of its civil aspect. Today, there is only one kind of government, and it is viewed as sovereign over all other governments. Government is viewed as God.

For this reason most people see nothing wrong with the modern view of the unlimited authority of the centralized state. They may be dissatisfied with this or that particular--but they do not question the legitimacy of the state's claims over all of life. They don't mind totalitarianism, they just want their candidate in control of it.

It is assumed that the state does have the right to establish economic policy, oversee business practices, to regulate contracts between individuals, to manage medicine, subsidize the arts, direct the education of the populace, to authorize the death of the unborn if a mother so desires, and to be the great nanny for all the others who are allowed to come into this world alive, etc., etc. People may not be happy with the way some of these things are done, but no one questions the legitimacy of the central government's prerogative to do these things. The biblical teaching on the nature of civil government has long been forgotten. And for this reason, we are fast losing the right understanding of patriotism.

The word "patriot" is defined by Mr. Webster in his 1828 dictionary as one who loves his country and is concerned for its best interests. Note that a patriot is not merely one who loves his country, but one who is devoted to its true welfare. This being so, we may make a number of observations.

1. True patriotism understands that there is one King and Ruler over all kings and rulers, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the true patriot is one who fears God and loves Him with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. This has to be for there will be no prosperity on any level, personal, familial, ecclesiastical, social, cultural, or civil if God is our enemy. The patriot unashamedly acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ not only as the only Savior of mankind, but as the true King of all the earth and the Governor of all the governors of the earth.

   The true patriot understands that God alone is sovereign, and thus no man or institution may be honored above Him. He cares for his country and thus never wearies in his effort to remind the nation of its obligation to honor its true and rightful King. The patriot honors God-ordained authority, but he is careful to follow the admonition of Christ in Matthew 22:21 --"Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

   It is very important that we note the true significance of this verse. We often hear quoted the first part "Render unto Caesar...." But we seldom hear the last part of the verse. I would submit that if you don't understand the last part, you are bound to misunderstand the first part. Jesus here is making what in the eyes of the Roman empire is a most unpatriotic statement. Remember that Caesar claimed to be God. Augustus had printed on the coins of the empire, "There is no other name given among men whereby we may be saved but Caesar Augustus." He was called the Lord and God and Savior. He referred to himself as "the just and holy one," "the King of Kings and Lord of Lords." He claimed divinity for himself.

   Here, Jesus pointedly denies that claim. There are certain things that God has put under Caesar's authority, and we are bound to honor that God-ordained authority. But, Caesar is not God! And we dare not act as though he is. You dare not render to Caesar the things that belong to God alone.

   This message was not ignored by the apostles either. They didn't shy away from preaching the supreme authority of Christ. Every time they proclaimed the lordship of Christ, they were publicly denouncing Caesar's claim. And this was the reason they were persecuted. They were not persecuted because they were Christians, they were persecuted on the basis of the charge of treason. They denied the claims of the emperor and the Roman State.

   The early Christians replied that they were the best friends of Rome, for they alone spoke the truth. This was true patriotism. He is no friend of his country if he refuses to honor the sovereign authority of God.

2. The true patriot understands that liberty is the gift of God and not a privilege granted by the government. The meaning of liberty has been forgotten. Liberty is a biblical concept and cannot be understood rightly apart from the realities shown us in the Scriptures. All men since the Fall are not free but slaves--slaves to their own sin. Only when God, by His grace, changes the natures of men are they truly free: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (Jn. 8:36).

   Thus, liberty consists of the freedom to pursue God's purpose for our creation. Man is most free when he is what God created him to be. We enjoy true freedom when we have the liberty to glorify God and to enjoy Him in both our individual and corporate lives. Whatever hinders the glory of God and the enjoyment of Him, is an enemy to liberty.

   The best and only friends this country has are those who oppose the nation's sins.

   Liberty is the freedom to do what God commands, not the freedom to do what the government allows. Today, however, we have a God-like state which views all liberty as so many privileges which it grants to those citizens who behave themselves. No liberty exists but at the whim of the lawmakers and regulators. This is not liberty, but an illusion. We "feel" free in certain areas only because the state has not yet exerted its prerogative to limit our freedoms in those areas--but the prerogative remains all the same. God-ordained liberty is no longer acknowledged. "Liberty" today is merely the new term for what used to be called "slavery."

