Patriotism. It’s a word that is being spoken a lot in view of of the elections coming up, and especially looking at the tremendous amounts of terrorism, both domestic and abroad. According to Your Dictionary.com, “Patriotism is love and support of your country. An example of patriotism is waving the flag proudly on your home.”

As a patriot, I want to subdue our enemies. Okay, I really want to kick their behinds. Am I speaking as an American patriot, or as a patriot to Jesus Christ and His kingdom? Absolutely both. Is that even possible? I believe the answer is yes, if you take the time to discover what it really means. Patriotism should be applied to Christianity. I love and support my Savior, and although I don’t have a flag to wave, I can show it in my words, both spoken and written, and in my actions.

We were watching a PBS program last night called “The Crimson Fields,” set in 1915 as a British field hospital in France. One of the nurses was arrested for treason when it was discovered that her fiance was a German soldier, and she was accused of being a spy. Of course, seeing it from the outside, we knew she wasn’t a spy; she was simply trying to find out if her man was alive or dead. He gave himself up as a POW in order to save her from being executed as a traitor, and they were both sent of to prison for the duration of the war.

In the course of the show, they referred to a Nurse Cavell and her execution by the Germans. I looked up her information on Wikipedia, and her words are compelling and intense. “Edith Louisa Cavell (4 December 1865 – 12 October 1915) was a British nurse, humanitarian and spy. She is celebrated for helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during World War I, for which she was arrested. She was court-martialled, found guilty of treason and executed.” Before her death, she said this: “But this I would say, standing as I do in view of God and eternity, I realize that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.” Our own President Lincoln is quoted as saying “Do we not destroy our enemies when we make them our friends?”

I’m not saying that we should negotiate with terrorists, because that is already a lost cause. They are determined to die for what they believe in; we should be just as determined to defend our belief and our country whenever and wherever it is necessary. Shouldn’t we be ready, as patriots of our country and our God? Remember what Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you….” – Matthew 5:43‭-‬44 NIV
(http://bible.com/111/mat.5.43-44.NIV)

I will continue to pray for those who are my enemies, foreign and domestic, and I will stay prepared to defend my right to do so. We either stand as a true patriot with Jesus, or we stand against Him. This is my choice; you make yours.