   The true patriot agrees with the conviction of our founding fathers that only where the Spirit of the Lord is, is there liberty.

3. The true patriot, because he loves his country, is one who is willing to oppose his country when it opposes God. Unbiblical policies and laws are sinful even when they happen to be the policies of one's own political party. Sin is sin, whether it is committed by Republicans or Democrats; by "conservatives" or liberals.

   And, since God still rules over men and nations and still judges them, sin is the greatest enemy to a nation's prosperity and well-being. A nation is exalted only by righteousness: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34). Thus, the throne that establishes evil by statute will have no fellowship with God: "Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You?" (Ps. 94:20). [See also Prov. 16:12, "It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness."]

   Those that honor Him will be honored. For this reason, it is idolatry to blindly follow the leaders of a nation in rebellion. We are to love our country and be the true friends of the nation--true patriots. But the false patriotism of the present day is nothing but idolatry. "My country right or wrong" is idolatry and an insult to the King of nations. The best and only friends this country has are those who oppose the nation's sins.

4. The true patriot understands that there are things more important than winning elections. Now, I don't mean to imply by this that we are indifferent to winning, we are not. But we understand right well that winning an election is an empty victory if you win by compromising your stance for righteousness. A victory that is gained by being indifferent to God's truth and righteousness is a defeat. To vote for the lesser of two evils in hopes of voting for the winning candidate is to idolize political victory. The lesser of two evils is still evil. The late, great 19th century theologian R. L. Dabney noted that "it is only the atheist who adopts success as the criterion for right."

   "Well, Wilkins, do you want the country to be a Christian country?" I say, "Of course! What do you want, a Satanic country?"

   Now, someone says, "Well don't you believe that we ought to go for little victories? If we can't get everything we want, shouldn't we seek something?" Indeed, I think that is a fine strategy so long as you are truly making progress toward righteousness. But the man who believes that the solution to going down the wrong road is simply to slow down clearly doesn't understand the nature of the problem! We are not gaining anything ultimately unless we have a man who will stop the car, turn around, and get on the right road.

   You will never get to heaven by simply going more slowly down the road to hell. We must rethink our political commitments. It is time for God's people to say, "We will no longer support unprincipled men who stand for things that undermine God's honor and oppose His Word or who are willing to say or do anything just to get elected." If we don't have a candidate who is willing to follow Christ, then we should refuse to support anyone and repent that we are under God's judgment. Then at least we can stand in righteous protest against unprincipled compromise and rebellion. And perhaps earn the respect of others for being people of conviction.

   We can't be surprised that our leaders ignore the Constitution when we have churches which ignore the Bible.

   Some say, "We can't do that! Why if we do that, you-know-who is going to win! That will be terrible!" Really? It is time that we fear God more than the Democrats or the Republicans. Far better to fear and honor Him and lose, than to deny Him and win. We must never forget that our first loyalty is to the King of kings. Only as we remember that can we be a blessing to our land.

   We must cease worshiping the gods of politics and power. The true patriot worships God and stands for righteousness.

5. The true patriot is quick to repent of sins and humble himself before the living God and beg for mercy on his land. He is not one of these arrogant toad-eating Pharisees who refuse to acknowledge the least shortcoming for fear someone might think them less than all-wise and all-proper. He is quick to see the departures from God's ways in his own life and in the life of the nation. And quick to seek mercy from the throne of heaven. The man who thinks this a tad too pious for his taste is a great enemy to this country.

   We live in a country where the state more and more demands that we deny Christ and His law. We have a government that seeks to hinder and forbid the training of our children in the nurture and admonition of Christ. That is legislating a new morality--calling evil good and good evil. In a time like this, it is time to repent.

   It is time to repent when the people of this country do not desire righteous men to lead them (just look at the majority of candidates for public office). When outspoken Christians are viewed even by Christians as unelectable because they are too principled, it is a sad time. Even Christians fear having Christ honored. People say to me, "Well, Wilkins, do you want the country to be a Christian country?" I say, "Of course! What do you want, a Satanic country?" There are only two choices, and Christ is a far better, a more gracious King than Satan any day. Only as we follow the path of righteousness will there be life and prosperity: "In the way of righteousness is life; and in its pathway there is no death" (Prov. 12:28).

   We stand for life and peace, not warfare and death. We stand for mercy and truth, not lies and cruelty. We stand for liberty and true justice, rather than tyranny and bondage. But when righteous men who stand up boldly and forthrightly for God's Word and Truth are called "too extreme and unyielding" it is time to repent.

But most serious of all, we have a church that is shot through with compromise and infidelity. How can we complain that the Congress is filled with immoral men, when the church tolerates them?

We can't be surprised that our leaders ignore the Constitution when we have churches which ignore the Bible.

We ought not to be amazed that the government robs us with unconscionable taxation when we continue to rob God by not paying a tithe.

We must not be surprised that our leaders are weak, cowardly, and unprincipled when the leaders of the church are the same!

We cannot be surprised that there is no bold, forthright stands taken on important issues when God's people are unwilling to stand on the Word of God.

Until we are serious about reform in the church, we will never see reform in the state. God will not bless us as long as we tolerate hypocrisy in His house.

Brothers, we believe judgment begins at the house of God. Jesus said that His people are the light of the world. Now, here is a question for you, "If we are the light of the world, whose fault is it if the world is filled with darkness?" It is not the fault of the Democrats or the Republicans--the fault is ours.

God rules the world in terms of His covenant. He honors those who honor Him and curses those who despise Him. If we honor Him, He blesses us and causes even our enemies to be at peace with us. He fights for us and defeats the most powerful of foes. But if we ignore Him, we are deserted and given over into the hands of our enemies. This is what has happened.

We have ignored the true King, and whenever we do that, He allows tyrants to rule over us.

We have ignored His Word, and thus, God gives us rulers who ignore it as well.

We refuse to worship Him, and so are forced to worship a godless state.

We refuse to exercise mercy and true charity by giving to those who are worthy of aid, and so are forced to submit to robbery and forced welfare given to those who are unworthy of assistance.

We refuse to exercise faithful stewardship, and so we have our resources taken from us by force by a God-like leviathan state which seeks to rule over all things for its own aggrandizement. For this root unfaithfulness, we must repent.

But there is one more characteristic that is true of the patriot--the patriot doesn't lose heart. He remembers that the God who exposes his sins and the sins of his nation is the God who delights to forgive. He is the One who calls all who realize their great poverty to come unto Him for the riches of grace in Christ Jesus.

He is the God who delights to bless those whose heart is upright: "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2 Chron. 16:9). The patriot is thus one who does not sorrow or despair as those who have no hope. Rather, he stands confident in the light of God's own promises and commits himself and his country to God. And he rejoices that the Lord Himself will defend the right.

Thus, the true patriot stands faithfully for righteousness and thus stands with true confidence that as he does this, he is doing the best thing that can ever be done for his country. As we do this, we take our place with our gallant forefathers who gave their life's blood to found a land where God would be honored and His Word followed.

As we do this, we take our stand with the gallant Reformers who gave their lives that the Truth of God, the Word of liberty, might be preserved uncorrupted to their posterity. As we do this, we take our stand with the early believers who died rather than acknowledge the divinity of the Roman Empire. All these were true friends and patriots to their native lands. But more than this, they were faithful patriots of the kingdom that cannot fall. The kingdom which has foundations established by God Himself. The kingdom that shall never fall.

In Rome, on the site where so many Christians were brutally murdered, Nero's Circus Maximus, there was a stone obelisk. That stone monument can still be seen today in the high square in front of St. Peter's Basilica. At the base of the obelisk are chiseled these words:

Christus Vincit

Christus Regnat

Christus imperat

Which means: "Christ is conquering; Christ is reigning; Christ rules over all." We must remember our Lord's words that the kingdom comes not with observation. It is like a seed growing. Not exciting, not spectacular, not flashy, it doesn't make the nightly news--but it is the most important thing that is happening in history. Labor in the cause of the Savior is not labor lost.

Earthly kingdoms rise and fall, but the kingdom of life and peace stands forever. The patriot knows this and thus insists that his country turn from its wicked ways and "kiss the Son." There is no love for country if there is not first and foremost a love for the King of kings. The psalmist noted long ago, "The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God" (Psa. 9:17). That is the truth. We must stand for Him and with Him, or we will not long stand at all.

Steve Wilkins is the pastor of Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Louisiana, the author of Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E. Lee, and the creator of the widely used audio-tape series America: The First 350 Years that details the Christian influences in American history. He is the founder of the Southern Heritage League and the Dabney Institute, and carries on a wide conference and speaking ministry.

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